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180
'underground', the transition class ventures further afield to London
and calls at a local cafe for refreshments are encouraged. Without
doubt, social awareness in these children is increasing, and with the
Centre's growth more and more points of interest are introduced.
For example, animals suitable to various sections have been obtained
and the children are gradually becoming responsible for their wellbeing.
Need for teachers with specific qualities was realised and great
care has been taken in selecting the extra staff required for the increasing
numbers. In recruiting staff of excellent calibre, we have
blended younger staff with older and, within the Centre we now
have teachers possessing a whole range of abilities, all being employed
to the children's advantage.
It would be fair comment to say that, during this year, the
Centre has drawn closer to educational methods of the primary
schools and that the gap between education in its fullest sense and
'training' is gradually being narrowed.
Six students have undergone periods of training at Maze Hill
and a large number of visitors, both from home and overseas, have
been accommodated.
Park Vista Training Centre
Held on lease, this Centre comprises the ground and first
floors of the premises of a private undertaking and provides facilities
for 60 adult girls, 42 of whom are Greenwich residents, 13 from
Lewisham with 5 vacancies. Its ground floor accommodation consists
of,
(a) a large room used as the supervisor's office and for medical
examinations,
(b) a further large room, capable of being divided into two
rooms by a movable partition, which is used for the work
and training of the most severely subnormal girls and,
(c) a dining room and kitchen adapted from its previous use
as a Hall. Although meals for the centre are supplied by
the School Meals Service, the latter rooms are used for
the teaching of plain cooking and laundering.
Outwork and training are carried out in the main hall on the
upper floor which is also utilized on Thursday evenings by the Park
Vista Club. Outwork is simple and consists mainly of carding
stationery display cards while other occupational work carried out
includes needlework, knitting, rugmaking, etc. Trainees are conveyed
to the centre by coach.
This centre has not made the progress one would have wished
and, although the girls are quite happy with the present situation
whereby they earn a little pocket money which makes them feel more