New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-11
THOSE MENTALLY DEFICIENT
ANNA GARLIN SPENCER SUGGESTS
METHODS OF TREATMENT FOR
CHILDREN OF THIS CLASS.

The Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer. president of the
Rhode Island Women's Council and Charles Loring
Brace, secretary of the Childrens Aid Society
were speakers at yesterdays session of the Sum-
Iner School Of Philanthropy, in the Charities Build
ing The subject of the morning Special
Training for Backward and Defective Children"
Mrs Spencer has headed the effort of the Women's
Council to establish a State school for feeble
minded children in Rhode Island. At present such
children are boarded in institutions Of other States
at the expense OF Rhode Island
Mrs. Spencer classed the defective under three
heads-the deficient in bodily strength, cripples
and invalids; the blind and deaf or otherwise de-
hcient in senses, and those that are defective in
mind. For cripples and invalids she advocated an
extension OF hospitals and convalescent homes and
a wider spread and better organized care for chill
dren of the poor in their own homes where the
family life is what it should be. Much has been
done for the blind deaf.
1t is estimated that there are about one hundred
thousand feeble minded children in this country
and not more than 10 per cent of the number are
in special schools. About 70 per cent of the one
hundred thousand children of feeble minded and
degenerate parents Thirty per cent are mentally
defective as result of accident. To a greater
less degree, the feeble minded children are capable
of instruction Many of them be made par
tally and some Of Them wholly, self supporting.
Custodia care of the feeble minded is needful.
only for their safety, the best interests
of the public. Little excepting physical care can
be given to idiots
a small proportion of the feeble minded has an
insane tendency. and some of this class to be
found in criminal Institutions. An encouraging
feature for those with insane tendencies is the
that, with modern scientific progress. several such
cases have already been treated surgicay with
success. This leads to the nope that the class may
be more generally recoverable than has been
thought possible in The past
Mrs. Spencer placed strong emphasis upon the
need of keeping feeble minded epileptics entirely
separated from epileptlcs who not mentally
deficient. Between 40 60 per of epIleptics
feeble minded. Mrs. Spencer would not class
epileptics solely epilepsy. AS class, they re-
qure, to an especial degree. cheerful and health
ful surroundings
According TO recent statistics the largest proper
ton of mentally defective children in the United
States found in California, where in an investi-
cation of ten thousand school children. thou
sand were classed mentally dull" Mrs
Spencer thought the high percentage might be due
to a high standard of judgment. In London, in d
similar investigation, per OF the school chill
Hren we're GaSseG as du f aa Htf!e more t IMAM
c cenf VIDE area IN THIS country found per
Mrs. Spencer believes that in every public school
there should be teacher to give individual care
to all children who, for any reason fall behind
their grade. In addition. there should be medical
inspection to cooperate with the special instruc-
ton. For those children who most backward
equipped. with such methods as have already
class. Two such schools are in existence in Provi-
dence. In them great deal of attention is given
The elimination of the defective and Degenerate
from ordinary life is prime essential" said Mrs
Spencer, in the solution Of the problems of vice
and crime"
Mr.; Brace considered only, crippled and back,
ward children. OF the 1900 children in the 10
Industrial schools of the ChildrenS Aid Society
80 deficient, but II is experience Of the or
ganZatiOn that after year two Of daily care
with the hot meal and comfortable clothing
the minds OF deficient children very often awaken
gradually. Not infrequently such pupils finally
enter regular grade classes only year or two
behind others OF their age. Mr. Brace believed that
early starvation and improper food responsible
for the condition OF a large number OF cases
schools Italians, who have been brought up
from the earliest years bread and tea mixed
with all sorts OF strange stimulants" Mr.. Brace
recalled such pupil, who for years made
only crooked line. while the children OF his class
writing sentences. lie is doing good
work, and is about a year behind those OF his age.
The Chdren's Aid Society schools a part Of
the public school system. and to them turned
by the Board of Education many OF the de-
hCient and backward children. \ hot meal Is pro-
vded at noon in all schools for children who need
II. Clothing IS also given where Il is required. Mr.
Brace thought that until the public schools can
accommodate all the children OF this city II would
not be practicable to establish schools for the de
hcient.
For incorrigble truants there four special
ungraded classes IN the industrial schools Four
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