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17
the new school. Most of the larger number of children assessed were found
to have intelligence quotients within the average range and were therefore
referred back to ordinary schools. Since all such children had initially been
referred by those schools for educational failure, the Service can hardly be
satisfied that it has remedied a problem which seems more properly a
responsibility of the School Psychological Service.
Psychological Defects
There was a further increase in the number of psychological defects
reported during the year, confirming once again that emotional problems in
school were more widely recognised. Moreover, despite efforts to improve
treatment services, already more adequate than in many other parts of the
country, it was still difficult to cope with the demand for such facilities.
One school medical officer arranged to see a group of mothers and children
whose problems did not require immediate attention of the Child Guidance
Clinic, and found that the number of mothers who were prepared to attend
such special sessions would far outstrip the ability of the Service to make
adequate arrangements.
The training of medical and health visiting staff to recognise emotional
problems and to provide supervision and support for suitable cases continued.
Dr, G. Crosse, Consultant Psychiatrist to the Regional Hospital Board,visited
the Department regularly to lead seminars for doctors and health visitors.
These sessions were held during the lunch hour and indicate the willingness
of staff to devote time to this problem. In the year under review, emphasis
was on prevention by action directed to pre-school ages.
The problems of drug dependence and drug experimentation continue to
excite general interest. Efforts to obtain accurate information were maintained
and there was no satisfactory evidence that drug dependence was a
problem in Croydon schools. The local advisory panel on drug dependence
concluded, nevertheless, that a further study day should be held for teachers
and other professional staff, and this was planned to take place in February
1970.
Nutrition
The figures of average heights and weights are recorded in Table 7. The
average height of 5 year old boys and girls has remained remarkably stable
for the past five years and, whilst there has been some fluctuation of
average weight, the impression is conveyed of a slight welcome fall during
the same period.