London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Walthamstow 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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52
(iv) Mental Deficiency.—Ascertainment.—A circular letter is sent
out each year jointly by your Director of Education and School
Medical Officer requesting Head Teachers to report the names of all
children suspected of Mental Deficiency. The attention of Head
Teachers has been drawn to the fact that on the one hand considerable
waste of time was entailed during 1932 by the reference for examination
of children who, on testing, showed high intelligence quotients;
thus, of 97 children examined during the year, 29 showed
intelligence quotients of 90 or over. On the other hand, several
children attending senior schools who had not been previously
reported were found to be certifiable.
Reference to the sub-section "Mentally Defective" on Table 3
at the end of the report shows that only 80 cases have been certified
in the Borough against an expected number of 137.
Certification.—The School Medical Officer and two of the assistant
School Medical Officers are recognised by the Board of Education
as Certifying Officers. During the year, 97 children were examined and of these 6 were re-examined.

The children were dealt with as follows:—

No.Classification.Recommendations.
25Dull and BackwardTo remain in School for the present.
1Dull and BackwardTo be re-examined in 2 years.
7Dull and BackwardTo be re-examined in 12 months.
8Dull and BackwardTo be re-examined in 6 months.
1Dull and BackwardTo see Aural Surgeon.
2Backward in ReadingTo attend ordinary School.
16Mentally DeficientTo attend Special School.
6ImbecilesTo be notified to the Essex County Council.
1IdiotTo be notified to the Essex County Council.
1Feebleminded. IneducableTo be notified to the Essex County Council.
18Not Mentally Deficient-
3Not Mentally DeficientTo go to Deaf Centre for 6 months.
1Not Mentally Deficient (Epileptic)To go to Physically Defective Centre.
2Border-line CasesTo be re-examined.
1Border-line CaseTo go to Special School on trial.
1EpilepticTo continue at Physically Defective Centre.
1Retarded-
1RetardedImproved.
1RetardedTo return to Infants' School for 12 months.