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Parents whose children were proving to be on the borderline of educability were
always seen before official application to examine the child was made. The type of
letter which is required by law to be sent to the parents of such children is such an
intimidating document that it was considered by the School Medical Officer that parents
should have some explanation of the elaborate procedure beforehand. In spite of this
precaution most parents were distressed on the receipt of the letter asking them to
attend with the child for the examination.
The procedure under the new Mental Health Act may be simplified but the documents
concerned are still quite considerable.
Mr. Head, the peripatetic teacher of the deaf, has visited the school on several
occasions. He did not find any children whose learning difficulties could be attributed
to hearing defects.
Two children have been admitted from day partially deaf schools as after trial at
these schools it was realised that their main handicap was mental retardation and not
deafness. One child still wears a hearing aid but it is doubtful if she really needs
it. There appears little difference in her responses whether she has the aid or not.
She is really on the borderline of educability.
HARROW GREEN SCHOOL (AGE RANGE 11-17 YEARS)
Pour boys were considered educationally good enough to return to secondary modern
schools. Their standard of attainments were so above tiie level of the children in the
top class of the school and with their I.Q. score around 80-84 it was considered worthwhile
to let them return. Two of the boys are emotionally maladjusted - once their
learning difficulties had cleared up it was seen that their underlying emotional problems
were serious and needed attention. They have been referred to the Child Guidance Clinic
for treatment for these emotional difficulties.
Three of the boys returned to their new schools in January, 1961 and it is too
early to say how they are getting on. The boy with the most serious maladjustment who
has been nine months in his new school is making quite good progress.
One boy returned to a special class in his previous school. It was considered that
he was correctly placed by the School Medical Officer and by the school staff but the
emotional pressure on the boy by his parents who were deeply ashamed of his school
failure was such that he became very disturbed and unable to settle down and work. When
a class for retarded children was re-opened at his old school he was transferred there,
still notified of course as requiring special educational treatment.
One boy stayed on at school until he was 17. He was very small in stature and his
physical maturity was delayed. He did benefit from his extra year and has now taken up
employment.
Before children are deascertained the School Medical Officer and the school staff
consult together and the agreement of Head Teacher, Class Teacher and School Medical
Officer has to be complete before a child is allowed to leave school before the age of
16. Also no child is ascertained as requiring further consideration by the Mental
Health Authority without discussing it with the parents. The only cases where this is
not done are the very few who have never attended any medical examination with the
child or answered any invitation to see the Headmaster or the School Medical Officer.
These cases are very few fortunately.
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