engleski

DIFFERENCES IN VARIETY AND DEGREES OF PSYCHOPHYSICAL PROBLEMS OF URBAN AND RURAL SCHOOL CHILDREN

Introduction: The goal is to analyze the differences in psychophysical conditions of urban and rural school children enrolling 1st grade elementary school. Methods: A commission for determination of psychophysical condition of child enrolling 1st grade elementary school is constituted of school medicine specialist, psychologist or pedagogue, teacher and speech rehabilitator. Medical examination by school medicine specialist is an obligatory part of commission procedure. Commission determines eight categories of problems: Vision, hearing, speech, physical disability, mental retardation, autism, behavior disorder and combined disorders. Results: First three problems in Zagreb (Croatia’ s capital) are: speech and language problems (44, 7%), physical disability (36, 6%) and mental disability (10, 5%). First three problems in Ivanec (rural area of Varaždinska County) are: mental disability (62, 5%), children with combined disorders (20, 2%) and speech and language problems (7, 2%). Regarding the variety and degree of problems Commission is determine the type of educational program: regular school program with rehabilitation support, special school program related to psychophysical condition and school programs in schools for children with special needs. Conclusion: Results implicate great differences regarding urban and rural area and importance of Commission work for determination of the best school program for every single child.

psychophysical conditions; urban and rural areas; elementary school

nije evidentirano