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action. But with regard to the two other classes of mentally
defectives—27 in number—I think it would be advisable to form
for them a special class.
These children are all defective in divers ways. Some are
defective, especially as regards reading, some writing, some
arithmetic, and none of them have acquired the attainments of
children much their juniors. Others have outbursts of temper, or
temporary loss of memory and thus border on the epileptic. As
they are unable to keep pace with the children in the ordinary
classes, they are allowed to slip further and further behind.
Nearly all these cases should receive abundant manual instruction,
so as to train their minds by means of their hands.
Cost.—A class could be formed for these children under the
Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act,
1899. The only extra cost for such a class would be as regards
the staff—a teacher for this class of child being allowed only 20
pupils.
(b). Physically Defective Children.
Definition.—These are children who by reason of physical
defects, are incapable of receiving proper benefit from the instruction
in the ordinary public elementary schools, but are not
incapable by reason of such defects, of receiving benefit from
instruction in special classes or schools.
Powers of Education Committee.—The Education Committee
has power to establish special classes or schools for such
children.
Number.—An examination of the records of medical inspection
for the past three years shows that about 1.5 per cent, of
the school population, i.e., about 100 children belong to the class
of physically defective as defined above.
Diseases.—These children suffer from consumption and other
tuberculous diseases, anaemia and mulnutrition, chronic glandular
enlargements, rickets, lateral curvature, infantile paralysis, St.
Vitus Dance, heart disease, etc. Many of these maladies are of
long duration and if the child is to have a chance in after life,