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148
Permanent and prolonged exclusion from school has been
recommended in many cases, and the Special Class (at High
Street School and subsequently at Lathom Road and Hartley
Avenue Schools) was unable to meet the needs of children certified,
by reason of physical defect, as being incapable of receiving
proper benefit from instruction in an ordinary elementary
school.
The factors which operated against the efficient conduct of
this class are briefly as follows:—
(a) No arrangements for conveyance of scholars to and
from the Class, which rendered it difficult to suggest to
parents that a long and inconvenient journey is more
beneficial than attendance at a nearby elementary school.
(b) Difficulty in ensuring an adequate standard of education
owing to varying ages of children. Many parents
were dissatisfied with the educational progress of the
scholars in the Special Class. In this connection it will
be realised that scholastic attainments are of the utmost
importance to children suffering from physical defects.
(c) The Teacher in charge of the Special Class had no special
experience or qualification for dealing with this type of
child.
In view of these circumstances many children coming within
the category of physically defective have been allowed to attend
local ordinary elementary schools, with a recommendation that
special precautions should be observed in particular cases, e.g.
abstinence from physical exercises, organised games or play;
avoidance of stair-climbing; permission to arrive at school late
and leave early; half-time attendance at school, etc.
It is difficult to ensure that these precautions are enforced,
added responsibility is thrown upon the Teaching Staff and, in
any case, it is undesirable that physically defective children should
be continually reminded of their handicap and disability.
The policy of reserving an increasing number of places in
Residential Schools of Recovery and Special Schools, in different
parts of the country, for the reception of delicate and ailing children
and those suffering from active crippling defects, has proved