Search

A recent paper published in this journal (Poole & Kuhn, 1973) has reported that ‘a relatively large family appeared to be no impediment to the educational achievements of middle-class children’. This finding, however, is based upon an analysis which fell into a relatively unknown statistical trap. Poole & Kuhn are only the latest in a long line of victims of this trap and some of their predecessors are reviewed below. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents the first part of a three-part series of articles focusing on the issues pertaining to social psychology of exceptional children. It must be pointed out that there is a lack of conclusive evidence of direct causal relationships between sensory, motor, and neurological deficits and the adjustment of physically handicapped children. The material presented in this paper supports the clinical evidence and upon the professional judgments of educators. In conclusion, it was found out that physical factors in the socially adjustment of exceptional children provides a more reliable source of criterion data.

An anomaly is described, the symptoms of which have hitherto received but little attention and have been misinterpreted, viz, abnormally short roots of characteristically plump shape mainly affecting both maxillary central incisors. The author calls it Short Root anomaly or, in short, the SR-anomaly. This paper describes a method for radiographically measuring "the relative root length" which permits quantitative comparisons of the roots in clinical series. Clinical, radiographic and metric examinations were performed on 112 children with abnormally short roots of the maxillary central incisors, 66 children with certain types of external root resorption of the maxillary incisors, and 100 children with normally developed roots used as a control group. The findings, together with available data from the scanty literature, suggest the following conclusions: (1) Irrespective of sex, the length of the root of the maxillary central incisor ("relative root length") is, on the average, 1.6 times that of the length of the crown, and the corresponding ratio in. children with SR-anomaly is 1.1. (2) The SR-anomaly is associated with a predisposition to root resorption in the maxillary front teeth. (3) The shortness of the roots is not due to resorption or to any developmental disturbance of exogenous origin. The condition is a constitutional anomaly and its prevalence varies with sex, race and hereditary predisposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Last year 6,300 children under 15 years of age died in motor vehicle accidents. This number would have been reduced if all children and infants had been properly restrained. The purpose of this paper is to give information and suggestions to help enable the practicing physician to understand what restraining devices to prescribe. It is recommended that children from birth to the time they are 12 lb in weight be transported in a rear seat bassinet or car bed held in place by front and rear seat safety belts. The bassinet should be parallel to the long axis of the car, with the infant in a feet-forward position. Children from 12 to 24 lb should be placed in a properly constructed rear seat safety harness. Children from 24 to 48 lb should be placed in a rear seat, shield-type system. Children weighing more than 50 lb should use the adult lap belt, and, when their height exceeds 55 in., the adult shoulder harness should also be used. The physician is in a position to be effective in prescribing the proper device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses paternal reactions in childhood as described by schizophrenics and alcoholics. Factors were found which differentiated significantly between these groups. At the same time as the data on the mothers were collected, these subjects were also requested to fill out a similar form covering the fathers' reactions, and the present paper describes the results of a factor analysis of these protocols. The Perception of Parent Behavior Scale was administered to all subjects. This Scale consists of 75 items, each consisting of a brief description of some act in which a child might engage, and the subjects were requested to select at least 35 from this list which would have "bothered" their parents most when they were children.

In accordance with JBS policy, Mrs Poole was offered the opportunity of replying to Mr Bytheway, for simultaneous publication with his paper. Her comment, which has been seen by Mr Bytheway, appears below. So far as JBS is concerned, the discussion is now closed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]