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15. CO-OPERATION OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
OFFICERS.
The co-operation of School Attendance Officers and the coordination
of the School Medical Service with that of the School
Attendance Department has been fully discussed in previous
reports.
Many cases have been referred for special examination by the
Attendance Officers on forms 21, and of these cases 87 were
medically examined, reports and advice in each case being- sent to
the Secretary of the Education Committee.
16. CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY BODIES.
Reference to 9 (e) on page 116 will give some measure of the
scope of the work carried out in association with Voluntary Bodies.
17. BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC
CHILDREN.
Physically Defective Children.
Table III reveals the very regrettable fact that 48 children
suffering from physical defects are receiving no education owing
to their being totally unfit to attend public elementary schools.
In addition it will be seen that 450 children, who are considered
physically defective, are attending public elementary
schools, and since suitable treatment is not available for some of
these cases it is highly probable that a number of them will ultimately
join the ranks of the unfit.
The 294 children classified as delicate (in Table III) are all
suffering from a chronic form of defect due to unsatisfactory
environmental, nurtural and congenital conditions, and the only
treatment which holds out any hope of lasting benefit is their
admission to residential schools of recovery for periods varying
from three to twelve months or longer.
Whilst there are many children who enter school in a fairly
advanced stage of invalidity from the above causes, there are also
a great number who exhibit early signs and predisposing conditions
and for whom the routine, hygiene and education in a day
open-air school, in addition to medical supervision and treatment