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123
During the period under review, legislative and departmental
matters of great importance have arisen as will be
seen from the following brief references to new Acts of Parliament
and Departmental Regulations:—
(a) The Mental Deficiency Act, 1913. by which, as from
1st April, 1914, the obligation devolves upon the
Local Education Authority to ascertain what children
in their area are suffering from mental defects.
(b) Regulations under the Mental Deficiency Act by
which these unfortunate children are divided mainly
into two classes: (1) those educable, and (2) those
non-educable. With regard to the latter, the cases
are reported to the Board of Education, and the
County Council, who then deal with them, and they
thus pass out of the hands of the Local Education
Authority. With regard to the former, a new Act
camp- into operation.
(c) The Elementary Education (Defective and Epileptic
Children) Act, 1914, by which mentally defective
children capable of education must be sent to a
special school or class. The Local Education
Authority is at present in treaty with neighbouring
authorities for the erection and maintenance of a
joint institution for the suitable education of these
unfortunate children.
(d) The Education (Provision of Meals) Act. 1914, which
removes the limit placed upon the expsnditure of the
Local Education Authority in the provision of food
for elementary school children. With regard to
Finchley, this work has always been undertaken by
voluntary means, and I have every reason to believe
that all requirements have been met.
General Review of Routine Medical Inspection.
The Code of Regulations for Elementary Schools has
hitherto only made obligatory the medical inspection of
"entrants" (children just commencing their school career),