§ 29. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education the number of deaf children of school age in England and Wales, and the number of these who are being taught in special schools or special classes for the deaf?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThe approximate number of deaf children in England and Wales is 5,700, of whom it is estimated that about 1,600 are only partially deaf. The recognised accommodation for these children in special schools or classes for the deaf is 4,582, and the number of children who were attending these schools on 31st March, 1923, the latest date for which complete figures are available, was 4,041.
§ Mr. FOOTAre arrangements to be made to secure education for those deaf children for whom there are no schools at all?
§ Mr. TREVELYANYes. The Board is actively considering the means of providing for them.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that 2302 these special schools for mentally defective children are also used for deaf children and will he consider the advisability of separating deaf children from children who are mentally defective?
§ Mr. TREVELYANThey are not supposed to be taught in the same schools.
§ 30. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Education the number of teachers at present employed in teaching the deaf; how many are trained; how many partially traina[...]; and how many untrained?
§ Mr. TREVELYANAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with the permission of the hon. Member, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The answer Is as follows:
§ The latest figures relating to teachers in schools for deaf children which have been tabulated by the Board are those for the year ended 31st March, 1922. There is no reason to suppose, however, that any material alteration has occurred during the last two years:
| — | Men. | Women. | Total. |
| Full-time Teachers:— | |||
| Certificated — | |||
| College Trained | 20 | 93 | 113 |
| Not College Trained. | 34 | 59 | 93 |
| Uncertificated | 16 | 44 | 60 |
| Others | 63 | 97 | 160 |
| Total of Full-time Teachers | 133 | 293 | 426 |
| Part-time Teachers | 32 | 33 | 60 |
| Grand Total | 165 | 326 | 491 |
§ It should be understood that none of these teachers, whatever their training or academic qualifications, are approved as teachers in schools for the deaf unless they are found on inspection to ho competent to do the work allotted to them.