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"special" at the next routine inspection; in other cases the defective
child is referred to the School Medical Officer directly through the
Attendance Department.
A bi-annual statement of mentally defective and epileptic children is
made by the Head Teachers to the School Medical Officer.
The following is a statement of the work done by the Special Schools
during the year.
17a. Mentally Defective Children.—There are two separate
departments for boys and girls with two classes in each. All children
are certified by the School Medical Officer before admission. The
curriculum for elementary subjects is followed, but a large amount of
time is devoted to hand-work, basket-work, rug-making, mat-making,
metal-work: wood-work for the boys and laundry and cookery for the
girls. On March 31st, 1921, there were 34 boys and 32 girls on the
register of this Centre.
17b. Deaf and Dumb Centre.—In this Centre, speech and
lip reading are taught concurrently, whilst hand-work is made an
important feature. This includes needlework, rafia, cane-weaving and
chair-caning. After the age of 12, boys go to wood-work and the girls
to laundry and cookery. At the end of the year, March 31st, 1921,
there were 17 boys and 7 girls on tile register.
17c. Myope and Blind Centre.—During the year this Centre
has been transferred to more commodious quarters, comprising two large
class-rooms, a manual room and a hall suitable for games and physical
training: attached is a large piece of ground for gardens and playing
fields. The conditions under which the children work are so pleasant
that the memory of their school days will always be a happy one.
Incidentally, I am sorry I cannot make a similar remark regarding the
Mentally Deficient Centre.
In April, 1920, there were 16 boys and 18 girls on the roll: during
the twelve months 3 boys and 3 girls left, and 6 boys and 12 girls were
admitted, making 19 boys and 27 girls on the register in April, 1921.
Of these 16 are "blind within the Act," and have to be taught braille,
whilst 30 are partially sighted. The children attend the Elementary
School adjoining—Wood Street—for scripture, history, geography, and
nature study. Manual-work includes elementary basket-work and chaircaning
for the "blind."
The feature of the year was undoubtedly the fortnight's visit to
Tankerton, already mentioned; and the majority of the scholars are
looking forward to a similar visit to Hastings in the coming June.
In order to meet the needs of after care, a club is being formed and
will meet in the School hall fortnightly: each student will bring a friend
and the proposed programme includes lectures, entertainments, games
and dancing.