The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-21


probably occur with girls OF this class
despite all that can be done. but We
feel that THE board should do it's ut
most to prevent these outbreaks BY
giving tho matron sufii c,cnt permanent
and competent help To keep the girls
under control This is all the more
important i'm view Of the fact that
an injustice to the good name of the
Institution and to the village near
which the home is located.
Punishmcnts.
We have found no evidence of i'm
proper punishment at the home,
though this appeared to be one of the
complaints in the minds Of those UNI
familiar with the task. From time
to time the matron has been forced
TO correct tho girls. but has done so
carefully and with due consideration
for the welfare Of the home We
feel. however. that this is matter
which must be given constant atten-
tion, and that great caro- should be
taken to make all punishment reason
able and proportionate 10 the ofense.
segregation and CInssIHc ton.
Nothing was more impressed upon
US during the hearing than the neces-
sity Of classifying the girls and segrc-
eating them accordingly Our special
Investigator who examined the girls
tsee evidence. page 279) found that
but two OF the inmates of the home
are mentally normal. Four others
were backward. two were borderline
cases and the others arc plainly feeble
minded. one girl, sixteen years OF
age. showed mentality Of but little
moro than seven; many of them test
I'd from three to eight years back
ward. With so many classes Of girls
In the home. IL is highly important
that those whose mentality makes their
restoration impossible should be separ-
ated from those who can reasonably
be expected to return 10 society. a
temporary segregation should be
adopted a this time, with a further
separation according to the habits Of
the girls. but complete segregation
will never be possible until the State
has an institution for those who are
distinctly feeble minded. Bon Air was
not intended or equipped as an insti-
tuition for the feeble minded, and 1t
can never do It's best work until X
becomes a reformatory and house Of
refuge, rather than school for feeble
minded and hayward alike.
Protection for the Girls.
During the investigation, we had
evidence of various attempts on the
OF the girls while in the home. While
the matron expresses herself as able
TO control the girls, she is often at
loss 10 know how to deal with these
intruders. and she expressed the be-
lief In which we concur that the COM
ing Of such persons was most pre-
judicial 10 discipline
We cannot permit, as a people, the
scandal OF committing girls to re-
nd nf ~ In n
interfere with them there. Indeed, un-
less we are prepared fully to protect
these children, we have no right to
admit them TO the school. For this
reason we think 1t highly important
that two things should be done: a.
that the matron be provided with sufti-
lent help o. unquestionable charac-
to-. and probity TO protect her and
her wards from the advances OF men
t2) that the General Assembly be re-
quested to declare as a felony cohabi-
tation with the inmate of any such
institution. regardless Of age or previ-
Gus chaste life.
Larger Appropriation Must Be Forth
coming.
We found that many OF the minor
defects q the home were due to the
lack of means with which to make
| improvements which the board had in
N'''NSH' Pidtici IeS TeallZe the I'm
Projections OF their work and They
know tfat changes are advisable, but
they have 1907 the means to progress
RAPIDLY This is. as recent writer
has said, the great scandal at Bon
Air. surely the State of Virginia. with
al its wealth and its enlightened leg
!sla.ure. cannot fail TO make ample
provision for these unfortunate little
daughters OF Virginia. Most urgently
We plead for larger means and more
liberal appropriations for this vital
work
The Work OF the Board,
! During the investigation 1t was nee
essary for us 10 examine Il number OF
the gentlemen who compose the board
which organized and bought this home
We ere much impressed with the en-
thus'asm and earnestness of these
gentlemen. and wish thus publicly to
express our appreciation of their cf-
| forts. They are busy men, prosperous
men, and every hour taken from the!,
! individual work means loss and per-
/ sonal sacrifice: yet they have given
! generously OF their time and wealth
and IL they have not been able to or
Sanize model home. their failure IS
| 10 be attributed TO their lack OF time
! rather than to their dereliction or n,g.
| lect
The State Should Control 1t.
| Our settled conviction, after hearing
all the evidence and making as ex-
haustive an investigation as was pos
sible. is that if these good men and