A CRIPPLES' SCHOOL

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 495, 30 April 1909, Page 4

A CRIPPLES' SCHOOL

''■'- ' SUGGESTED ENSTITUTfON IN'WEIi. . :. ■■■>:•/;.■.■;■•■;■..■.,vLINGTOM. ' . v • . A\PROTPpSAIi'AND A EEPLT. .A plea for the education of the'cripplod and maimed children of Wellington was urged by Mr. H; C. Kirk,: a member of' the Hospital Trustees, at- the: Education Board's meeting yesterday.:; The matter had engaged the attention of Dr. Hardwicke Smith, .medical superintendent,of the Wellington Hospital, and as the result of-an exchange of views between that gentleman and Mr. lurk, tho latter waited upon the,board, and was permitted to address' tho members on the- subject.;,..'-,; : ' ; ... Mr. 'Kirk said that some-.provision-in tho ■ direction i of educating the crippled children ', and the mairaod was advisable It was so at Home. He had known of crippled patients at tho hospital who, at twelve years of age,' had. 1 been discovered to have been unable to read or write, Ho suggested that some : effort might bo made.for tho,.provision'of a 6mall establishment in the hospital grounds, and a teacher,appointed. Such an institution would be under the personal inspection of the medical superintendent so for,as the/physical welfare ot tho children was concerned. Crippled ohildren from various parts of the city might bo convoyed to and from, the cripple/eohooL Ho. proposed, to, brine the matter before the Wellington Hospital Trustees, and expressed his hope.that something tangible might eventuate. ■ Replying to Mr. Kirk; the' chairman (Mr. B. Lee) said thatiMr. Kirk's, remarks.had fallen' upon sympathetic cars,:; and woro dosorving of the favourable consideration of the board. They would like to have before ;tkem the necessary ,' statistics which would enable tho board to considor this, proposal on a deflnito basis. Ha jfpromised; that the matter would then receive the attention;of the board. He'hud noticed that similar provision had, been made elsewhere, and ho thought:that the timo had arwhen the work should bo practically W dcrtaken. .There wore one or two-vacant classat Newtown School,-in . the neighbourhood of the hospital, which,.he thought, would' bo suitable, for: tho purpose.,. ... ■-, ..," In the chairmain. Mr. Kirk mentioned' that most of the. childi'elti ho had inlcss.directly connected with '• tho hospital,'cither/as' in-patients , or oar- ■ patients, andl it was-eminently desirable that tho sohool, if established,: should bo accessible to the hospital; authorities, in tho hospital grounds. There were fifteen or, sixteen chil. '•■' (Iron at -present u.nder ' tho' supervision of : tlm ■ hospital staff, Mr.' Kirk then,withdrew. Thew was no further, discussion on the; question.;