From 'Levin mental deficiency colony' to 'Levin Hospital and Training School' 1945-1965

Abstract

This thesis is an historical review of Levin Hospital and Training School (one of NZ's psychopaedic hospitals) between 1945 and 1965. It is limited to this particular area of the wide field of mental retardation Mental retardation is a tarm which has come to have a wide range of meanings. In this study the terms 'mentally retarded' mentally handincapped, 'mentally defective' and (Intellectually handicapped' will mean those with IQs below 50 (namely the 'trainable' and 'severely retarded'.) and although reference will be made to developments and attitudes in the rest of NZ and overseas, as well as to current thinking on programmes, basically the study will be restricted to Levin Hospital and Training School. As should become clearer, the changes in attitude and approach there reflected those in society at large. A number of educators, including Tizard, have shown interest in Levin Hospital and Training School and expressed a concern that some of the work be documented to act as reference in future developments. This study has aimed to perform this function while the originators of the ideas and changes were still available for questioning and explanation.