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27
The School for the Deaf.
The following report has been submitted by the Head Mistress of
this tchool:—
The School for the Deaf serves the rateable areas of Tottenham,
Edmonton, Enfield, Wood Green and Hornsey. Pupils also attend from
parts of Middlesex, Herts and Essex. Arrangements are made for certain
groups to travel in charge of responsible guides. Other groups are
brought to school by ambulance. The elder Tottenham scholars and a
few scholars from other areas travel independently.
The boys and girls remain at school during the mid-day recess, and
at 12.30 a two-course hot dinner is served. This meal for which a
charge of 3d. is made, is prepared on the premises. Advantage is taken
of the Milk-in-Schools Scheme, and hot milk is served during the
morning session. Some of the scholars make an early start and this
refreshment is appreciated.
One result of congenital deafness is the failure to acquire speech
and language naturally. Therefore, the pupils and teachers work
together to build up a knowledge of English, so that the children may
communicate with others. Those pupils who have become deaf, or whose
deafness is partial, enter the school with their speech and language in
stages of attainment varying with the age at which they became deaf,
the degree of their deafness and intelligence. When a sufficient groundwork
of English is gained, geography, citizenship, hygiene, etc., take
their place on the time-table.
The boys have a visiting master for woodwork. They also learn
book-binding and cardboard modelling. The girls take cookery and
needlework. Both boys and girls learn country dancing.
During the year nine boys left school to take up work. Three were
placed with a firm of furniture makers, one whose hearing had been
normal till he reached the age of 10½ years entered upon an engineering
course, and three obtained work in studios for commercial art. The
parents of two wished to act independently in placing their children.