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153
extent, so that when he happens to be looking at the speaker
he answers intelligently, and at other times misses questions
entirely.
When the defect is very slight the child may be taught
in a class with other children by placing him in the front
row. Even then the teacher has to give him special attention
to be sure that he is hearing the lesson.
Children who are more than slightly deaf, but not stone
deaf should be taught by themselves in small classes of not
more than ten, and conducted under the best possible hygienic
conditions. Such classes exist in London and other parts of
England, but the need is at present far in excess of the
supply. It must be noted here that, as in the case of the
blind children, the defect is in many instances preventable.
Many children would have been saved from deafness if
efficient treatment had been obtained early, but either the
difficulty of obtaining it was too great, or the seriousness
of the case was not recognised. Medical inspection associated
with a complete system of medical treatment should go
far to prevent deafness, but it must be remembered that
many of the diseases giving rise to deafness begin before
school-age, and similar attention must therefore in addition
be given to young children.

In addition, one mentally defective Willesden boy is
being educated at St. Hubert's, a mentally defective school
maintained by the London County Council.