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47
"I must again put on record my appreciation of all my
colleagues on the staff, teaching, nursing, welfare, domestic and
transport, for their valued co-operation in the work of the school."
Swimming Instruction for cases of Poliomyelitis.—This has
been in operation in Walthamstow for some three or four years,
and a weekly 'bus party is made up from the special schools.
(c) School for the Deaf.—Mrs. I. J. M. Burt. Headmistress,
reports as follows:—
" The year began with 40 children on roll.
"For a few days at the end of February many children and
members of the staff suffered from severe diarrhoea and sickness.
Food poisoning or dysentery were suspected, but although all cases
were immediately excluded and subjected to tests the results were
negative.
"In May, Dr. Francis Clarke and Mrs. Dodd, County Audiometrician,
tested children with the new Mark III Medresco Hearing
Aid. They recommended the issue of Mark III aids to children
who wore their aids regularly and derived benefit from them. This
has since been done.
"During May, Dr. Watkins carried out a full medical
inspection.
"During the summer the school took part in both Junior and
Senior Sports Days, with credit.
"In October, Dr. Francis Clarke, who is in charge of the Ear,
Nose and Throat Clinic, examined the children.
"The general health of the pupils throughout the year has not
been so good as in previous years. Catarrhal colds have been prevalent
and respiratory complaints generally have caused much more
absence than ever before.
"One girl was transferred from this school to Churchfields
Primary School in September. She came to us two years ago with
only rudimentary speech and no lip reading ability and she could
not read, write or count. In two years she has learned to speak
clearly, read fluently and to write clearly expressed English composition,
and has reached the normal standard for her age in arithmetic.
We are glad to hear that, in a class of hearing children of
her own age, she was second and had one mark less than the boy
who took first place.
"One boy and one girl left school at the end of the year—the
girl to do dressmaking and the boy shoe repairing. Both are happy
in their work.