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62
A reference to Table 3 will show that out of 63 children who
have been certified as mentally defective but educable in a special
school, 45 are having no education, 6 are attending backward
classes which is most unsuitable, 1 an ordinary elementary school,
and only 11 have been satisfactorily placed.
Surely in a large and flourishing district such as East Ham
such a state of affairs should not be allowed to continue.
18. NURSERY SCHOOLS.
There are at present no Nursery Schools in East Ham.
19 SECONDARY SCHOOLS.
There is only one secondary school in East Ham, and up till
now only the entrants, together with certain special cases, have
been examined. During this and future years, however, it is
hoped that it will be possible to examine the scholars in each
year group so that each student will be examined annually
during his course. Dr. Mary M. Thomson, one of the Assistant
School Medical Officers, examines the girls.
Scholars enter the secondary school at various ages, but
usually between 12 and 13 years, and it is found that just as the
parents have shown an interest in their children's educational
welfare by securing for them the advantage of secondary education,
so they exhibit an interest in the physical well-being of their
boys and girls.
As will be seen from the following table, medical inspection
of scholars entering the secondary school reveals few of the
ordinary defects, as naturally these have been remedied while the
pupil was attending an elementary school. Defects of teeth and
eyesight are the conditions mostly found requiring treatment,
and hitherto facilities for having such treatment have been provided
at the school clinic and have been widely taken advantage
of. Unfortunately, in future it will be impossible to offer dental
treatment to secondary school scholars, as it has been found
necessary owing to pressure of work to limit dental treatment
strictly to the age-groups suggested by the Board of Education.
This is a matter for regret, as the secondary scholars were most
appreciative of the work of the school dentist.