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children with those in the ordinary elementary school for certain
lessons has been introduced, although only on a small scale.
Again, physical exercises, suitably restricted for certain children,
are now in regular use, with a noticeable improvement in carriage
and posture.
Nominally the myopes leave school at 14 years of age, and
the others at 16, but no strict rule can be enforced, and much
depends on the type of case and the earning capacity. The Head
Teacher is alive to the need for supervision in the selection of jobs
and for after-care, but this is difficult, especially with the dull
child from a poor home. The subsequent ophthalmic supervision
of the children, a point mentioned by the Committee of
Inquiry, is another problem, but in Croydon, where the Education
Committee's Ophthalmic Surgeon is also Ophthalmic Surgeon
to the General Hospital, one feels that old pupils will readily
attend under him after leaving school.
Deaf Children.
Six boys and 6 girls are resident at special schools for the
deaf; 1 boy attends a special day school. The institutions which
these children attend are: Royal School for the Deaf, Margate,
6 boys and 6 girls (this is residential); L.C.C. Day (Deaf) School,
1 boy, at Hearnville Road, Balham.
Epileptic Children.
Two boys and 2 girls are resident at special schools, namely,
at Lingfield Epileptic Colony, 2 boys and 2 girls.
Mentally Defective Children.
In addition to the day accommodation provided at St.
Christopher's School, 3 girls are resident in the Monyhull M.D.
School, Birmingham; 2 girls are at Knotty Ash M.D. School,
Liverpool; 1 boy and 1 girl at Sandlebridge, Cheshire; and 1
boy at Besford Court, Worcestershire.
Physically Defective Children.
The Education Authority have, in addition to those accommodated
at St. Giles' School, crippled children in the undermentioned
special schools:—The Heritage Craft School, Chailey,
3 boys and 1 girl; Suntrap, Hayling Island, 1 girl.
The Committee maintained 2 girls at West Wickham Hear'
Home, a special school for cardiac cripples; 1 boy at Edgar Lee
Heart Home, Willesden.