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18
Again, in instances where children are absent on account of sore
throats or because of some rash, prompt reports by the Attendance
Officers have frequently directed attention to early cases of
infectious disease.
CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY BODIES-
During the year the National Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children rendered assistance in cases of neglect, but
other Voluntary Bodies concerned in the welfare of school children
are not conspicuous in this district.
BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN.
Periodical returns are made by the teachers of children
judged to be abnormal. Arrangements are then made for a special
medical examination, and based upon this, a report is made.
During 1924, examinations were conducted in respect of 72 children.
There are no special schools in this district for the defective.
In 1922, the Board of Education was approached to see if a
concrete proposal for the formation of a Defective School in the area
were brought forward, it would be considered, but the financial
state of the country was such, that no hope was entertained in
this direction, although the proposal put forward involved a very
small outlay.
During the year, psychotherapeutic treatment has been
successfully given to children with phobias and "nervous"
conditions.
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of a right understanding
of these cases. Their whole outlook on life can be altered
if properly treated, in some cases the principal factor to overcome is
the mother, as she will constantly "suggest" to the child that
it is nervous, by talking of it to other people in the child's presence,
until the unfortunate child becomes obsessed with the idea that it
cannot be normal. If only we could get new mothers for some
of these cases, how different their outlook on life would be.