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37
through parents who lack understanding of a child's mind. There
have been some parents expecting more from their children than
they could achieve, others trying to provide an education for
them of a type from which they could never benefit, with consequent
disappointment to the parents and unhappiness to the
children. I have seen children persistently nagged by parents
who, whilst expecting them to behave as angels, would be worried
if they succeeded in their expectations. I have, unfortunately,
had to console many a parent whose child was either an imbecile
or an idiot.
I still notice the repeated fear of parents of mentally defective
children that the Local Authority is going to take their children
away from them and put them in an institution. It is surprising
how deep rooted this fear is and over and over again I have found
it necessary to assure parents that no Local Authority desires to
take a child from its parents provided that the child is being well
looked after and progressing satisfactorily in its own home. It
has been pathetic to have mentally defective children brought to
me, unable to talk, yet well clothed, neat and tidy and well cared
for by parents with a sense not only of duty, but a feeling of deep
affection, whose initial remark has been " you are not going to
take him away from me, are you Doctor ?" No too wide publicity
can be given to this subject in order that parents may realise
that the object of the Local Education Authority is primarily to
help and but very rarely to admonish.
Mr. James, the Senior Dental Surgeon, in his report to me
remarks on the number of children requiring orthodontic treatment,
i.e., dental regulation treatment. Cases so treated, he
states, could be greatly increased if more time were available, for
no treatment is more appreciated by parents than that concerned
with the regulation of the teeth. Success in this work can be
measured not only in the great improvement in appearance that
results, but also in the preservation of the teeth.
Mr. James has previously referred to the improvement of the
condition of the teeth of school entrants since the outbreak of
war, and in his opinion, this improvement is still maintained.
In some schools, the percentage of entrants found dentally fit
on their first examination has improved considerably. At George
Spicer School this percentage was 2.19 in 1938 and in 1943 it was
20.17 ; at Southbury Road, the figure has improved from 2.4 to
27 ; at Alma Road from 4.7 to 22 and at Chase Side from 19 to
25. In addition to this, the number of teeth found to be carious
or lost at the 5 year old inspection is between one or two per child
less than in 1938.