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EDUCATIONALLY SUB-NORMAL CHILDREN. These children are defined as pupils who, by
reason of limited ability or other conditions resulting in educational retardation, require
some specialised form of education, wholly or partly in substitution for the education
normally given in ordinary schools. Children who possess limited intelligence and in
consequence become retarded may make little progress in ordinary schools.
The following figures relate to work carried out in connection with educationally
sub-normal children during the year:-
Number ascertained during the year 20
Disposal of ascertained cases:
In ordinary schools Nil
Recommended day special school 19
Recommended residential special school 1
Number of cases known to the Authority at the end of the year:
In ordinary schools . 72
In day special schools 149
In residential special schools 12
Fresh admissions to special schools during the year:
In day special school 22
In residential special schools 2
EPILEPTIC CHILDREN. The definition of an epileptic child for our purpose is one who,
by reason of epilepsy, cannot be educated under the normal regime of an ordinary school
without detriment to himself or other pupils. There are many epileptics whose disability is
not so severe as to be incompatible with a normal school life, and it is in their best
interests that they should be educated at an ordinary school. The more closely a child can
live like his fellows the more likely he is to grow up mentally balanced with a normal healthy
outlook. Many children with the less serious forms of epilepsy can be educated at ordinary
schools if facilities are provided to enable them to overcome their particular difficulties.
It is only when an epileptic is clearly unable to fit into an ordinary school and life that he
should be "ascertained" and the rather drastic step taken of arranging special education for
him. Fortunately this is rarely necessary as will be seen from the figures given later.
The total number of children known to have epilepsy is about 2 per 1,000 registered pupils.
All children known to be epileptic are followed up to see that they receive regular treatment
from their family doctor or from a hospital out-patient department. Although the daily life
of the epileptic child should be interfered with as little as possible he should not, of course,
be allowed to go swimming or climbing trees and ladders, and when he becomes an adolescent he
must not be permitted to drive a car, but all restrictions should be kept to a minimum.
Encouragement and hope are fundamental requirements in the management of an epileptic. Parents
are advised not to fuss the child, and not to over-protect him from the ordinary rough and
tumble of childhood.
The general welfare of epileptic school children is a concern of the school medical
officers who have opportunities for observing their cases and reporting on various aspects
of the problem of epilepsy, e.g., the results of the latest methods of treatment.
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