Experiment in St. Louis

A retarded child had better be given remedial study courses as soon as possible. Otherwise, his problems balloon as he struggles through grade school, become overpowering by the time he reaches high school or college. Last fall, in St. Louis, Public School Superintendent of Instruction Philip J. Hickey began an experimental clinic for retarded third-graders (aged 8-10) in five schools. The results have convinced Superintendent Hickey that he is on the right track.

St. Louis chose the third grade for a good reason. By then, a teacher can tell which child is coming along rapidly, which slowly; third grade is also the last grade where children learn simply by listening to their teacher ; from then on, they learn from books. In St. Louis, the teachers chose 100 youngsters whose basic deficiencies hinted at trouble as their studies got harder and more formal. Though none was really "backward," i.e., below average I.Q., all had fallen behind because of illness, or too much study too early. Some, because of their failures, had also become problems in the classroom.

In special classes of 20 and with sym pathetic teachers, they began to pick up their three Rs rapidly. One ten-year-old who had been stricken with rheumatic fever and missed a year of school gained a year's credit in reading, picked up eight months in all his other studies; another child, whose insecure home life had made him hate school, gained 1 1/2 years in all his work, now argues to go to school even when he is sick. By Christmas vacation, teachers could report that the 100 students had doubled their proficiency in reading, spelling, arithmetic, had done the equivalent of eight months' work in four. In English usage, their progress was still below par but much faster than before. Furthermore, as the children gained knowledge and confidence, their troublesome behavior began to improve.

Last week, with the pilot project completed, St. Louis was taking a bigger step. This term, $80,000 from the state will be added to St. Louis' school budget for remedial clinics, enough to pay for 20 more teachers in 39 schools and special instruction for 800 children. If the program keeps on working as well as it has, Superintendent Hickey wants to put a study clinic for third-graders in every one of St. Louis' 109 public elementary schools.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.