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"in the event of payment not being made by the parent it shall
"be the duty of the authority, unless they are satisfied that the
"parent is unable by reason of circumstances, other than his
"own default, to pay the amount, to require the payment of
"that amount from that parent, and any such amount may be
"recovered summarily as a civil debt."
In compliance with these powers, I venture to submit the
following scheme:—
1. That all children discovered upon medical inspection to have
seriously defective vision (visual acuity of either eye
falling below 6/12 ths) whose parents fail to procure the
necessary spectacles, be reported by the Assistant School
Medical Officers to the School Medical Officer.
2. That the parents of such children be visited and urged to
have remedied a defect so injurious to the child. Cases
of wilful neglect to be recommended for prosecution under
Section 12 of the Children Act.
3. That where glasses have been prescribed and the parent
alleges inability on pecuniary grounds to procure them,
the spectacles be provided by the Local Education
Authority, and the cost, or portion of the cost, be recovered
as and when after investigation seems equitable.
4. That the Attendance Officers be instructed to report to the
School Medical Officer as to the suitability in all cases
where glasses are so provided of exercising the powers of
recovery (where necessary) or of remitting the whole or
part of such cost as has been incurred.
By referring to my Annual Report for 1909, it will be seen that
about 700 children were discovered during that year to have vision
so defective as to fall within the provisions of this scheme.