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Improved obstetrics and operative techniques will, however, increase
the number of children with congenital deformities who are likely
to survive and require special educational treatment. Improved
obstetrics may, however, reduce the number of cases of cerebral
palsy (and perhaps of deafness).
It would appear that in this field at least only further
research into the causes of congenital defects and the elimination
of harmful ante-natal influences can further reduce the number of
handicapped children.
Change of Name of the Tottenham School for the Deaf
In a letter to the Borough Education Officer, Mr. J. Power,
MA., Miss Nevile, the first headmistress to the School, writes:-
"In giving my permission for the Tottenham School for the Deaf
to be renamed "The Blanche Nevile School", I wish to say how greatly
I appreciate the honour done me by such a suggestion.
My mind goes back to a certain day in 1895 when, in pursuance
of the Deaf Education Act of 1893, the then Tottenham School Board
appointed me to open the school.
I did so - in one room - where I found 7 deaf mute children
boys and girls - ranging in age from 5 to 15 years.
I was fresh from a special training college and this was a
stiff problem in classification! I could only solve it by
dividing each session into 5 periods of speech and language
training and devising suitable and varied occupation for the restless
pupils not under special instruction.
The strain was severe and it naturally became my ambition to
interest the neighbouring authorities and so to increase numbers,
thereby making possible proper classification, so that every child
could receive full-time instruction.
This took years and as my mind goes back, I realise how much
I owed in those difficult times to the sympathetic understanding
from the Inspectorate of the Board of Education, the help of the
local Education Authority, the wonderful co-operation of my staff
and the great courtesy of other schools in England, Germany and
America.
In these schools I was welcome to gather anything I could to
assist me in solving my own problem.