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105
in institutions for higher education whose health renders exceptional attention
advisable ; teachers proceeding overseas under the interchange scheme ; teachers
returning to duty after extended leave of absence (i.) owing to personal illness;
(ii.) for educational purposes; (iii.) married women under E.22 of the Regulations ;
teachers about to apply for a breakdown allowance ; applications for special consideration
owing to wounds, etc., of teachers demobilised from H.M. Forces ; and
claims received from teachers and others in the permanent service for exceptional
treatment as regards sick pay and reimbursement of medical and other expenses,
in respect of illnesses alleged to be due to the conditions under which they may
have to work. The number dealt with was 3,751 as compared with 3,154 in 1923,
an increase of 597, due largely to extensive sickness in the early part of the year.
The major part of these were teachers of whom 653 were men and 2,762 women.
In connection with sick leave, 62 per cent, of the teachers were over 40 years of age;
the average age of the Council's teaching service is 38 vears.
All applicants for admission to the Council s course of physical instruction
instituted in 1920, to train teachers to carry out the provisions of the Education
Act, 1918, relative to the physical education of school children, were examined.
During the year, of the 151 candidates examined, 16 were rejected.
Physical
education of
teachers.
The arrangements made in 1922, whereby medical advice could be given upon
accidents or sudden illness at the County Hall were continued in 1924, when 207
cases were attended. Generally the cases were of a minor character, and of the
61 cases of injury, only four were serious.
Accidents
and sudden
illness at
County Hall.
Defective Children.
The total number of examinations conducted under the Education Act during
the vear was 25.164—an increase of 785 on 1923.
5,418 admission examinations were held as compared with 4,944 in 1923. 1,935
children (1,033 boys and 902 girls) were deemed suitable to attend elementary
schools, 85 (51 boys and 34 girls) schools for the blind, 268 (128 boys and 140 girls)
schools for myopes, 254 (137 boys and 117 girls) Swanley, 933 (501 boys and 432
girls) physically defective schools, 1,129 (619 boys and 510 girls) mentally defective
schools, 12 (7 boys and 5 girls) open-air school?, 66 (30 boys and 36 girls) schools
for the hard-of-hearing, 110 (59 boys and 51 girls) schools for the deaf ; 41 (25 boys
and 16 girls) were epileptic, 502 (235 boys and 267 girls) invalided from school
attendance, 70 (38 boys and 32 girls) deemed to be imbeciles and 13 (7 boys and
6 girls) idiots.
Admission
examinations
The special schools were visited at least once a quarter and every child was seen
at least once during the year, the total examinations amounting to 19,312 ; in
addition, 350 special examinations were made of children already on the rolls of
special schools in connection with applications for non-enforcement of attendance
at special schools, etc. As a result the following re-classification took place :—245
returned on improvement to elementary schools ; 12 to schools for the deaf and
hard-of-hearing ; 8 to schools for the blind and partially blind ; 22 from schools
for the physically defective to schools for the mentally defective ; 48 were excluded
as imbecile ; 48 were invalided on medical grounds ; and 451, over 14 years of age,
were excluded as no longer certifiable. Examinations were also conducted in 84
cases with a view to ascertaining fitness for education in industrial or reformatory
schools.
There are 4 residential industrial schools, 6 residential schools (2 for blind,
2 for deaf, 1 for defective deaf and 1 for mentally defective children), with a total
accommodation for 820 residential and 161 day scholars. To each institution is
allocated a medical officer and provision has been made for dental inspection and
treatment. During the year 713 boys were admitted to Pentonville-road Place
of Detention, and 299 girls and infants to Ponton-road.
Residential
schools.