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* . EFORE presenting my report on “Auxili- ary Classes," I want to bring to your .attention an error in my last report. The ward I mentioned Was the Annual Greer emorial Award. It amounts to approximate y $425.00 and is given by the Ontario Educaâ€" i ional Association to the person or Association , ho makes the greatest contribution to educa~ ,ion in the Province. Last year it was awarded 0 the Association for Retarded Children and as given to Dr. Stothers. In gathering material for this report Mrs. art has again been most helpful Mrs. Keatâ€" ' g, the third member on our committee, has 150 given assistance. Speaking at the London Area Convention, iss Edna McCallum, a teacher of handi- i apped children in London, lauded the l' omen's Institute for urging Auxiliary Classes or retarded children in rural areas, As I " entioned in my last report, the Ontario De- artment of Education does have a service or rural schools. Any school can ask the epartment for a survey to discover handiâ€" apped children. Then the Department can i ake recommendations to teachers and inspecâ€" ors. In her address Miss McCallum urged the ‘v omen's Institute to further the cause by ncouraging the teachers to take special curses in handling handicapped children. She aid it would be our most valuable contribu- ioni Now, I know the question in many minds is, lWhat training is necessary to qualifiy for {" uxiliary Class teaching?" 1, A teacher must have at least two years‘ uccessful teaching in regular classes. either > ral or urban. 2. Special summer courses are given at arvis Street School for boys, 361 Jarvis St, .1 oronto. 3. Teachers are required to spend two sumâ€" tn ers studying but are permitted to teach after til e first summer. It is not necessary to take ’_ e second summer immediately following the first. . 4. If the teacher decides to go on, there is rovision made for a third summer course but i? is is a matter of choice. 5. On completion of the second summer ourse the teacher receives an Interim Auxili- y Class certificate which is made permanent fter two years‘ successful teaching in Auxili- ry' werk. 6. The subject matter taught pertains to pecial Education, Another question some of you will want to : k is, “How much does the course cost?" A acher can rent a room in the summer from .' .00 to $9.00 a week. She would have her «J eals to pay for; or she may be able to get "INTER 1956 A uxiliary Classes By MRS. W. A. DAVIDSON board for around $12.00 a week, Then there would be incidentals like car fare. One could estimate $100.00 or a little more for the summer. There are quite a large number of teachers in the Province who hold supervisors‘ or spe- cialists' certificates. This requires a University Degree over and above the special training. Another question which was asked me was. "Has the teacher in our crowded schools suffiâ€" cient training?" Of course the answer is "No." Mr. J. F. Stinson, Inspector of Auxiliary Serv- ices, says that while trained personnel are at a premium, to give this type of work to an untrained person might do more harm than good. Mr. Robert Oliver, who is psychology teacher at Stratford Teachers' College, adds that Auxiliary education requires the services of a teacher with a particular type of temperaâ€" ment and a specific classroom experience. Still another question I received was, "Would it be possible to transport children to an urban school?" Mr. W. R. McVittie, Inspec- tor for Public Schools for Wellington South, advises that the best solution would be to pro- vide transportation to an urban centre where Auxiliary Classes have been established, and where it would be necessary to pay the tuition costs per pupil plus the transportation costs. It would be advisable for any rural board to seek the co-operation of the neighbouring urban centre in setting up such a class. I also risked Mri MCVittic this question: "is it feasible to establish Auxiliary Classes in rural areas to which pupils might be trans- ported?” To this question he replied that where there were eight or ten or more aggraâ€" vated cases, an Auxiliary Class. in his opinion. would be warranted and quite feasible {inane cially if two inspectorates were being served. At one time Opportunity Units were ex- plained to students in Teachers' Colleges and a helpful contact was established between them and the Department of Auxiliary trainâ€" ing. Today most graduates are not aware of their purpose and use. I asked Mr. Oliver for information about this. He replied that, for a period during a change in organization, no inâ€" struction in Auxiliary Class techniques was given, but he understands it will be resude this year. I believe every teacher should have some knowledge of the work being done, not only for the handicapped but also for the ex- ceptionally gifted child. (I would recommend that we express our approval to the Departâ€" ment of Education for resuming instruction in Auxiliary techniques in our Teachers' Col- leges.) This is a bit of information you will be in- terested in: Beginning with the money from the Greer Memorial Award, Dr. Stothers is 19