New-York tribune., 1903-02-26
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
SCHOOLS FOR CRIPPLED CHILDREN


To the Editor of the Tribune
Sir: In Mondays newspapers there was report
Of lecture given by Professor Earl Barnes before
the Alumrae Association Of the Normal College on
the subject of the need Of additional educational
privileges for defective children, especially for
crippled and deformed children. Mr.. Barnes de-
scribed a school for crippled children which was
organized in London by Mrs Humphry Ward
He told how an ambulance brings the children 10
school in the morning and takes them TO their
homes in the evening, and Of the value OF THIS
work, and stated that nothing OF the KIND IS dohe
I'm New-York This statement is so far from COZ
lect that in defence Of the charitable people or
New-Tork, I feel it necessary TO call your atten-
ton to the actual facts
In New-York City there are seven Day scnool5
for crippled and deformed children, as well as the
school connected with the Hospital for Ruptured
and Crippled In point Of fact. the educational
privileges of these helpless children OF New-fork
City greater than in any other large CITY.
-Four Of these schools. connected with the Chill
dren's Aid Society, at No go East Eighty
eighth-st-. No. 2i West Sixty-third-st-' NO 81
East Thirty-1fth-st, and No 535 East sixteenth
St There IS also a free school for crippled chill
dren at No asa West Fifty-seventh-st. and two
others on the East Side. connected with the Guild
for Crippled Children These schools are managed
by boards OF women. and are supported by the
gifts of the charitable About four hundred chill
dren attend these day schools. and each has its
wagonette or ambulance to bring the children 10
school and return them in the evening TO their
homes In the tenement houses.
The largest Of these schools ard one OF the
most interesting. is in the Industrial School or
the Children's Aid Society at No so East Elgnry-
elghth-st One hundred ard twenty-s1x crippled
and deformed children are in attendance. and
there are two large wagonettes. Wnlcn were
specially designed for the purpose to bring them
to school in the morning and return them 70 their
homes in the afternoon. ard this expense. To-
gether with the cost OF the dinners wnlch are
provided the children in school, and al ths
pleasures and comforts afforded these little ones
as well as the cost OF supplying trained nurse
and appliances, were borne by the Iale MS
Walker and her sister.
As stated by their teacher, Miss Stackyole 20
educate these children in the best manner WHICH
will aid them In the future is a problem WHICH
all who are interested in these little unfor-urat7S
are endeavoring TO solve. During the last year
some of our Older girls were taught 10 cut anu
make their dresses make little Worsteu NOUS NOUS
for baby brother sister and other aTucles
needed in the home. We hope to enlarge this WorN
during the coming year, particularly IN the o'eSS-
making department. If these girls could maze
not only their own clothes. but those OF tnelE
younger brothers and sisters they would oe dolH5
a good share In aiding their families untH tlSy
in time make them seIf-supportng. our G.3Ss
has been in existerce for two years ano ~ =
very gratifying TO note the progress mace Llsi,i a.
and physically by these little sufferers 5day-iS, 5dany Nj
incapable of being taught have developed No.
derfully under the teachers patent s4ludne~s ~s
simply dormant and required but encoura aSenlSts =,
and little kindness to arouse them E4VSlt -
the case Of children who mentally 1e.lSS-SIi
have found great improvement sSpeSClSt11.tS
morally. Many of the parents OF these cFIpPss,-
children have no thought nor do Jney care -
the future OF these helpless beings; the fact t1aL
they will always be dependent on their Lanily
is in itself. in many cases. enough 20 C&lSe -.
difference as to whether they live or de IN ~. -
case of dear little tot who was NlCtliu o
neglect. the mother frequently changed neE res
dence order our vigilance, out HiluL.-5
her efforts were unsuccessful she changed her
treatment of the child It Is surprising how NUS
some OF these poor children know or aItecu0u'
and how suspicious they feel toward any one Wiio
shows them any attention We have at present q
bOy who was a pupil OF school for nearly =
month before We could convince him th1L ne WIS
bin. At sight of waSOnette he would become
excited. saving that IL was n wagon Jhat NdS
going TO take him to a prison Upon inquiries
the cause OF this poor TnlidS fear. we IedEhed
that his parents frequently threatened 70 nave
him sent 10 prison in wagon when ne fated
watch an strangers who entered the room ahd
showed extreme nervousness II approached or
sDOken TO Kindness alone has now oVerc0nlS
these fears and he now enjoys the school
The Chdren's Aid Society Will De glad II kro-
fessor Earl Barnes and the alUmne OF the Nor
NAL College will visit this school and study the
methods OF the teachers who have achieved Sucn
notable success in educating and training rheSe
children Miss StaCkpole'S success win very
backward children has also been remarkable anu
we'll worthy of the study OF educators. IAis -
nfouae~ WORK in New-YOrk City MCSh has been
done but tae field is great that there Is press
ing need OF a larger number Of schools tor Shese
Secretary OF the ChiIdren's Aid Society
New-YorlS City. Feb, IS 1908.