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110
three-hours paper. All three gained honours certificates with three distinctions each
—a very brilliant and helpful result which shows that even working under restricted
conditions, students of ability can excel. Still more satisfactory was the observation
that in one case there had been no increase in the myopia while the girl was under
supervision and in the others, the mean increase per year was only 0-21 and 0-3
dioptres per year respectively.
The experiment will be continued and extended to other schools, and it is hoped
that shortly the pupils will have attained such proficiency in touch typing that this
method, which will involve considerably less eye strain, may be used to answer
certain papers. The results are very hopeful for the future, though it is clear that
a selection will have to be made of the pupils who may be allowed to work for an
examination; the point to be considered being the degree and progress of the
myopia, the condition of the fundi, the general health and ability of the student and
in particular the powers of memorising.
At the end of 1929 the number of girls being taught under sight-saving conditions
was :—Clapton secondary school, 33; Peckham secondary school, 26; while 12
boys were under instruction of a somewhat similar land at the Raine's Foundation
school. The head of the latter reported that the boys' work was particularly good
and that he had now little difficulty in getting them to obey the sight-saving regulations.
None of these boys was at the date of the enquiry over 15 years of age.
Forty myopes were under special instruction at the Ensham and Hugh Myddelton
central schools. They were reported to be doing well and in some cases heading
their classes. At one school they were said to "shine" particularly in memory
tests—a clear indication that their education is on the right lines.
The whole experiment is full of promise for the future and seems to be opening
a way to reduce the serious handicap from which such pupils have suffered in the
past, when they were practically forced to choose between risking their eyesight
or refraining from study. Anything which will enable the handicap to be overcome
is deserving of imitation and extension, and praise is due to the energy and
enthusiasm of the late Miss Knight who, as head mistress of the Peckham secondary
school, showed a sympathetic understanding of the special needs of children of this
type and helped materially to overcome all obstacles.
Feeding of Children.
Dinners are provided for necessitous children. These follow menus which have
been approved by the school medical officer. Occasional sampling of actual meals
given to the children is carried out in order to ensure that each child receives the
correct quantities of nitrogenous and calorific elements. Eight samples were
examined during the year in the Council's Central Laboratory, and found to be
satisfactory.
The attention of the school medical service is chiefly bestowed upon the children
receiving " milk meals " or " oil meals." Right from the time of the passing of the
Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, it has been the practice in London for
the school doctors to prescribe milk or oil in school for debilitated or anaemic children
coming under their notice. The children placed upon the milk or oil list in school
are weighed regularly by the school nurses and kept under constant periodic examination
by the school doctors. Excluding special schools the numbers of " milk
meals " given during 1929 in the elementary schools under the above-mentioned
provisions were :—
To necessitous children 1,651,169
To non-necessitous children 2,360,433
Total 4,011,602