The Physical Education of Mentally Deficient Children

The place of Physical Education in the general education of mentally deficient children, has yet to be fully recognised. The normal child, given average health and opportunity, will develop the necessary ability for the simple skills without special training; he will have enough spring to jump off and on a bus, enough balance and coordination to climb over a high fence, or to stand on one leg to tie up his shoe lace?enough postural sense to stand and move without being conspicuous. The mentally deficient child (limiting the use of this term to denote the imbecile and low-grade feeble-minded), on the other hand, requires efficient teaching step by step, if he is to learn to use his full powers and to take his part in the everyday physical activities of the ordinary citizen. The basic skills, which are the birthright of every child: developed in the child who is mentally deficient. Careful training from the earliest years is necessary if the disabilities and deformities arising from Neglected movement are to be prevented. This need for physical education in