930 TRANSACTIONS OP SECTION L. 



The late Loudon School Board opened its first school for the mentally deficient 

 in July 1892, and lor the physically defective in 1901. There are now eighty-four 

 schools, with a roll of 0,UU6 for the mentally deficient, and tweuty-eight schools, 

 with a roll of 2,255, ibr the physically defective ; these latter are brought to school 

 in ambulances in charge of trained nurses. The school hours are from 9.30 a.m. 

 to 3 P.M., with a midday interval of one and a half hours. The premises consist 

 of light and airy class-rooms, with a corridor hall and kitchen. A. good dinner is 

 provided at a cost of '2d. per head, paid by the parents. The teaching is given by 

 trained and certiticated teachers, the morning session devoted to mental work, 

 and the afternoon to art and suitable handicrafts. 



The mentally deficient attend from 9.30 to 12 a.m., and from 2 to 4 or 1.30 to 

 3.30 P.M., accorduig to the recommendation of the managers of the schools. 



Pupils are admitted to the schools by the London County Council medical 

 otlicer, who on examination enters in a book called the 'Family History' the 

 particulars of the child's ailments, whether mental or physical. The teacher 

 keeps the 'class progress ' of the pujiil in a separate book for Cfich child. The 

 truth concerning the family history is often very difficult to obtain, especially in 

 the case of the mentally deficient. All these schools are in charge of the Sjjecial 

 Schools Sub-Oommittee, consisting of eleven London County Councillors and foLir 

 co-opted members. 



The aim in teaching the physically defective is to train them to become good 

 workers, in spite of their infirmity, and for the mentally deficient to develop 

 intelligence through the motor senses, and so quite three-quarters of their time 

 is devoted to manual and kindred occupations, with the result that many can 

 obtain remunerative work on leaving school. It is general])' estimated that here 

 and on the Continent one per cent, need this special instruction. The classes in 

 the special schools consist of boys and girls, but experience shows that the senior 

 boys are belter separated from the junior mixed classes, and so they are now 

 being taught in separate schools advanced manual work — e.(/., woodwork, boot- 

 uiaking, tailoring, and gardeuing (where pos.sible). The lioyal Commission's 

 Iveport may give further impetus to this higher training. 



The physically defective need expert trade teaching for four years before 

 leaving school, and the lower-grade mentally deficient permanent custodial care 

 in a working col my. Only by deerea.'^ing consumption can we reduce the numbers 

 of cripples, and by the segregation of the unfit the numbers of the feebleminded 

 and insane. 



FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4. 

 The following Report and Papers were read : — 



L Report on Studies most suitable /or Elementary Schools [with Intro- 

 ductory Statement by Sir Philip Maynus). — See Reports, p. 495. 



2. Discussion on Education in relation to Rural Life. 



(i) Education in relation to Rural Life. By L. C. Miall, D.Sc, F.R.S. 



Special training for the occupations of rural life satisfies the three requisites of 

 naturaleducation, viz., aptitude, inclination, opportunity. (See Presidential Address 

 to the" Section, 190S.) 



In the near future the practical applications of biology will demand far more 

 serious consideration than they receive to-day. The raising of crops, the manage- 

 ment of gardens, the prevention of insect plagues, the food-supply of the sea, 

 are obviously of first-rate importance, and a good supply of trained naturalist.s 

 competent to advise upon suck industries will be found easeutial to the national 



