New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10
FOR CARE OF DETECTIVES
Campaign Started to Provide
Institution in BROOKLYN.

A movement was started in this borough
last week TO bring about the Organiza-
ton in Brooklyn or nearby on Long ISL
and OF an institution for the treatment
OF defective children. So far the agita-
ton is largely confined to teachers and
physicians. but considerable popular in
terest in the treatment OF detectives has
existed for several years. A committe Of
ten is to be appointed to consider plans.
The initiative was taken at a meeting
held under the auspices of the Neuro-
logical Society OF Brooklyn and tho
Brooklyn Institute OF Arts and Sciences
at the building OF the Medical Society OF
Kings County, No. 1873 Bedford avenue.
DR.. Frank Tilney, president Of the Neuro-
logical Society. presided and papers were
read by Or. William Browning, DR.. Henry
II. Goddard, director of the Training
School for Feeble Minded Children. OF
Vineland, NJ J.. and Elizabeth T.. Far
rell, inspector OF unsraded classes, OF the
Department OF Education. Or. Thomas
r Fogarty, Deputy Commissioner OF
Charities. and others took part IN the
discussion.
The mental hygiene conferences and ex
hibit az the College OF the City Of New
York are expected to be OF service In
arousing general interest in the campaign
for the beneft Of children. The meeting
at the Medical Society's building came at
the close OF several courses Of lectures
delivered by experts on kindred subjects
and held under the auspices Of the Brook
Iyn Institute. Or. Goddard's course of
lectures has attracted considerable atteu-
ton. as he is classed with the leading
experts Of tho country In tho treatment
Of defective children. and the Nineland
school has the reputation OF being a
model institution. New York State has
none similar 10 II. although there are said
10 be thirty thousand mentally defcien.
children IN her public schools. To cope
with the situation 100000 will be need
ded. and more than that II an attempt Is
not made soon. II is said
According 10 statistics quoted at the
meeting there are $500 pupils in the pub
lie schools under eighteen years OF age
who are known TO be defective mentally
Most OF them are in ungraded classes, and
the schools are doings as much as their
limited facilities make possible, but such
children require different and greater at
tention than they are getting. There are
said 10 be many children OF the same type
who are kept out OF schools by their
parents and are receiving little or no
proper attention.
1t is the opinion of Brooklyn physicians
that an institution is needed both for
mental detectives. such as are treated at
Vineland and for the children OF insane
parentage The latter. II is said, II taken
from their vicious surroundings early in
life can in many instances be trained to
act normally This class OF children,
while often brilliant pupils, go out into
life, under present conditions, handicapped
by habits and modes Of thought acquired
through their long associations with
diseased relatives, even in cases where
they have not inherited abnormal minds.
According 10 Miss Farrell, per cent OF
school children-7500 in Brooklyn-are
more or less defective, backward in their
studies and need medical attention. The
state institutions which treat children are
small and crowded and Inadequate IN
other respects, and Brooklyn lacks any
place for its detectives. DR.. Browning de-
cIared that many cases Of abnormality