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Although defective in ordinary school subjects after prolonged teaching, both boys and girls
acquire a certain degree of skill at some of their occupations which compares favourably with work
done by the ordinary school child.
The majority of the children attending Special Schools are only capable of being taught
reading, writing and arithmetic, etc., up to a certain point, depending upon the grade of their intelligence
; and beyond that point further instruction in one or all of these subjects is of no avail. On
the other hand, almost to compensate, they are often proficient in manual work, and are still capable
of acquiring practical knowledge.
If facilities were at hand—once they had acquired their maximum school knowledge—for them
to concentrate more on manual and occupational training, and specialise in a useful occupation,
many of these children could be placed in better situations on leaving school. At present the work
undertaken is too limited in scope, and insufficient time is devoted to it. It is not surprising that
the majority of the children invariably drift into blind alley occupations on leaving school, and consider
themselves fortunate in having obtained a situation.
The cost of education of a child at a Special School for Defective Children is high, and under
present conditions it cannot be admitted that the money is spent to the best advantage in the interest
of the child. Knowing that the ordinary channels of employment are closed to most of them, their
future should be taken more into consideration in their education.
Children should be considered individually, and special aptitude encouraged and special
training given at the occupational centre with a view to the child having some definite knowledge
of a craft on leaving school.
The reward for the money so spent would be apparent in later years in the comparison of
the after careers of the children. The present statistics are far from encouraging, and point openly
to the deficiencies in the present system.
It is not every Teacher, however good he or she may be, who has the special aptitude for
dealing with these abnormal children, and such a Teacher lacking in this respect is never likely to
get the best result from them.
It is essentia], in the teaching of specialised occupational subjects, as in routine school work,
that instruction should be given only by teachers familiar with defective children, who fully realise
and know how to deal with the peculiarities and peccadillos of these abnormal children ; otherwise
the value of the training is greatly diminished.
The extension of the present scheme of education at this School may be impracticable at the
present time, but from a social and economic point of view the question should receive consideration
on some favourable opportunity.
The School is visited each week by one of the Medical Officers for the re-examination of selected
cases, and during the year 1921 91 children were examined and a report made as to their progress.
Furness Road Physically Defective School.—The certified accommodation at this School
is for 60 children, the effective accommodation being for 70 children. During the year 1921 the
average number of children on the roll was 66, the actual number on the roll on 31st December
being 70.
The work and health of the children during the year has been satisfactory, but under improved
conditions, better results could be obtained both physically and educationally. The accommodation
at this school, which would not be considered good for normal children, is poor for physically defective
children who, in the majority of cases, have been semi-invalids up to the time of admission to school,
and who are consequently of inferior physique and have less stamina than the average normal child.
Games, exercises and outdoor occupations likely to be beneficial to them cannot be undertaken
owing to lack of suitable recreation ground. The best results, both mentally and physically, can only
be expected from these children when they are suitably fed and educated under open-air conditions
in surroundings which will give them all the requirements essential for a healthy life. Better facilities
are urgently required for the teaching of handicraft work to both boys and girls whose choice of
employment on leaving school is limited owing to their physical defect.
Owing to the general trade depression, it has been more difficult this year for " leavers " to
be placed in suitable situations and this partly accounted for the maximum number of 70 being on
the roll at the end of the Christmas term.
As both Furness Road and Leopold Road Physically Defective Schools have been full throughout
the year it is apparent that there is some considerable delay before new cases can be admitted
to either of these schools.
If the full accommodation could be utilised at Leopold Road School by an extension of the
School Ambulance service, physically defective children could be graded in the two schools, and
every case could be dealt with, and children would no longer be required to remain many months at
home until a suitable vacancy occurred.
The school is visited every fortnight by one of the Medical Officers for re-examination of
selected cases and the examination of cases specially referred by the Head Teacher.
During 1921, 115 children were re-examined, and the parents notified in all cases where defects
were found requiring attention.
Leopold Road Physically Defective School.—The certified accommodation at this
school is for 40 children, but from the 13th December, 1920, when the school was re-opened, to 31st
December, 1921, it has only been possible to admit 20 children, owing to the lack of available ambulance
transport to convey the children to and from school.