The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-11-02

mentally and physically defective.
\ case in point-the couple are
l'lChInonders-is cited 10 show the
defect in the present laws.
Apropos of this the boards report
says: POI
Whatever happens to the feeble
MINDED, ldlolc and epileptic. the one
1hlhS OF parentage must not happen
10 them. The only just and humane
ana civilized way of stopping the
transmission OF effectiveness is bv
segregation. These people should be
taken 10y themselves and kept in
quiet. peaceful. industrial communi-
Ties, where they shall have everything
tIat otheF villagers enjoy except the
Toys and sorrows Of married life and
the pleasure OF voting for the Cover
nor and President. There should he
SAFE, permanent cGstodial care of all
nose VINO are so far degenerate that
their unhindered natural increosN
would result in lowering the avers@s
quality of manhood and womanhood
of the State.
1t is the thing to dc for the fee
ie-mlndec-gettinE them out of the
Dig world, whore they have had such
a nara time because they are not like
Utner IoIkS- They are ignorant and
irresponsible. 1t lie too much TO ask
OF them that they shall be virtuous
because virtue demands strength. We
must be content if We can keen them
innocent"
Moreover, it is believed that under
the proper system Of training. the
majority of feeble minded people can
be made self-supporting. In an in
stltuton especially designed for them
they could be utilized in many Occu-
parons requiring no great play Of in
tellect.
Agents of the board have made two
intensive studies in the public schools
mo "a
OF the Binet measuring school for in
teillSence- These show the chilG's
mental development, graded at nor
maj ana at one. two and three years
ABOVE and the same levels below. The
presence of feeble-minded among
those backward in studies was clearIy
SHOWN. At Laurel Industrial School.
eight of the most backward BOYS We're
tested, and their mental axe was found
tar below their actual age, showing
Ihat these boys, now held responsible
Tor crimes. are distinctly feeble
minded, and therefore not responsible
Tor their acts and not criminals at all.
In his letter transmitting the re
port 10 the Governor. Chairman
George II. Denny says:
After three years OF Investigation
and study of the work committed to
us by the General Assembly. we be
heNe that, in order to enable the State
10 effectively prosecute. at the least
possible expenditure OF money. its
work for the dependent. the deIin-
quent and the defective. classes four
reforms are Indispensable: Cd Pro-
vision for the cuStOdial care OF and
the prevention OF prOcreation by the
Zee ble-minded; CD provision that all
prisoners shall he given healthful. pro-
ntable employment that Will not putt
them in competition with honest la /
Dor; CD the classification Of drunk
ards as diseased people instead OF asI
criminals. and provision to give them
remunerative employment with ade-
quate medical treatment: and a. such
supervision OF dependent and deiin- |
quent children as will ensure for them
adequate religious instruction and ad- !
equate mental training in a healthful !
and moral environment.
while we are able to report" com
ments Or. Denny, that our jails and
afmShouscs are improving. and that
those in charge or them are. as a rule
faithful and honest. our duty to the
Oomm onWealth COmpels us to declare
that our almShOuSeS are not in most
instances. adequately providing for the
needs OF the inmates: and that Our
lallS. in general, DO not adequately
meet the demand of modern economic
SlahdardS, or the requirements Of an
ehhghtcned pablo conscience The
nad sanitary conditions. the idIencSs
inc enforced evil companionship. the
enormous expense, concerning which F.
,her" is so much complaint. are in
herent IN the jail system These
evils cannot be remedied. They should
oe abolished"