The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-07-15
EDUCATIONAL.
BY w. f. LARSON.

| illI Ut. Ell IN iON We lili4 i.N'sN+N'''
Half of this world doesn't know how
the other half lives.
This saying is true in many ways.
| Especially is it a fact that those who
have everything that can be wished for
know little of the misery, the suffering,
and the anxiety among many of their
fellow beings who have been less fortu-
nate
1t is also true that half of the educa
tional world does not know how the
other half lives. Those who teach in
we'll organized schools, having pupils
who come from homes of culture and
refinement have no idea of the labor
some of their fellow workers have in
other phases Of the educational work.
One of these phases which very few
teachers have ever conceived OF as pos
sible is the "Re,education Of the Insane
Indeed very few know anything of the
great progress that has been made in
recent years in caring for these unfortu.
mates. While we have been working
for the improvement Of our common
schools another set Of laborers have been
studying this great problem and ii il
only by seeing what has really been nc
complished that we can get knowledge
of this work.
At the convention held at Madison
June 15-1i this subject was discussed by
Dr. Alma J. Frisby of Milwaukee and
Mr. p. II. Johnson, Superintendent of
the Trempealeau County Asylum. The
tact was brought ont very clearly that
there are many different kinds of insani-
ty. Most of the insane have lost only
part of their faculties In other re-
speCts they are a. sanea others With
this idea as a foundation superiutend
ents and attendants have begun "A kind
of work among the inmates which Is
truly educational. The patients have
been taught to do things they have ney-
er done before. They have been found
interested in learning to do these things
and many have developed a wonderful
skill. mong the things exhibited that
We're made by patients were brOoms,
leather pouches, baskets, trinkets of
various kinds, and concrete fence posts.
The work was well done,
In many ways an insane person is
like b child A childs mental powers
are undeveloped; those of the insane are
partially enfeebled or lost The powers
that do remain however, are as capable
Of development in an insane person as in
one who is sane
The general plan IN caring for the in
sane, now, is to make the surroundings
as homelike and pleasant as possible
Fresh air aud wholesome food are more
important than medicine, Added to
these two are exercise and rest in pro.
per proportions. A person who is we'll
needs employment in order to keep well
and grow. How much more important
is it for one whose mind is enfeebled to
have this exercise
The insane appreciate kindness and
sympathy ~ much as the sane. They
enjoy doing a thing well ana to see the
fruit Of their labor appreciated.
In Wisconsin there are two State hospit-
als for the Insane, the Northern located
near Oshkosh ani the Southern at Men
dota. In these hospitals are only pa
tients that have some prospects of being
cured. There are over thirty county
asylums 70 which the incurables are
sent In all there are about 1000 pa,
tients in the state.
The Manitowoc County Asylum has
about $50 inmates including the feeble
minded As this il county institution
the people of the county should visit it
and keep in touch with the work that il
being done. The more we see of the
world and its great needs the more we
shall grow in the appreciation Of the
| work Of others