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certifiable children with the exception of the ineducable are drafted
there, not only to their own advantage, but to the relief of ordinary
schools where their presence is a worry to the teachers and a
handicap to the progress of normal children. Their progress at St.
Christopher's is closely watched and yearly reports from the
scholastic, the physical, and the mental aspects are made. Thus
when they reach the age of 16 these children are well known to
those whose duty it is to supervise them. Their educational
attainments, their vocational capabilities, their reactions to school
and home environment, and their probable reaction to the experiences
of after-school life have been estimated, and in their last
term at school a decision is made regarding the best method of
continuing this supervision. Under the Mental Deficiency Act
children by virtue of inherent incapability of social adaptation,
perhaps aggravated by faulty home environment, may be referred
for admission to an Institution or placed under Guardianship.
Those who may with safety be so dealt with are put under no
restriction except the supervision of the Mental Deficiency
Authority which helps in placing such children in suitable occupations
and from time to time advises the parents in their difficulites.
In the absence of such a school, not only would control
and supervision be difficult during school life, but the advantage
of being able to deal with cases statutorily at the age of 16 would
be lost and the children would tend to drift.
Mr. Carter, the Head Teacher of the School, continues to
show much initiative in his work for the children, with very satisfactory
results. Although the relief from unfair competition in
the ordinary elementary school plays a large part in the happiness
of these children, the personality of the staff is of the utmost
importance, and at St. Christopher's is reflected in the obvious
air of contentment amongst the scholars.
The number of names on the School register at the end of the
year was 81.
Town Hall Clinic for Mentally Defective and Backward Children.
84 children were examined during 1930. The classifications
arrived at, together with the recommendations made, are sumarised
as under:—
I. (a) Certified as Mentally Defective 42
(b) Confirmed as Mentally Defective 11
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