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16. CO-OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY BODIES.
There has been little of this type of work in East Ham recently,
hut with the establishment of a local branch of the Invalid
Children's Aid Association it is probable that the excellent work,
carried out by this Association in the past, will be resumed.
17. BLIND, DEAF, DEFECTIVE AND EPILEPTIC CHILDREN.
Physically Defective Children.
Table III reveals the very regrettable fact that 247 children
(118 in 1922) suffering from physical defects are receiving no
education owing to their being totally unfit to attend public
elementary schools.
In addition it will be seen that 305 children (322 in 1922), who
are considered suitable for admission to open-air schools or certified
schools for physically defective children, are attending public
elementary schools, and since suitable treatment is not available
for these cases it is highly probable that many of them will
ultimately join the ranks of the unfit.
There are, then, at present, 552 children (440 in 1922) for
whom no adequate treatment, either in the form of an open-air
school or physically defective centre, has been carried out, with
the exception of the 20 children admitted to the Ogilvie School of
Recovery.
Mentally Defective Children.
During the year 1923, the number of cases examined, for purposes
of the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913, was 67 (55 in 1922).
Of these 40 were classified as mentally deficient, and 21 as dull
and backward, recommendations being made as shown in the following
table :—
Number examined 67
Classified as imbeciles 5
Classified as morally deficient 1 46
Classified as mentally deficient 40
Classified as dull and backward 21
Recommended for Special School 58
Recommended for Special Class 17