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Unit 22: Backward and Delinquent Children: Definition, Types, Characteristics

The term backwardness can be explained in terms of education quotient. (E.Q.). 'Backward child is Notes
one whose educational quotient is 85 or bellow's. The word E.Q. or "educational quotient indicates,
presumably, whether a pupil's knowledge of a group of school subjects is commensurate with his
chronological gate, or whether it is above or below the level to be expected to him for his age". The
simple formula therefore, is:
The delinquents are anti-social behaviour children who are at the lower extreme ends of normal
distribution of social tract. The problem of delinquency has posed as serious concern for persons,
teachers, parents, psychologists and social workers who believe in harmonious development of human
personality. The teachers are responsible for shaping the personality of young student. The delinquents
are found generally at the stage of adolescence. The children who are delinquents below the age of
eighteen years are known juvenile delinquent.

22.2 Characteristic of Backward Children

Cyril Burt and Schonell have statistical characterized with help of mental age and chronological age
of the child.
1. The backward child mental age is smaller than his chronological age.
2. A backward child may be retarded as well but not always.
3. The dullness of a child may be one of the causes of his backwardness.
4. A backward child has low educational attainment than what he is capable of.
5. He can not keep pace with the class even in one subject or in all subjects.
6. A backward child is unable to do the work of the class next below. Who is normal for the age.
weak in class assignments and examination or class tests.
A backward child has certain general characteristics. These are classified into four main categories.
1. Physical Characteristics: Physically backward children are slow or inferior in physical or health
development. They have certain physical defects and deficiency or deformity of eyes, nose and speech
defects, their muscular coordination may be poor or slow.
2. Mental Characteristics: The major area of backwardness is the intelligence, their I.Q. is less than
average. They lack in reasoning, abstract thinking to see the relationship abilities. They are unable to
correlated their various experiences.
3. Social and Moral Characteristics: The social development is slow as compared with normal children.
The maturity age is higher than the averages. He may be the isolate in this class. They may develop
some anti-social or undesirable traits. They have poor adjustment with his peers.
4. Educational Characteristics: Education attainment and participation in school programme are the
basic qualities of backward children. They cannot pace with class in academic progress. They are
poor in one subject or may be poor in all subjects. They are also poor in doing the home assignments
or class assignment. They have the poor interaction with teacher and poor participation in classroom
activities. They are low achievers and weak in examination and class tests.

22.3 Types of Backward Children

These 'backward children' can be placed under three categories: Those who show signs of brain
damage or neurological deficit like Aphasias (can see and read the words but cannot say what it
means-can bear words but cannot given their meaning-can hear and see words but cannot write).
The use of unaffected sensory apparatus (Vision or Hearing) and hands in building up proper
meaningful associations yield positive result in this case. Reports reveal the some children have
either been forced to change from their left-handedness to right-handedness or have a 'Split-literality'
(Crossed-Eye-Hand Dominance), i.e., they have a dominant right-handiness with a left evenness or
difference in the perception and shape of the object through their left and right eyes. This is popularly
know as 'Primary Reading Disability.'

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