SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17097, 21 February 1916, Page 10

SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir —I shall be gkd if you will kindly correct tho erroneous statement m this morning's issue, copied from tho " Dominion." with reference to this school. The statement that " last October the withdrawal of a. child from the Sumner School for tho Deaf at Chnsteliurch, following upon complaints by the parents of the child, led to proceedings bv the Education Department to compel the attendance of the child at the institution," is contrary to fact. The child in question was admitted to the school for the first time last week. Proceedings wove taken by the Education Department last October in order to set tho child admitted to the school, not to compel her to ho returned after haviug been withdrawn. Her parents never had made, any complaints, but in their ignorance imagined that she could be educated elsewhere. Although unsuccessful attempts in two schools in Wellington had been made, the case was adjourned in order to give the parents a final opportunity of seeing what could be done m a third school. This also proving useless, the parents voluntarily decided to send he r here, and the mother after seeing the work that is being done here, informed mc that she would do all she could to get parents of similar children to send them here without delay. The statement that a child was withdrawn from this school, following en complaints made by the parents, is liable to have extremely mischievous results, and I hope that, in the, interests of the education of the deaf, you will allow me to correct it, as no such .complaints have been made. It is most important that the education of deaf children should be taken in hand as early as possible, Jmt owing to the ignorance or the apathy of parents this is not done. During the past ten years forty-nine of our new-comers have been over the age of eight, twanty-nine over the age of ten, eleven over the age of twelve, lour over the age of fourteau. and two over the age, of sixteen. This in spite of the fact that the Act renders attendance compulsory from the ago of six.—-1 am, etc., J. E. STEVEN'S. School for the Deal. Sumner, February 19,