View report page

82
more difficult to disprove than in tho case of the normal child, in order to mind the baby, look
after the house, run errands, etc.
Apart from these two, unfortunately not uncommon, causes of absence, children are often
away for real or unreal minor complaints. In the latter case these are usually diagnosed by the
over-possessive mother referred to above, and in this case the child is often kept at home when
it would be far better off at school. It has been suggested that parents, too, no less than medical
men, do not realise the care and attention that are given to these children in school, and that
much might be done to educate public opinion in this direction.
Otherwise the children may be away for coughs, colds, attacks of influenza, and other usual
ailments of children. They appear to be particularly affected by foggy weather, and also by
slight digestive trouble.
Bowel troubles are also a cause of absence in certain cases. It is found that in general neither
the parents nor the children pay nearly enough attention to this vitally important detail, and
that many of the children suffer from partial constipation. This is a detail which has to be
continually supervised at school, and with regard to which education of the public is also greatly
to be desired. Here again the lack of physical discipline of any kind is one of the greatest disadvantages
of these children. It is usually found either that the parents have not the slightest
idea of taking the trouble to train their child into regular habits, or that they have still less
idea that it could possibly be of any importance to do so. Here again, education of the parent
rather than supervision of the child is the goal to which one should look.
The care committees represent the co-operation of the private citizen in the care of the
community. There are between five and six thousand voluntary workers in London, who are
assisted by a small band of paid trained workers, who co-ordinate the work of the others, and
assist new-comers to understand what they have to do. The actual duties of the care committees
are as follows :—-
(i) To see that no child in need of food is unprovided for, either at home, or through
the school, and to discriminate between the necessitous and the non-necessitous home.
(ii) To see that no child found by the school doctor to require medical advice or
treatment fails to receive it.
(iii) To see that no child leaving school shall do so in ignorance of the possibilities
the district holds for suitable employment, further education, and social recreation.
The machinery of care committee organisation is similar in the case of the P.D. school to
that in the ordinary elementary school, with the exception that a representative of the Invalid
Children's Aid Association is always a member of the committee. This is of incalculable aid to
the committee, since it is through this organisation that convalescence is arranged for those
children whose parents would otherwise be unable to afford it, and that instruments, etc.,
prescribed for children are paid for by parents on the instalment system.
(i) In cases where the children are receiving meals at a school for the physically defective—
this is, of course, every child—parents are expected to pay the full cost of the meal, usually 4d.
for school dinner. Should they claim that they are unable to do so, the case is referred to the
care committee, who investigate the circumstances of the family, and suggest how much the parents
shall pay, or if, in special circumstances, the meal shall be given free. A similar procedure is
pursued in the case of extra milk, cod-liver oil and malt, etc., which may also be given at school
in certain circumstances. This matter of payment is essentially one that has to be arranged
with the parent, and through the care committee.
Should there be any bad neglect of the child, which the committee is unable to rectify, the
matter is passed on by them to a special officer of the Council, or, in extreme cases, to the National
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
(ii) At the school medical examination, a member of the care committee is present, and
afterwards visits parents who were unable to be there, to explain to them what the doctor said ;
making them understand what treatment is neceasary, and why ; and further seeing that it is
carried out. Arrangements for treatment at a hospital, or at one of the Council's treatment
centres are made by the care committee workers, and convalescence, etc.,is arranged,as has been
said, by the representative of the I.C.A.A. on the committee.
While children are away under treatment, or convalescing, attempts are made by the care
committee workers to improve home conditions, and to educate parents. It is found that the
education of parents is one of the most valuable and necessary parts of the work of the committee,
and that, very often through attention to the needs of one child, amelioration may be effected
in the living conditions and life of a whole family. In the case of families receiving out-relief,
etc., the committee also works with the Public Assistance Committee.
(iii) Physically defective children, after leaving school, are watched over by the After-Care
Association for Blind, Deaf and Crippled Children. (The " heart" children also come within
this association's province.) Forms in regard to the child are filled in by the teacher and the
care committee worker, and are sent to the Association, which tries to place children in situations
where they will be happy, and where the work will be within their power. They also make suggestions
regarding evening schools, clubs, etc., to each child, with reference to its individual needs.
A grant is received from the Ministry of Labour to help in the work of placing children in appropriate
situations. There is a representative from each school on the Association, and the visiting
of pupils from each school is always done by the appropriate representative. Reports are
obtained on the children for some two years after leaving.