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81
Independent Schools. Maintained Schools.
1950. 1951. 1950. 1951.
Vision 9.6% 4.7% 3.7% 3.8%
Nose and Throat 5.9% 2.6% 1.2% 0.4%
In view of the above finding, further comment would appear to
be desirable. The first point which stands out is that the number of
visual defects discovered at the independent schools is slightly less
than half the number for the previous year. This can probably be
explained by the fact that the children examined this year were, on the
average, a good deal older than those seen in 1950, and that, with the
passage of time, a visual defect is eventually suspected either by the
parents, the teacher, or the child and appropriate remedial action
taken. With regular medical supervision this time lag between development
of the defect and obtaining treatment should be cut considerably
with obvious corresponding advantages to the child. It is also
interesting to note that defects of the nose and throat at the independent
schools are less than half of what they were for the previous year,
and the same explanation probably applies in this case also. The
reason for the sudden big decline in the incidence of nose and throat
defects found at the maintained schools is not easy to explain, and it
would almost certainly be wiser to refrain from comment until the
future trend has become apparent.
Some interesting facts and figures have come to light as a result
of a closer analysis of the finding in the cases of children specially
examined during the year for a disability of the mind (see Table VII).
Of the eight children recommended during the year for admission to
special schools, for educationally sub-normal pupils, only three have
so far gone. Of the three mal-adjusted children recommended for
admission to residential schools, only one has gone, and of the three
ineducable children recommended for institutional care, accommodation
has so far only been obtained for one.
The lack of suitable provision for the educationally sub-normal
child in Kent is thus a great problem, for with large classes in ordinary
schools, it is well nigh impossible to give these unfortunate children
any special attention, and should the attempt be made, it can only be
to the detriment of the rest of the class. But, until a greatly increased
number of places can be found for E.S.N. pupils (and this is a national
as well as a County problem), these children have to drag on receiving
education which is unsuitable to their intellectual capacity.
In the case of mal-adjusted children requiring residential schools,
we are up against the same difficulties, and the child's chance of ultimate
recovery is, needless to say, not improved by the delay in obtaining
the most suitable form of treatment. With regard to the cases of
the ineducable children, the problem is rather different, but the