Education Act, 1944
| DOI | 10.1177/026455054500401003 |
| Author | C.E. Bridges |
| Published date | 01 January 1945 |
| Date | 01 January 1945 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
106
EDUCATION ACT, 1944
By C. E. BRIDGES, Assistant Secretary, Middlesex County Council
Education Committee, Barister-at-Law
I usually treat Editors with respect. When, there-
visages the circumstances in which a boarding school
fore, the Editor of &dquo; Probation &dquo; invited me to con-
education may be the only type of education suitable
.tribute an article on the way in which the Education
to a particular child, and it allows this to be provided
Act, 1944, would affect probation officers, I hesitated
not only in a school which is maintained by a local
to give him the reply which immediately came to my
education authority but by the payment of fees to
mind, and that was &dquo; It does not.&dquo; But I am glad
the proprietor of what we are used to calling a
that, on reflection, I suppressed this first reaction, for
&dquo; private school &dquo; but which henceforth will be
it is now quite plain to me that there are many aspects
known as an &dquo; independent school &dquo;. . Surely, here
of this far-reaching statute with which the probation
may be found an answer to some of the problems with
officer may be intimately concerned.
which the probation officer is confronted when the
Many of us whose time is spent in local government
root of the trouble lies in the home, for the removal
and similar services are prone to work in what have
of the unfortunate boy or girl to a boarding school
sometimes been unfairly described as watertight com-
may provide the very answer for which he is looking.
partments, but it cannot be denied that in these days
No doubt, the Ministry of Education will want to be
of specialisation there is grave danger that an officer
satisfied that before a child is given a boarding school
may lose sight of the fact that the service with which
education, a thorough investigation has been made
he is most intimately concerned may really spread
into the circumstances which necessitate this.
So it
beyond the confines of his own office and be of con-
may well be that the school medical office, or per-
siderable interest to his fe’llows some of whom may be
haps a psychiatrist, may be called in to give support,
carrying out a different, but yet complementary, set
on medical grounds, to what the probation officer
of duties. Happily, in Middlesex, the education ser-
knows on social grounds would justify a complete
vice has, for some years, been very conscious of its
removal of a child from home and his local day school.
colleagues in the county probation service, and each
Already, probation omcers will be acquainted with
has contributed in a spirit of service and fellowship
the provisions which the Education Act, 1921, makes
in helping the work of the other when in combina-
for dealing with children who suffer from somme
tion results cou’ld be .achieved which in isolation would
physical defect such as blindness, or deafness, or
not have been possible or would not have been possi-
mental illness, and the manner in which these child-
ble to conclude in so satisfactory a manner.
ren can be dealt with both medically and education-
It is therefore true to say that a probation officer,
ally at a special school. The new Act embraces in
not only might, but I would go so far as to say should,
one category all these children by describing them in
be interested in the activities of his colleagues in the
need of &dquo; special educational treatment.&dquo; Up to the
education service, whether they be teachers, adminis-
time of writing, the Ministry of Education has not
trators, school enquiry officers, special services
announced the categories of children whom it will
officers, or juvenile employment officers. A proba-
regard as coming under this heading, but by the pro-
tion officer will, I am sure, acknowledge how helpful
visions of the Act, it is required to make regulations
it is to him at times, when confronted with a difficulty
on this matter, and a’lthough prophecy has never been
prob’lem, to know of the organisations which will - one of my activities, I am prepared to...
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