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33
EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN.
Mentally defective, physically defective, epileptic, blind and
deaf children are all included under the heading of "exceptional
children."
Arrangements have been made with other Authorities, as in
former years, for the accommodation of such children pending
the introduction of special schools or classes in the Leyton area.
The education of the mentally defective is now being realised
as of the utmost economic importance. Experiments prove that
it is possible to educate the definitely feeble-minded child along
lines which will enable it to be self-supporting on reaching
maturity. The labour involved must necessarily be exceedingly
painstaking, but should not be without its due reward. The
desired object can only be attained by the provision of special
teachers and special schools. The expenditure involved must be
considerable, but can be easily justified on many grounds.
In this connection a Spccial Sub-Committee has already been
appointed.
TREATMENT OF OTHER DEFECTS.
As in former years, cases that are unsuitable for clinic
treatment are referred ot the general hospitals within easy reach
of Leyton, or to the local general practitioners.
When a child is found to have a defect at school medical
inspection, a following-up card is made out at the time and the
case is visited at short intervals by the school nurses till treatment
is obtained. A note of the result of each visit is made on
the card, and the case is only closed when satisfactory treatment
has been obtained.
The school nurses have visited 1,254 cases during the year,
and it is to be recorded that very satisfactory results have been
attained.
SCHOOLS IN GENERAL.
In general, the schools are in a satisfactory condition as
regards cleanliness of the schoolrooms, playground and offiees.