Mentally Defective Children

"Mentally Defective Children" by Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon is a scientific publication written in the early 20th century. This work delves into the identification, classification, and educational needs of mentally defective children, exploring the psychological underpinnings of their condition. The authors aim to highlight the importance of tailored educational approaches that cater to the specific needs of these children, presenting various intelligence tests and psychological evaluations. The opening of the book introduces the pressing social issue surrounding mentally defective children and the necessity for a refined educational system designed to support them. The text emphasizes that many children with mental deficiencies often remain unnoticed in regular classrooms, leading to a lack of adequate support. The authors argue that a collaborative effort between educators, doctors, and psychologists is essential to identify these children accurately and to provide them with appropriate educational resources that align with their unique needs. This comprehensive approach is presented against the backdrop of the authors' extensive research and experiences, aiming to foster a better understanding of the vital role societal structures play in combating educational challenges faced by mentally defective children. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Binet, born Alfredo Binetti, was a French psychologist who together with Théodore Simon invented the first practical intelligence test, the Binet–Simon test. In 1904, Binet took part in a commission set up by the French Ministry of Education to decide whether school children with learning difficulties should be sent to a special boarding school attached to a lunatic asylum, as advocated by the French psychiatrist and politician Désiré-Magloire Bourneville, or whether they should be educated in classes attached to regular schools as advocated by the Société libre pour l'étude psychologique de l'enfant (SLEPE) of which Binet was a member. There was also debate over who should decide whether a child was capable enough for regular education. Bourneville argued that a psychiatrist should do this based on a medical examination. Binet and Simon wanted this to be based on objective evidence. This was the beginning of the IQ test. A preliminary version was published in 1905. The full version was published in 1908, and slightly revised in 1911, just before Binet's death.