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Blind and Deaf Children Act, 1893. The most striking difference between the two Acts
was that, while the Blind and Deaf Act made the education of the blind and deaf compulsory
upon the education authority and upon the parent, the Defective and Epileptic
Act was merely permissive. The school authority was at liberty to adopt its provisions
or not as it saw fit, and the obligation to educate a defective or epileptic child between
7 and 16 years of age was only imposed upon the parent' where a special class or school
is within reach of the child's residence.' The school authority (in London, the School
Board) had power to ascertain the number of children in its district who, without being
either imbecile, on the one hand, or merely dull and backward, on the other, were,
by reason of physical or mental defect, incapable of receiving proper benefit from the
instruction given in the ordinary schools. A parent was given the right to present his
child to the school authority for medical examination and also could be compelled to
do so under a penalty not exceeding five pounds. A child was not 'ascertained' under
the Act to be defective or epileptic until it had been so certified by a qualified medical
practitioner. After the passage of the Defective and Epileptic Children Act, the medical
work in the Board's schools for mentally and physically defective children (which had,
until then, been on a 'voluntary' basis) was placed on a statutory basis.
In 1898, a committee connected with the Passmore Edwards Settlement in Tavistock
Place had made an application to the Special Schools Sub-Committee for the establishment
of an invalid children's school in rooms belonging to the settlement. They pointed
out that some invalid children's classes already existed in London, carried on by
voluntary societies. The Board agreed to the proposal, which involved purely educational
expenses only, the Settlement Committee providing the ambulance and nursing.
The sanction of the Education Department was given on 26th January, 1899, and the
school was opened on 28th February, 1899.
In 1900, a committee composed of members of the School Board and specialists
reported in favour of the establishment of separate schools for the physically defective
of normal intelligence. This recommendation was accepted by the School Board;
the Board of Education accepted the proposal, and consented to the provision of such
schools in districts where the accommodation was required. Cripple or invalid children
who were also mentally defective were not admitted to these schools, but it was decided,
where possible, that children suffering from the double handicap should be taught in
the schools for the mentally defective, to which they were to be taken by ambulance.
Each cripple school was managed by a local committee and there were a trained nurse
and helper, and one or two ambulances, according to the number of children to be
collected.
The work of the cripple schools was supplemented by a voluntary society called the
'Cripple Children's After-Training and Dinner Societywhich, in addition to
arranging for a midday meal in each school, endeavoured to provide special training
for cripples when they reached the age of 16 years or to apprentice them to suitable
trades.
The Council's day schools for physically handicapped children are intended for
those children whose handicap is not so severe as to necessitate boarding accommodation.
These children live at home and are conveyed to and from school by the Council's
buses specially adapted for the purpose. In the day school every child is examined by
the school doctor on admission, and thereafter once a year. Arrangements are also made
for any ailing child to be specially examined. In addition each child suffering from an
orthopaedic defect is examined at the school by the Council's Consulting Orthopaedic
Surgeon once every six months. Before leaving, a special report is made giving advice
as to future occupation and notes of any contra-indications.
The Council's boarding schools are intended primarily for those children whose
handicap is so severe that they should live and be taught on the same premises. Of the
two boarding schools at present maintained by the Council one provides for girls and
the other for boys. The age range at both schools is from 5 to 16.
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