194 REPORTS ON THE STATE OE SCIENCE. 



London Special ScIlooIs. 

 (Summarised returns from eighty headmistresses.) 



For questions 1 and 2 see page 181. 



Question 3. — There is considerable variation between a minimum 

 of two and a maximum of twelve (this for manual work). Occa- 

 sionally there appears to be an increased number of classes for manual 

 work, but this is rare. Fairly frequently, too, there is cross-classifi- 

 cation for various subjects. 



Question 4. — (a) In the majority of cases the basis of classifica- 

 tion is the tlnee R's, though ' general intelligence ' is preferred in 

 a good number of cases. Eeading l alone is taken in a few cases, and 

 Reading and Calculation in several. Manual ability, age, interest, 

 physical condition, and other factors are also mentioned, generally 

 as taken in conjunction with the three R's or ' general intelligence '. 



(b) Promotion is generally determined by progress in the above 

 subjects. Many returns draw attention to the fact that promotion can 

 only take place as vacancies occur. 



Question 5. — The replies to this question do not admit of statistical 

 summary, since such factors as the length of time during which the 

 school has been opened cannot be allowed for. In the case of four 

 returns it has been possible to calculate the percentage of children 

 returning each year to the normal schools, and this is found to range 

 between seven and twelve. 



Question 6. — In the majority of cases there appears to be no 

 psychological classification, one reason given being that these children 

 show too great a variety in their mental constitution to admit of a 

 workable system of classification. It is very generally stated that 

 each child is considered individually. 



In those cases where a psychological classification is attempted, 

 the systems adopted seem to fall under three heads: — 



A. From point of view of energy displayed by the child: — 



1. Nervous, excitable children. 



2. Apathetic. 



B. From medical point of view: — 



1. Hydrocephalic. 



2. Microcephalic. 



3. Epileptic. 



4. Mongols. 



5. Cretins, &c. 



C. From point of view of function affected: — 



1. Weak will. 



2. Wavering attention. 



3. Small relativeness. 



4. Lack of co-ordination. 



5. Lack of imagination, &c. 



1 One return states that Reading is taken as the basis, ' being a subject which 

 needs more collective teaching (than Arithmetic).' 



