SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR CRIPPLES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 196, 16 May 1936, Page 13

SPECIAL SCHOOL FOR CRIPPLES

For Vocational Training REGISTER IN WELLINGTON SUGGESTED An urgent, need exists fur an intensification of the primary education of (-rippled children. Advancing this opinion Io members of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. Dr. Alexander Gillies, orthopaedic surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, held up the educational system followed at the Royal Alexandra Hospital as the model for whatever steps might be taken in Wellington. He also suggested a registration of all crippled children in Wellington. Attentiion would have to be given to the education of the crippled children. The ideal at the Wellington Hospital would he a separate class-room, probably away from the main building, and with sfiecinl open-air facilities, such as those at the Royal Alexandra Hospibal at Sydney, lie said he hoped it would lie possible to focus the attention of the whole medical profession, the nursing profession ami other persons interested, on the problem of developing, augmenting and intensifying the primary education of the children under the hospitals’ control. At Sydney, transport to the hospital school, luncheon, and special seating accommodation were provided, and classes were arranged according to attainments rather than to age. Teaching was largely individual. Vocational training followed naturally in sequence on the work of the school, which provided special pre-vacational classes in various trades and occupations. Serious Obstacle. "In New .South "Wales it was pointed I out by the superintendent of education how a poor standard of primary education was often a serious obstacle,” said Dr. Gillies. “That is why we are so anxious to raise the standard of primary education given in hospitals. For the most part, these patients go out and return to normal school life although rather handicapped. In Sydney, the society gets free use of teciiuical colleges and schools fur students recommended by the society. Dr. Gillies said he hoped it would be possible to arrange a complete survey of the number of crippled children in the city. The society had 92 cases on its register. He felt sure this number represented not one-third of the total. If a. survey were made the society would probably find there were more than 300 crippled children in ■Wellington. The present register, he said, did not contain the names of children under five years, nor those of children being treated for foot deformities, nor yet, those of the older Children who did not feel the need of the soei(J_v’.s assistance. Sooner or later such a survey would be essential, although it would be expensive and, unless thoroughly organised as in Sydney, with facilities to keep it tip to date, it would bo unsatisfactory. Full Register. He suggested a full register could possibly l>e made if tlie society arranged for a registration of cripples nt. Hie Education Department, in conjunction with Hie Health Department, whose reports could be attached to those of schoolteachers, who -could give particulars of Hie crippled children in their charge. The official files could Ibe made available io the officers of the different crippled children societies, and would sliow what, each child at the age of 14 was going to do. With this “fol-low-up” system Hie society could arrange for those unable to help themselves. The gap left by those children under five years of age could be bridged by co-operation with the I’lunket Society and with other societies.