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(2) Speech Defects.
In 1930 classes for stammerers were established, one in the
north and one in the south of the Borough, and were moved from
school to school according to the convenience of the pupils and
the availability of rooms in the schools. During the last two or
three years it has been found that only one such class was practicable.
There are, however, still many stammerers who remain
uncured, and in addition, there are a number of children suffering
from speech defects other than stammering.
My return for 1935 to the Board of Education gave sixty-nine
such children requiring treatment for speech defect, and one
hundred and five children requiring observation, some of whose
defects are probably the result of enlarged tonsils and adenoids.
1 suggest that accommodation for at least twenty-five such children
should be provided.
On page 1'27 of the report above referred to on "partially
sighted children," it is stated that "speech training is an especially
important subject for partially sighted children." Assuming this
to be correct, the great advantage of a special class for speech
defects in the same curtilage as a class for myopic children is
obvious.
(3) Certain Rheumatic Conditions.
At present this Authority has no special facilities for dealing
with cases of rheumatism. Some are sent to different clinics in
London; some attend ordinary schools, and, in addition, there are
those cases which have progressed to a state of definite and serious
heart disease (i.e., are incapable by reason of such physical
defect of receiving proper benefit from instruction in the ordinary
public elementary schools); of these latter thirty-four are attending
one or the other of your schools for physically defective children,
and according to the return already mentioned for 1935,
twenty-two such heart cases are attending public elementary
schools.
There are, however, in addition to these definite cases,
children who are predisposed to rheumatism and heart disabilities,
and on the border-line of becoming permanently affected (cases
definitely unsuitable for open-air schools or ordinary convalescence);
these should be at school under special attention for a
somewhat lengthy period. Such children obviously need specialised
forms of physical exercises—so do partially sighted children; one
more reason for collective co-operation of specialised procedure.
Accommodation for some fifty cases under heading (3) is
desirable.
(4) Deaf Children (see previous report).
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