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The junior scholars are aged about 11; they are the most promising pupils who have scholarships
awarded, so that they may reap the advantages of the higher education, and will in any case remain
at school till they are fourteen years of age ; the grounds of rejection must therefore be very decided.
Several who would have been rejected as pupil teachers were passed. Three cases with a comparatively
high degree of myopia were accepted. It may also be noted that several cases were seen with ciliary
spasm, in one case wrong glasses, concave, as prescribed by the optician, instead of convex, being the
cause. Sixty.six cases were seen more than twice before being passed. The cases rejected absolutely,
numbered only sixteen. Six of these were girls who were verminous, and seen many times before rejection.
Another had very high myopia, which made her unsuitable for schooling. One had nasal disease (ozcena)
which was so offensive that she was unfit for attendance. One had advanced valvular disease of the
heart. One had only one eye, and that of exceedingly defective vision (6/24). One was frequently
suffering from throat troubles due to enlarged tonsils, which actually met, but her parents could not
persuade her to submit to treatment.

This table does not, however, express to the full the amount of defects found, in the cases
referred back only the chief defect is recorded, but of these 17 per cent. had two or more defects. In
the case of probationer scholars the examination has to be somewhat stricter than with junior
scholars. Articulation which is hopelessly bad was a cause of rejection. Defective
vision in six cases, three representing high myopic conditions. One boy had aural suppuration.
On the other hand several doubtful cases were passed after the parents had been made thoroughly
alive as to the defects of their children, and the need of remedy ; for instance, a girl, aged 15.6, recorded
as having " hypertrophied tonsils, speech of nasal character, teeth a few carious stumps, scars from
gland operations, rounded shoulders (kyphosis), and very awkward gait; fit for the present" ; or
again, a boy 149 heart exceedingly irregular in force and frequency, has recently done much running."
The majority of the cases rejected, however, were recorded as " fit for a scholarship, but not as a
teacher." These are cases where there are definite signs of organic valvular trouble which would constitute
disqualification under the Superannuation Scheme of the Board of Education. Some of these
cases must certainly be rejected as, for instance, a girl aged 15 4, who had had to give up a scholarship
on account of rheumatism and chorea a year previously, and now had definite mitral regurgitation ;
others with valvular insufficiency and actually dilated hearts, but the majority are healthy children, with
no troubles whatever, who take part in all games, and are often without a history of any kind of illness.
Two boys and sixteen girls were rejected for mitral regurgitation, but of these ten were recorded
as fit for scholarship but not for teachers. Considering the nature of a teacher's employment, the absence
of great physical efforts, the usual well ordered life of self.restraint, and the freedom from alcoholism
or other vice imposed by the nature of their calling, it is probable that in the absence of a rheumatic
history these cases have as good an expectation of life as the majority of the population. They should
not therefore be cut off from the most suitable occupation, on the chance of their employment resulting
in a greater call on the superannuation funds. Some very hard cases arise when pupil teachers have passed
through their whole course and final examinations, to be ultimately refused their certificates although
recognised as in every way fit for teaching and allowed to be employed in schools, their earning capacity
is greatly and unjustly reduced, to protect the Government's superannuation funds against possible
risks.
Special scholarships include domestic economy, gardening, trade, technical, blind, deaf, cripple,
and boy artificers for the Royal Navy. They were noted as follows ;