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95
"Special care should be taken that no child attends school
from a Measles infected house, unless the sufferer is
properly isolated."
The same regulations apply to Whooping Cough.
The preceding tables show the numbers of children who were affected
with Scarlet Fever, Diphtheria, Measles, and Whooping Cough at the
different Schools
MENTALLY DEFECTIVE CHILDREN.
These attend the Shernhall Street Centre, and have been individually
examined during the year, the parents being usually present
by invitation. The Centre has accommodation for 65 boys and 65
girls, with an average attendance of 84. The children are of very poor
social status, and many of them live at long distances from the Schools.
In consequence irregular attendance is common, although the children
are provided with free passes on the Municipal trams, and Attendance
Officers supervise their coming and going to and from the School.
Heretofore the standard adopted for differentiating the feeble-minded
from the normal child was not high, and in consequence a number
of children were admitted that proved eventually unsuitable for the
Schools.
At my examination of the children in September, I advised the
exclusion of 17 of those in attendance, but pending an expected visit of
Dr. Eicholtz this recommendation was not carried out until January
of this year.
In 1909 an effort made to establish an After-Care Committee was
unsuccessful, but the Head Teacher of the Girls' School has during
1910 held weekly a social evening for those girls who have left the
school, and thus keeps in touch with them. Twelve of the former
pupils attend more or less regularly, and Miss Firman has been so far
fairly successful in her efforts on their behalf. In November she had a
sale of the articles made by the children, which realized £1 19s. 9d.
Sixteen shillings profit made was distributed among the girls.
With the help of friends the Head Teacher was also able to give two
"treats "—one in the Forest and one at the School—which were much
appreciated by the girls.
Only a small percentage of children admitted to Special Schools
can be expected to do well in after life. So far about 40 per cent, of
our boys and 12 per cent, of our girls are "dcing well." Feebleminded
children remain so permanently, and only with kindly supervision
can they be expected in after life to become self-supporting.
DEAF AND DUMB CHILDREN.
The average number of these children in attendance is 21.
They are taught at a Special Centre under the care of a master and
mistress, and the work of that School is excellent in its results.