View report page

139
As far as the number of educable mentally defective children
in Ilford is concerned, it should be noted that the Board
of Education has written pointing out that the estimated
incidence-rate is 8.6 per 1,000, while the actual figure in Ilford
is 3.6 per 1,000. This latter figure, however, is the same as in
1914, when the Mental Deficiency Regulations first came into
force. It would appear; therefore, that either (a) the number
educable mental defectives is much less in Ilford than elsewhere
; or (6) the standard of mental deficiency adopted by
Dr. Oates and myself is higher; or (c) all the cases are not
being notified to us from the schools.
In order to test the latter point the Director of Education
has obtained from the Head Teachers the names of 44 children
of the ages 10-11 who are educationally retarded three
or more years, and I propose to examine the mental condition
of these children in due course.
It is, in my opinion, very undesirable that children should
be admitted to handicraft or manual classes for backward
children, until their mental condition has been reported upon.
It was proposed in August, 1920, to institute a Day Special
School at Newbury Park Junior Mixed School, for mentally
defective children, which received the commendation of the
Board of Education. After prolonged negotiations the scheme
was abandoned in February, 1921, on the grounds of economy,
owing to representations then received from the Board of
Education.
The following table shows the number of educable mentally
defective children under the age of 16 years, who have been
examined and certified as mentally defective:—
Total number 48

It will thus be seen that there are 23 boys and 15 girls
for whom special provision is required. Of these, 8 are 14
years of age or over,