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Unit 23: Identification, Causes, Problems of Backward and Delinquent Children

1. Observation Method: It is both formal and informal method of identifying backward children. Notes
Teachers and parents use this method. They observe their wards and pupils daily in home and in
classroom.
2. Mental Tests: Its group test of intelligence, verbal and non-verbal are used to measure the mental
age of the students. By comparing mental age with chronological, the backwardness can be identified.
This is a statistical method.
3. Achievement Test: Achievement tests in school subjects can be used to assess the level of
achievement. If the child is poor in all subjects, it will be considered as general backwardness. This
child is poor in one subject it will be treated as specific backwardness.
4. Personality Inventory and Case Study: The adjustment inventory is used for identifying the area
maladjustment. The school maladjustment, indicates the backwardness. The school records or
conducting case study of the child can also be used for locating the backwardness.

23.2 Etiology of Backwardness (Causes)

There are several cause of backwardness, some important causes have been listed here:
1. Low intelligence, 2. Physical cause,
3. Poor environment of family 4. Truancy,
5. Poor conditions of school, 6. Postural defects.
There may be other causes of backwardness, it depends on the individual conditions of living.
1. Physical cause: Physical defect may be also equally important in contributing towards
backwardness. Schonell how found about 75% backwardness is due to the various types of physical
diseases and defects e.g., defective eyesight, hard of hearing, speech defects chronic diseases (like
typhoid, toncild, cough trouble, stomach trouble) poor nourishment and physical deformities. Burt
has found the following facts through his studies: (1) 30% of backward children were poorly nourished,
(2) 10% very seriously ill nourished, (3) 37% were suffering from tonsils, speech defects-stammering
and suturing He has noted that eyesight and hard hearing was the most common cause.
2. Postural Defects: Postural defects may be of two types, (a) acquired, and other (b) innate. Postural
defects may lead to the defects in vertebral column, which may lead to lack of concentration and
sitting for long period and hence promote backwardness. Burt has found that they were very excitable
and emotional. Boys were found more dominance and girls were noted with submissive and timed
nature. These students are either more talkative, responsive, excitable and emotionally instable or
they may be slow, submissive, timid, repressed and nervous.
3. Poor Environment of Family: Burt has found that 12% of backward children were having poor
home environment and 8% were having poor school atmosphere. If the home environment is poor,
the parents cannot manage even essential reading books etc. for their children and therefore they
become backward. Thus, low economic conditions of home may lead to many complexes regarding
reading material, clothing's (uniforms), Fees etc. The backwards and sympathy from their parents.
They feel neglected and becomes backward. The following other factors related to home also contribute
towards backwardness: 1. Presences of step father and step mother, 2. Quarrels in the family, 3.
Authoritarian atmosphere, 4. Mental abnormality of the parents, 5. Unhealthy sibling's competitions,
6. Low social status of the family, 7. Poverty, 8. Overcrowding in family, 9. Position of the family, 10.
Bed neighborhood, 11. Lack of appreciation from parents on success and achievements, and 12.
Unfavorable comparison by parents.
4. Poor Conditions of School: If the teachers in the schools are not sympathetic, do not love and take
care of their students, do not have willingness to work, may be give rise to more backward students.
Horror of teacher, lack of personnel guidance programmes, harsh treatment of teachers etc., are
some other important cause of backwardness in schools. In efficient and untrained teachers, wrong
and unpsychological teaching methods, defective time table, lack of interest in the subject, unhygienic
conditions in schools and long absence in school due to illness etc., are also the factors which are
responsible for backwardness.

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