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

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Walthamstow 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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60
13. BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC
CHILDREN.
Table 3 at the end of the report gives a full analysis of all
exceptional children in the area.
(a) The ascertainment of such children continued along the
lines detailed in last year's report and has, generally, been adequate.
(b) Mentally defective children not in Special Schools are supervised
by the Essex County Council, the local Mental Deficiency
Authority in the case of idiots and imbeciles and ineducable mental
defectives. An occupational centre is provided by the Essex
Voluntary Association for Mental Welfare. The work of this
Association is reported under Section 12 (d).
(c) General review of the work of the Authority's Special
Schools:—

(i) Blind School.—Your Committee provide a Blind School at Wood Street with accommodation for 85 children of both sexes. The following table shows the classification of children attending the school at the end of 1938, and has been supplied by the Head Teacher, Miss Balls:—

Blind.Partially Blind.
Walthamstow.Other Authorities.Walthamstow.Other Authorities.
Boys35203
Girls2205
Totals37408

The work done at the school is detailed in previous annual
reports and in the following report of the Consultant Ophthalmic
Surgeon, Dr. P. McG. Moffatt:—
"The work of the Myope School has been carried out with the
usual care and enthusiasm of the staff. Miss Balls has been ever
willing to co-operate in any proposal to increase the efficiency of
the teaching, at the same time having due regard for saving sight.