The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-20
SPECIAL CLASSES
FOR FEEBLE MINDS
Change in Salt Lake School
System to Provide for I'm
fortunate Ones.
OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD
SUPERINTENDENT CHRISTENSEN
GATHERS VALUABLE DATA.

In studying the vital problem of the
proper care of the mentally weak or de
ficient in the schools. the arousal of in
terest in which is likely to result in the
establishment OF special classes for such
children IN Salt Lake in the near future
Superintendent ID. II. Christie nsen Of the
city schools has gathered much valuable
and interesting data on the subject
In the "Old Penn" a weekly review OF
the University of Pennsylvania, a long
article by Lightner Wilmer, appears on
the uniVersity's work for defective and
backward children in its psychological
clinic, and demonstrates clearly in the
results obtained the necessity of proper
care and treatment of the deficient
In the review the case of an eight-year-
old boy is given in detail. When given
over TO the clinic, his apparently nope
less stupidity, reported as idiOcy and
gross mental deficiency combined with
disOrderliness and intractability, had pre-
cluded his admission to the public school.
He was heard to speak but one word,
candy and was apparently without the
comprehension of an infant The exist
enCe of an adenOid growth in the post
nasal cavity rendered him partially deaf.
the adenOid he was returned to the clinic
and his education begun. Within the
week there was a noticeable change, and
there was a constant marked mental aC-
hnAtHAlGuta UEEdAutL8 Ills case anu UL4l-
ers similar, the writer says:
For him at present, as for hundreds
of others like him in Philadelphia, the
hope Of escape from a life of ineffiCienCy,
with the possibilities of constant pauper-
ism or crime, lies wholly in the special
classes attached to the public schools.
Despite the apparent imbecility, / con-
slider that he has a good chance Of nor
mai development If provision can be
made for adequate care and training. 1
do not believe the proper place for him
TO be an Institution for feeble-minded
children, and yet, such mind as his, ly-
ing dormant for years, partially shut off
from even his poor environment by deaf
ness, must be awakened by pedagogical
methods different from those of the regu-
lar school A special class with an album
dance Of interesting and stimulating de
vices, is the proper place, His mind must
be reached and trained through his
hands"
Suggestion Is Taken.
The results obtained in the case Of the
boy referred to led to the matter being
reported to the superintendent Of schools
in Philadelphia, with the suggestion of
the desirabiiity of organizing special
classes for such boys. The suggestion
was promptly acted upon, and within a
few days special classes organized for
the backward pupils OF the schools.
Continuing, the writer says:
Many children are subnormaI in in
telligence and backward in school work
because Of remedial physical and mental
defects The psychological clinic makes
a mental and physical examination. In
this work a number of psychologists
physicians and social workers are taking
part. A child brought to the psyche
logical clinic because of mental retarda-
ton is often found to be in need Of medi-
cal treatment. Such treatment is not
given at the psychological clinic, but the
child referred the niCnar. cnrinc m
the University hospital, and the social
worker of the psychological clinic sees
that the child receives attention and visits
theShOme to see that the prescribed treat
ment is carried out. If the visit to the
home shows, as often happens. that the
home conditions are responsible in part
for the child's mental and physical state
an effort is made to arouse the family
to the proper care Of the child. When
the desired course Of mental training is
determined upon, whether in the home or
in q special class. the attempt is made
to follow the work