Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-09

endowed ~ nature to profit by training
suited to the normal child.
An extreme case OF this type is on rec
ord Of a boy who had little ability or
inclination to walk. but had been taught
to do so by holding to some stationary
object, as table. Having but slight
motor sense, he could learn only through
his eyes or ears. In this case his eyes
We're trained to watch his feet which he
lad at last learned to move, the one be-
fore the other, i'll 4 tolerably straight
line. To stimulate him in the effort a
piece of candy judiciously placed at
the far end of the table.
Examples of less extreme type are
those In which paralysis follows illness
or accident and where system Of cor
receive gymnastics is indicated. There
is a system unfortunately expensive to
install. by which every affected muscle
may he stimulated and the whole nerv-
Gus system exhlarated through horse
back or camel riding, or other vibratory
motions which convey to the child the
sense of activity and play.
Another class of children aside from
the normal are the truants. usually boys.
TO call them bad incorrigible does not
help toward discovering why they are so.
Again and again they are found before
the juvenile court. They are contrite,
turned TO their schools. only to repeat
the offense in a short time.
An illustration of this was the case of
an attractive boy who was sent from a
graded to an ungraded class because he
would attend school only under compul-
sion and when there would not apply
himself to his studies. He was intelli-
gent when questioned. and Obedient In all
ways aside from school work. but he
would play the truant. He was ia Ken
for examination to Il hospital, where it
was found that ne was suffering from
hernia. An operation restored the child
10 complete health. In a short time he
had caught up in his studies and was
returned to tie graded school in his dis
trict.
Many from these different classes of
atypical children came into the schools
Of the District through the enforcement
of the compulsory education law passed
in 1895 When this law went into effect
July 1 Of that year. one Of the require
mentS was for special or ungraded
schools for instruction for those who
could not be controlled by the regular
school discipline" This law also pro-
vided that the board of education should
have the authority to set apart special
buildings or special rooms and to pro-
vide. under a qualified teacher, for the
instruction for this class of children.
Further, the law provided that such
children may he restricted to such
schools for instruction until satisfactory
board of education by the teacher in
charge, whereupon, such child may be
restored to the graded school in the
district jim which he resides.
The regular ungraGed school was es-
tabIished in November. 1907, under the
tute1age of such teachers as the board of
education was able to obtain. but it soon
became apparent that truancy and back
Wardness were occasioned by mental and
physical deficiencies rather than from any
innate incorrigibility.
In some cases the child had been made
resentful, even vicious by the ridicule OF
p.aymates. A hare lip. cleft palate,
limp was, perhaps, the exciting cause.
When the parents cooperation could be
obtained removing the defect. as In ade-
noids or in the cutting of a, tied tongue.
liberated body and spirit and the child
was helped i'll his studies and returned to