Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[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. |
---|---|---|
25 | Dull and Backward | To remain in School for the present. |
1 | Dull and Backward | To be re-examined in 2 years. |
7 | Dull and Backward | To be re-examined in 12 months. |
8 | Dull and Backward | To be re-examined in 6 months. |
1 | Dull and Backward | To see Aural Surgeon. |
2 | Backward in Reading | To attend ordinary School. |
16 | Mentally Deficient | To attend Special School. |
6 | Imbeciles | To be notified to the Essex County Council. |
1 | Idiot | To be notified to the Essex County Council. |
1 | Feebleminded. Ineducable | To be notified to the Essex County Council. |
18 | Not Mentally Deficient | - |
3 | Not Mentally Deficient | To go to Deaf Centre for 6 months. |
1 | Not Mentally Deficient (Epileptic) | To go to Physically Defective Centre. |
2 | Border-line Cases | To be re-examined. |
1 | Border-line Case | To go to Special School on trial. |
1 | Epileptic | To continue at Physically Defective Centre. |
1 | Retarded | |
1 | Retarded | Improved. |
1 | Retarded | To return to Infants' School for 12 months. |