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106
Mentally and Physically Defective Children.
The problem of educating children who suffer from some
mental or physical defect is always a difficult one, and the
special local conditions of the district need to be carefully
considered.
In the case of children suffering from a certain amount of
physical deformity, such as slight infantile paralysis, it is often
found possible to retain them in the ordinary schools on
making special arrangements with the teachers that these
children leave school a few moments before the general
dismissal. Parents are warned that full responsibility cannot
be undertaken in case of accident, but they generally appear
glad to keep the children at the local schools.
During the past year we visited some of the London
County Council Schools for the Physically Defective children
to judge what degree of deformity procured admission to
these schools.
In several instances the defects were not more severe than
in the case of those children who attend the ordinary schools
in our own district, but the difficulties of traffic in London
probably make a special school necessary.
In last year's report an account was given of 56 children
who were considered either physically or mentally defective.
Where necessary, these children have been re-examined
and kept under observation through 1909.
Of the 26 children examined last year who were classified
as backward, 4 have left school, 2 have left the district, I
shows marked improvement, 19 are making slight progress,
but are much behind the normal development to be expected
from their age.