This study investigates the demographic, behavioral, and educational characteristics of children placed in residential schools for the maladjusted within the Scottish education system. Henry S. McNair, writing under the auspices of the Moray House College of Education, utilizes empirical data collection to assess the institutional environment and the specific needs of the student population. The work provides a framework for understanding the criteria for placement and the efficacy of residential interventions during the period of the study.

Researchers and historians of Scottish education view this publication as a primary source for understanding mid-20th-century institutional approaches to behavioral difficulties. The text is noted for its clinical focus and provides a foundational baseline for subsequent studies on special education policy in the region.