View report page

Summary of Census.
Taking the above facts into consideration it would appear
as if the number of mentally defective children in the Wimbledon
area is probably between 50-60. If, however, no Special
Backward Classes are formed, and "border-line" cases are
passed directly into the Special School, the numbers may rise
to 70.
Under the new system all abnormal scholars have been
"card-indexed" and their progress will be carefully watched.
Frequent re-examinations and tests will also be made, more
especially about the time the scholars should be leaving the
Infant Departments.
B. Queen's Road Special School.
Owing to the time occupied in making the above census,
I was unable to devote as much time as I desired to the examination
of the children within this School. The children were,
however, all examined physically, and treatment was given
when defects were discovered. The School Surgeon Dentist
makes a special note on the scholars of this school in his Report
(P)
During the year, arrangements were made whereby Mrs.
Potts, the Cleansing Attendant, gave two morning sessions of
her time to superintend the bathing of the children.
A full Report of the educational and manual training given
in this school was detailed in my Annual Report for 1922.
During 1924, the training in manual work will be extended.
Miss Clarke, the Headmistress, carried out in December,
1923, the Binet-Simon tests (Stanford Revision) on all the
scholars in the school. The results were most interesting. Of
the 48 children examined, the great majority had an Intelligence
Quotient denoting true mental deficiency. The Intelligence
Quotient (often designated I.Q.) is the ratio of mental
age to chronological age, and an I.Q. of 80-90 is classified
usually as dullness, 70-80 as "Border-line" deficiency, below
70 definite feeble-mindedness.
During the year, 13, boys and 4 girls were admitted, and
2 boys and 1 girl re-admitted, and 10 boys (6 transfers) and
2 girls left.
Of the 10 boys leaving—6 were transferred to Littleton
Road School, L.C.C.
1 left district.
1 transferred to ordinary elementary
school.
2 attained 16 years of age.
Of the two girls leaving—1 attained 16 years of age.
1 ill health (temporary removal).
71