ERIC Number: ED002533
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1959-Apr
Pages: 13
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
THE FIRST GRADE CLINIC--A MEDIUM FOR EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND MENTAL DEVELOPMENT FACTOR THAT MAY TEND TO BLOCK OR IMPEDE SCHOOL PROGRESS.
MCGAHAN, F.E.
DURING A 5-YEAR PERIOD, A FIRST GRADE CLINIC IDENTIFIED, AT THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, CHILDREN WITH DEVIATIONS IN BEHAVIOR, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL ADJUSTMENT, AND MENTAL MATURATION THAT MIGHT BLOCK OR RETARD SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. THESE CHILDREN WERE REFERRED FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS. THE PROGRAM WAS FIRST TRIED IN ONE CLASSROOM. A 3-YEAR STUDY OF THE GROUP SHOWED THAT MUCH CORRECTION RESULTED FROM EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF PROGRESS BLOCKS. THE PLAN WAS NEXT TRIED IN 30 SECTIONS OF FIRST GRADERS IN A LARGE SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN 6 1/2 DAYS 839 CHILDREN WERE SEEN. IN THE EARLIER CLINICS, PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL FACTORS WERE THE MAIN CONCERN, AS THE TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES BECAME MORE FAMILIAR, INTELLECTUAL ASSESSMENTS WERE INSTITUTED. PERSONNEL INVOLVED IN THE CLINIC INCLUDED THE NURSE, A VISITING TEACHER, A SPEECH CORRECTIONIST, THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST, A PARENT, THE LOCAL SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, AND THE CLASSROOM TEACHER. CLINIC OPERATION WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO PHASES--FIRST, THE PLANNING AND PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE NURSE, WHO MADE ARRANGEMENTS FOR FACILITIES AND PERSONNEL, AND BY THE PSYCHOLOGIST, WHO PREPARED THE CHILDREN PSYCHOLOGICALLY FOR THE EXPERIENCE, AND SECOND, THE CONDUCTING OF THE MAIN CLINIC, WHICH INCLUDED HEALTH, DENTAL, SPEECH, PERSONALITY AND MENTAL MATURATION CHECKS. INTELLECTUAL EVALUATIONS WERE CHECKED AGAINST THE RESULTS OF A READING READINESS TEST AND AGAINST TEACHER EVALUATIONS AT THE END OF THE FIRST GRADE. CLINIC RATINGS TENDED TO BE MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE OTHER RATINGS. REASONS WERE THAT THE READINESS TEST MEASURED THE INTELLECTUAL COMPONENT WHEREAS THE CLINIC SCREENED FOR ALL TYPES OF BLOCKS TO SCHOOL SUCCESS, AND THAT THE TEACHER EVALUATIONS WERE MADE AFTER PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES HAD ALREADY BEEN IDENTIFIED AND TREATED.
Descriptors: Counseling, Emotional Development, Grade 1, Health Services, Primary Education, Social Development
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Illinois
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A