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106
i. Dumbness
The child who is dumb, has never been to school but is somewhat
mentally weak. A special school might produce some improvement.
j. Microcephalv
This child was unsuitable for school attendance.
The Committee asked for a further report on these children
showing what classification should be suggested for their education
in special classes or schools.
Roughly, the following classification might be adopted:—
1. Those who might remain in an ordinary school—26 cases.
2. Those for whom a special school is advisable—8 cases.
a. Mentally defective 5 cases.
b. Physically defective 3 cases.
3. Those for whom a special class is advisable—14 cases.
4. Those unsuitable for any school—8 cases.
At present it has not been found possible to arrange a special
class for backward or mentally defective children though in some
ways this would be a great advantage. In favour of the special class
are the benefits derived from the greater individual attention which
the pupils would obtain, and there is a tendency for the pace of the
rest of the class in an ordinary school to be slackened in order that
the backward children may keep abreast of the others. On the
other hand the association of the backward children with the brighter
ones undoubtedly tends to sharpen the wits of the former.
Deaf children in the district are sent to the L.C.C. school for
the deaf in Ackmar Road. They are conducted to school and fetched
from it by a guide, and at present six Acton children are attending
this school.
Blind children are provided for in a similar manner to those
who suffer from deafness, and attend the Blind School in Edinburgh
Road. No children from the district are now in attendance, but
arrangements are being made to take a child from Beaumont Park
Girls' School who is suffering from progressive myopia in a high