COGNITIVE CHANGES IN THE FEEBLEMINDED¹

The Ascertainment of Educationally Subnormal Children

“…This is in line with recent work examining the environmental component of mental development [e.g., Fraser (1959), Clarke and Clarke (1954), Douglas (1964)] which would suggest that while culturally impoverished environments retard intellectual growth, culturally stimulating environments encourage it. In this context the special school can be regarded for the majority of educationally subnormal children who come from low socio-economic groups as the stimulating environment which may promote intellectual growth.…”

Educable Mental Handicap and Delinquency

“…This apparent time lag might be caused by a delay in social maturation. A number of studies (Clarke and Clarke, 1954;Clarke, Clarke and Reiman, 1958) have shown that among subnormal pupils from the most adverse backgrounds there is evidence of delayed social and intellectual maturation. Stein and Susser (1960), in assessing the social adjustment of ESN adolescents, have indicated that in late adolescence and early adult-hood there is often a significant improvement in the level of functioning of the subnormal.…”

Continuing Educability of the Mentally Retarded

“…Such a static concept of mental retardation is now unten;ible. Numerous longitudinal studies (Charles, 1953;Clarke and Clarke, 1954;Clarke, Clarke andandReiman, 1958: Fairbanks, 1933;Guertin, 1950;Miller, 1965;Stein and Susser, 1960) have shown large increases in I.Q. score among the mentally retarded at ages when mental growth increments are not normally expected.…”