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100
AUXILIARY CLASS.
In June, 1908, the Committee opened a small class at Whitehorse
Road for the reception of children whose mental progress was
retarded, and who could not be satisfactorily dealt with in ordinary
schools. This class was intended for children whose education for
one reason or another had been neglected, and for those who could
not be taught to read and write without more individual attention
than is possible in a ordinary class. On the other hand it was not
intended to admit children who were obviously mentally defective,
though it could not be expected that the selection of children would
in all cases be made with absolute accuracy, and in a few instances
children were purposely admitted on trial so that one might judge
from experience what their mental condition really was. The
following is the result up to the end of 1910.
In all 25 children have been admitted. Seven have been
transferred back to ordinary schools, five have left for other reasons,
and thirteen were in attendance in December, 1910.
NECESSITY FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.
The arrangements for dealing with ophthalmic diseases are
now fairly satisfactory. During the year under review, Mr. Wray
attended on one morning of the week at the Town Hall, and spent
another morning in the schools. As a result of the year's experience,
it was found that better results were obtained from the time spent
at the Town Hall, and the Committee therefore arranged that on
and after January, 1911, the ophthalmic surgeon should as a rule
work at the Town Hall, where he could undertake the further
examination and treatment of selected children, and that he
should only visit the schools when his attendance was required by
some specia. smergency or difficulty.
In my last report, the question of dental treatment was fully
discussed, and 1 then expressed the opinion that a dental surgeon
should be added to the public health staff, and that a beginning
might well be made by the appointment of a part-time dental
surgeon who would assist in inspections and undertake treatment of
some of the more urgent cases. By proceeding in this wav, we
should be able to ascertain the amount of time required for treating
school children and the probable expense of a complete scheme.
On consideration of this report, the Committee decided in the first
instance they would endeavour to get the Guardians to undertake