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(5) Very Retarded Children.
In my report of February, 1936, I referred to the findings of
the Joint Committee set up by the Board of Education and the
Board of Control to investigate this complex problem. In order
to get first-hand knowledge of the present position in West Ham
Schools I solicited the ever-willing help and valuable co-operation
of your Head Teachers in a letter couched as follows :—
Municipal Health Offices,
Romford Road,
Stratford, E.15.
31st March, J936.
Dear Sir (or Madam),
Very Retarded Children.
1 shall be very grateful if you will kindly send me names and
addresses, together with any other relevant particulars of such
children, if any, in your school, who in your judgment may be
classed as "very retarded."
This term implies those children who are so mentally dull and
retarded as to be incapable of keeping up with even an ordinary
dull and backward pupil, or who are outstandingly a deterrent
to the progress or comfort of other children, though not necessarily
able to be classified as mental defectives.
Your co-operation in this involved matter will be deeply
appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
F. GARLAND COLLINS,
lo the Head Teacher. School Medical Officer.
P.S.—For your convenience 1 enclose a form and stamped
addressed envelope for reply.
Replies which I have received and tabulated reveal information
of a disquieting nature. No fewer than six hundred names
have been submitted as falling more or less into the category
defined in my letter; only eight Head Tcachcrs failed to send in a
report, (a) 29 Head Teachers sent "nil" returns, (b) 8 Head
Teachers sent returns of from 1 to 5 cases, (c) 33 sent returns of
0 to 10 cases, and (d) 7 sent returns of 11 cases or over.
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