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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. At the end of the first twelve months a report on the working of the arrangements was
sent to the Board of Education and stating that the Council proposed to continue to send school
children to the Clinic. The Board of Education in reply gave their approval to the proposal.
During the year, three new cases were referred to the North Western Child Guidance Clinic.
All three cases after investigation and with treatment or advice profited as a result of this.
J. G.—A girl aged 9 was seen on account of disobedience and tendencies towards exhibitionism.
The parents and teachers all complained and were totally at a loss to understand or explain her
behaviour. On examination she was a healthy, intelligent child who had stumbled accidently on this
sexual problem and had attempted to solve it in her own way.
The kindly advice tendered and forgiveness of the offence resulted in a cure of the behaviour
problem.
M. A.—A girl of 12 years came to our notice with an exceptionally bad record of naughtiness,
with a stubborn refusal to do anything to which she objected.
The mother was heartbroken and her teachers found her difficult to deal with on account of
her aggressive, spiteful and revengeful nature and blatant rudeness to them in school.
The psychiatrist's examination revealed a curiously unstable nature and hostility unless coaxed.
The explanation satisfied the mother that the disorder was not purposive and her co-operation
would assist the child to improve.
D. P.—This boy of 13 years, showed uncontrollable behaviour in school with the use of vile
obscene language, so bad that it was necessary to suspend him temporarily.
The Child Guidance Clinic found that he was an over-sensitive boy, lacking maternal affection
and the butt of bouts of temper on the father's part. He re-acted very badly to criticism or to blame
and it was thought advisable for him to receive special schooling in the subjects in which he was backward
at the Child Guidance Clinic and to make a new start at another school. A report from the
second school shows that he is easily brought to tears but no major disturbances have occurred in the
different school.
Table No. 26.—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.
Blind Children.—A blind child is defined by Section 69 of the Education Act, 1921, as one who
is "too blind to be able to read the ordinary school books used by children." This definition covers
some children who are totally, or almost totally, blind and can only be appropriately taught in a school
for blind children, and others who have partial sight and can be appropriately taught in a school for
partially sighted children. Only the first class should be included in this section.
At Certified Schools for the Blind 4
At Public Elementary Schools —
At other Institutions —
At no School or Institution —
Total 4
Partially Sighted Children.—Entered in this Section are only children who, though they
cannot read ordinary school books or cannot read them without injury to their eyesight, have such
power of vision that they can appropriately be taught in a school for the partially sighted.
Children who are able by means of suitable glasses to read the ordinary school books used by
children without fatigue or injury to their vision are not included in this Table.
At Certified Schools for the Blind 9
At Certified Schools for the Partially Sighted 7
At Public Elementary Schools —
At other Institutions —
At no School or Institution 1
Total 17