Blonskiy. [Difficult students]

Abstract:
A rare edition, compiled from the lectures of 1927/28 about psychological difficult students (schoolers). A typology of unsuccessful students is given here. “There should be patience and attention to the underachieving, but there should be no pessimism towards them, as towards the masses doomed to failure in advance fatally under any conditions.” Poor adaptability to the educational space is emphasized. The author warns against identifying the unsuccessful with the ignorant. The underachieving student has trouble adjusting to the school environment, but excels strongly in sports and the arts. In terms of mental underdevelopment, a defect in the blood supply and development of the cerebral hemispheres, the work of the frontal lobes, and a connection with a healthy diet are indicated. “Not failure is the cause of disorganization, but, conversely, disorganization is the cause of failure. Emotionally exciting, unwinding upbringing of disorganizers is unacceptable. To intimidate them, to irritate them, to excite them in general, even joyfully, means about the same as treating a drunkard with vodka. Their teacher should be not only calm, but firm, definite. Such categories of students as psychopaths and epileptics are considered. Only children are singled out in an independent problem category.