1. Physical fitness is essential for all citizens, but it is especially important for mentally retarded children. The purpose of education on mentally retarded children are the independence of their life. Therefore, physical fitness is required for this purpose. Many of the literatures have reported that 70 percentages of co-ordination have been accomplished until 10 years old, as compared to the expected ability of adults. The purpose of this study was to examine the program of their education based on the co-ordinaton of mentally retarded children. 2. Subjects Fifty-eight children (35 boys and 23 girls) enrolled in the education and training programs at the school for the retarded, Ohori Fukuoka, and 684 normal children (354 boys and 330 girls) were tested during the summer period of 1969. 3. Results The findings of this study indicate the following: (1) Motor ability index (Oseretzky, N. I) (Mo. Q) Sugada reported on the basis of Kano-Oseretzky test that mentally retarded children are inferior to normal children. There is a continual development of motor ability on normal children with increased ages, but there is a remarkable development on mentally retarded children from 7 to 8 years old. The development of motor ability on mentally retarded children, however, is slowly increased after 8 years old. Mentally retarded children of lower IQ's showed significantly higher Mo. Q's than the retarded of higher IQ's. (2) Co-ordination a. Balance Mentally retarded children are inferior to normal children in balance ability. It was found that balance ability has been gradually increased until 9 years old, and that from 10 years old on, balance ability has been suddenly developed. b. Agility Development of agility on mentally retarded children showed an increased tendency with increasing ages. Development of agility on normal children showed sudden increasing. This may mean that a function of the nerve has been completed for the most part until 10 or 12 years old. c. Ingenuity Development of ingenuity showed significant differences between mentally retarded children and normal children, in favour of the latter. Development of ingenuity on mentally retarded children showed a great increased tendency until 10 years old from 7 years old. d. Flexibility There were not significant developmental differences in flexibility between mentally retarded children and normal children. e. Power Mentally retarded children can not show harmonized motions of the arms and legs. Significant power differences were indicated between mentally retarded children and normal children. f. Strength Strength of 11 or 12 year old mentally retarded children showed significantly inferior results to that of 7 year old normal children. g. Conclusion This study revealed that the co-ordination of the mentally retarded showed significantly inferior results to that of normal children. Both groups, however, showed an increased tendency of co-ordination ability respectively. Therefore, effective programs of education must be established for mentally retarded children.
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