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and happier in appearance, more intelligent and anxious to learn;
his general behaviour so improved that it was commented upon by
those who did not know he was undergoing treatment."
W.T.—Boy. 9 years. Referred by private doctor for extreme
restlessness, nail biting, violent temper and aggressiveness. Intelligence
quotient at clinic, 111. Severe anxiety dreams, relatively
severe neurosis. Accepted for full treatment. Subsequent
attendances irregular; parents stimulated; no response.
A.T.—Boy. 13 years. Referred by Head Teacher. Undersized,
malnourished, nervous movements, general anxiety and backward.
Few outlets at home, lives alone with father; transfer
convalescent home or residential institution advised in order to
obtain change of environment.
(viii) Speech Therapy.—Classes for children with stammer
were continued, as in former years, up to the end of the summer
term.
In March a special report on "Stammering and other Speech
Defects" was submitted to your Committee jointly with the Director
of Education. Attention was drawn to the lack of treatment for
defects other than stammering, to the expected incidence of some
170 to 200 defects of speech amongst the Walthamstow school
population, to the two best recognised methods of treatment (viz.,
the Boone and the Birquand), and to the operation of schemes in
other areas (notably by the London County Council) staffed by
specially trained whole-time speech therapists.
Your Committee decided to discontinue the former arrangement
of treatment, to fit up the necessary rooms in the administrative
block at Hale End Open Air School, and to appoint a full-time
speech therapist, trained in the Boone method of treatment. Miss
I. M. S. Knight was appointed and assumed duty in September,
1936.
During the summer term the names and addresses were obtained
of all children considered by Head Teachers to be suffering from
speech defects. A total of 254 names were obtained and the children
were seen and assessed as to necessity of treatment by the School
Medical Inspectors.
Before commencing active treatment Miss Knight visited most
of the schools from which children had been recommended for,
treatment, and also interviewed parents, in some cases at home.
Time tables were drawn up with regard to treatment, which has
been given in the rooms which had been attractively decorated and
furnished to Miss Knight's specification.