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stammer recur, he is re-admitted to the class for further treatment. The attendance of children at the
stammering classes is not for any specified period of time, as experience has shown that some children
may be cured after a few months treatment, while others need to attend for a much longer period.
Child Guidance.—Children who may be described as "difficult," "maladjusted," "unmanageable,"
are referred in the first instance to the Health Department for examination and if
suitable, are then referred by the School Medical Officer to the North Western Child Guidance Clinic,
Sheldon Road, Cricklewood, for further investigation and if necessary treatment. In March, 1935,
the Education Committee, with the subsequent approval of the Board of Education, acceded to a
request from the North Western Child Guidance Clinic to recognise it as a school clinic for child
guidance, and to pay to it a fee of 10s. 6d. for the first investigation of a case, and 2s. 6d. for each
subsequent attendance of the case for treatment, this arrangement to pertain in the first instance
for a period of twelve months.
During this period five cases were referred to the North Western Child Guidance Clinic. Two
of these cases after investigation and subsequent treatment, had the behaviour disorder corrected
as follows
(i) A boy of five years of age who suffered from persistent screaming in the face of any thwarting.
The cause of this was attributed in part to an inherited instability from which he suffered, and
was largely the result of the mother's intolerance to any noise, and her lack of competence to deal
adequately with the child, owing to her authority being undermined by interference. The child
attended the Clinic for treatment and after the cause of the trouble had been demonstrated to the
parents, the child's attacks of screaming ceased.
(ii) A girl of twelve years of age, who was stealing money from home and from school. Investigation
at the Clinic revealed that the stealing was mainly an experimental bid for popularity
at school. The girl attended for treatment and the adopted mother was advised as to the control
of the child. She was kept under observation subsequently by the Clinic and no further stealing was
reported.
One case after investigation attended for treatment but ceased to attend a Willesden Elementary
School before the behaviour disorder had been completely corrected. This was a boy aged ten-anda-half,
who suffered from persistent bed wetting and certain abnormal fears. He attended the Clinic
for a time and the bed wetting ceased, but he won a scholarship for a College outside the district
before treatment was complete.
One case was investigated but did not require further attendance at the Clinic for treatment.
This was a boy of nearly six years of age with an uncontrollable impulse to swallow dangerous objects,
although of average intelligence. The Clinic furnished a report on the case and after consideration
the possibility of securing his admission to a suitable institution is being explored.
One case was investigated and is still attending for treatment. This is a boy aged twelve who
behaved in an uncontrollable manner in school, and refused to respond to discipline regardless of the
consequences. His behaviour was attributed in part to an attitude of discouragement towards
school work in which he is backward. He is now attending the Clinic for a period of individual
coaching to modify this. It is too soon to assess the benefit of this treatment.
Table No. 25.—Corresponding to Table III. of the Board of Education's Medical
Statistical Tables.
Return of all Exceptional Children in the Area.
This Table is compiled from the list of exceptional children as it stands on the last day of
the calendar year. No child is entered under more than one heading.
Children Suffering from Multiple Defects.—Information is only given in respect of
children suffering from any combination of the following types of defect:—
Blindness (excluding Partially sighted children) Active Tuberculosis.
Deafness (excluding Partially Deaf children). Crippling (as defined in the penultiMental
Defect (Feeble-minded). mate category of the Table).
Severe Epilepsy. Heart Disease.