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until appointed to the I.L.E.A. at Christmas) could not have remained to enjoy the work, for which
he had such infectious enthusiasm, in more suitable surroundings. Mr. Alan Cammock acts as
Consultant Otologist to the School. As with the School for the Partially Sighted, the majority of
children are suffering from congenital (inborn) forms of deafness though a fair proportion have
been deafened by meningitis — usually as a complication of measles. Two thirds of the children
at this school come from outside the Borough from places as far apart as South-East Essex and
Harlow.
Brookfield House School for the Physically Handicapped owes its origin partly to the
foundation in 1923 of Brookfield Orthopaedic Hospital School and partly to the establishment at
the same time of a School for the Physically Defective, both subsequently replaced by the Hale
End Open Air School in 1936. The first of our special schools to move into purpose-built premises
(in 1964) Brookfield now has accommodation for up to 100 pupils (averaging 79 on roll) and has a
fully equipped physiotherapy department, including a hydrotherapy pool. There is also a speech
therapy department and a State Registered nurse is attached to the School which caters for almost
every kind of disability. As with the other special schools, the great majority of scholars are
suffering from congenital defects; thus there are 11 children with congenital heart defects but only
one with a rheumatic heart, there is only one case of post-polio paralysis but 13 children are
suffering from spasticity as a result of cerebral palsy. It is apparent, therefore, that most of the
disabling conditions occurring after birth can be, and have been, prevented, but it is the injury to
the embryo from conception to birth against which we miBt now direct our research if any future
significant reduction is to be achieved in the number of severely handicapped children.
Lea Bridge School for Maladjusted Children — the most recent of our Special Schools, was
founded in September, 1959, and has accommodation for about 40 children. The School is under
the clinical control of Dr.W.R.Little, Consultant Psychiatrist to Whipps Cross Hospital and to the
Kirkdale Clinic, and it caters for children who are so emotionally damaged that they are incapable
of forming normal relationships with their parents, schoolfellows or teachers. Maladjusted
children have suffered an emotional breakdown which may be manifested by violent anti-social
behaviour or, equally, by dull apathy and disinterest. Where aggression is shown it is often
directed against the person from whom the child most desires love and affection. Usually such
children are sent to residential schools and the Lea Bridge School was one of the earliest attempts
to treat these children on a daily basis while still leaving them exposed to the conflict inherent
in their home life. This, of course, involves educating the parents for it is as illogical to punish
some maladjusted children for destructive behaviour as it would be to thrash a spastic because it
cannot run.
Special Schools require, of course, special teachers and even after 12 years close
association with the Walthamstow Special Schools I never cease to wonder at the patience, wisdom
and foresight displayed by these devoted people who labour with the most unpromising material
and forfeit the vicarious distinction of sharing in their pupils' academic successes as do the
teachers of normal children. Nevertheless, service has been described as the rent we pay for our
room on earth and the teachers in our Special Schools can afford quite a large place in the hearts
of all those who love children.
Geoffrey Poole
Deputy Medical Officer of Health
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