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114
Visits to four have been dropped, these four having
given, for some time past, satisfactory service to their
employers, and their home circumstances appearing also
to be satisfactory. Supposing all goes well with them we
shall probably either cease visits to, or visit them at much
rarer intervals, twelve more defectives. These sixteen
persons are all ex-pupils of the special school.
Visits have been paid to 74 persons. This number
is less than the number given in our report for 1929. The
explanation for the decrease is not unhappily to be found
in a corresponding decrease in the incidence of mental deficiency,
but in the tendency on the part of the authorities
to certify low-grade defectives only. In accordance with
this change of policy, high grade defectives remain in the
ordinary elementary school, a special school being provided
(or in the case of some areas and occupation centre beingassisted),
for such low grade defectives as are educable
It is this latter class who in future, when they leave school
will be placed under supervision, the former case, it will
be supposed, needing no such care.
Presumably, the County Council will continue to recommend
to our friendly or statutory supervision such
mentally defective children as are ineducable, but whom it
is desirable to leave in their own homes.
A few particulars about those remaining on our list
may be of interest, the most cogent reason for the continuance
of visits being stated in each case.
Imbeciles (five are mongolian imbeciles between
the ages of six and fourteen) 8
Epileptics 3
Idiot 1
Cretin 1
In service, so far doing well, but have recently left
school 3
Deplorable homes 12
Poor health, unfitted for continuous work 4
Suffering from disabling physical defect 2