'n Veranderde milieu vir die gedragsafwykende leerling

Abstract

The environment, which includes the immediate milieu of the child, influences the child in his totality. The environment has an influence in all spheres of the child's life, such as in the intellectual and mental, on those personality traits which will develop into dominant ones, the emotional sphere, which includes anxiety, his attitude and disposition towards other people and towards objects, his relationships with others and his level of academic achievement. The aim of this study is to determine whether an altered milieu - a change from the parental home to a special school - will have a verifiable influence on the personality and academic achievements of children with behavioural deviations. Available literature on the personality, intelligence and academic achievement of both the well-adjusted and maladjusted child, the origin of misbehaviour, the manifestations of misbehaviour and the milieu as both causative and therapeutic factor in behavioural deviations was studied. The sample consisted of all Standard 6, Standard 7 and Standard 8 pupils of both sexes who were referred to the special school from their parental homes in the course of the first term. A selected battery of tests, consisting of standardized psychometric tests was applied individually to the subjects upon their arrival at the special school. After a period of at least six months the subjects were given the same battery of tests in a group, with the exception of the intelligence test, which was taken down individually. The test and background data were then tabulated and some generally valid conclusions were reached which could be made applicable to the group as a whole. After a period of sojourn at the special school, for example, the subjects did better academically and fewer failures occurred than in previous years. Their average intelligence quotient improved, but their anxiety level increased and their general level of study orientation deteriorated. Personality traits which figured more prominently included self-confidence, group dependency, dominance and activity. Lethargy as a result of increased ergic tension decreased and the subjects were less phlegmatic and diffident. One could then come to the conclusion that a changed milieu does bring about a change as regards the academic achievement and certain personality traits of the subjects.