The pediatrician and school difficulties
Vermeil, G.; Boulard, P.; Dailly, R.; Guran, P.
Archives Francaises de Pediatrie 36(6): 619-628
1979
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9764 PMID: 526117 Document Number: 145189
Difficulties at school are amongst the most frequent encountered in paediatric practice but paediatricians are infrequently consulted by those who are responsible for the children from day to day. As a result decisions are often contrary to the elementary principles of physiology. Unfortunately the chronological age is still the important criteria for determining school progress. Thus the age for learning to read is fixed arbitrarily at 6 years. Small children have specific difficulties even though they are normal intellectually. Overall the rhythm of life of the child is not considered by the exacting scholastic requirements. Finally the school forgets the need of the sick child too easily and demands a major effort of adaptation without making any allowances itself.