New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-22
THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE.
DefectiUe Children Happy as Kings
Starvation Kills Their Minds.

The only Christmas tree In Public School No
III, Monroe and Market sts this week was In
the ''ungraded' class OF boys under the charge
of Miss Harriet P. Wer. It has been on exhibition
ell week. and every in the schools, teachers
and pupils alike has been to 1t, while many
have also contributed something toward its dec
grafton. This is Jewish district, and as most of
the children in the school are Jewish. Including
those of the ungraded class, Christmas tree Is
something q little out of the ordinary for them.
but they do not seem to have any scruples about
It. and the class chiefly concerned has taken the
most extraordinary pleasure in it
These lives very empty says Miss Wier,
'and could think OF no better way of giving
them a little beauty and Brightness
The boys have formed reception committee and
receive all visitors with the greatest courtesy.
There never was any one more polite than they
They would not think of slamming door or walk
ing in front Of anybody, and nothing pleases them
more than to anticipate want and meet it
Yet year and half ago many of them were
the worst little ragamuffins on the streets. Some
of them have been at Randalls Island and others
have pitiful histories. For ungraded class
means defective class, and the weak mind OF the
defective renders him or her an easy prey to all
sorts Of evil influences.
In an ordinary class these children would prob
ably have learned nothing, and 1t is quite
surprising what of them know. One boy,
who sat in a kindergarten five years. because he
never could learn enough to get any further, now
has become excellent woodworker and has
work. He does not look as If he were below the
normal and he viii probably make a good living,
his teacher thinks A few only will never learn
anything. One member Of the class. for instance,
IS quite gone mentally, and comes TO school SIM
ply to eat
"I keep him here" says Miss Wier. flor nothing
in the world but to try to satiate his appetite,
which have never yet succeeded in doing, though
all the leftovers in the school are sent to him.
His food doesn't assimilate. This case, like nine
others,
cause. The mother was insuficientiy- AnouTished
children morning, noon and night on naoaroni.
% have OF IS t6 tbs one S The
child have here would be taken by the William
but the mother would rather keep him st home
I him anywhere, but he has changed wonderfully
since nee l have been feeding him.
either Of the mother or the child Others are due
to scarlet fever or d1iPPhtheria and others have
the victims. The children play around the tailor
Clothing or other goods fall upon them n
The greatest problem in teaching the defective
you can once get the parent understand that the
h boa aTs a IS Sa have dS
Of them attrbuts the peeularites of such children
cruelty: don't hesitate to use pretty strong Ian
guage to them about this but the fact that can
more effect than words.
children in their homes and do great deal of re-
lief work It is the &c only way to manage such
When you understand him you can manage him
and teach him whatever he is capable of learning
Of course, 1t takes lot Of time. Teachers Of de-
fectves work Sundays and Saturdays as well as
school Gays, and am sorry to say that the Board
of Education hasn't yet its way paying
any more that it does the ordinary class teacher"
When Miss Wfer's class closed yesterday every
child received a bag of candies, nuts and oranges
and the three prize pupils got tickets to the
the holidays had come. School Is as a rule the only
place where they are treated with kindness and
Consideration, and where life has any interest for
them Every day their teacher almost has to
back from their funcheons inside of twenty min