Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-29
SETTLING A WORLD PROBLEM


Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin:
Sir: EueeniSts and others who are
working for the regeneration OF the
human race are giving much atten
ton TO the feeble-minded and unfit
the world over, but particularly is
this true in England, France and
America. ...: -. .....
1t is also pleasing to note that
SUrr athing is also being done in Homo
lU!rt along these lines,
II Will probably be surprise to
many TO learn how many, or how
great a number of these poor crea'
:ulrs there are in the world, and that
this number will increase rapidly I'M
less something is done for them. In
England they amount to one in 24S
that are predetermined, and II Is
thought there are quite as many in
America, Indeed, there are said to
De 200, 900 there, only few of whom
are cared for In institutions.
The problem of caring for the
feeble minded is great one and un-
til recently little has been done
about it, but now people are begin
ming to see that this is question
hat cannot be ignored.
In the past it has been problem
of the home and the public schools,
but with poor success. Some OF the
states have Institutions for the care
Of these unfortunates, and in England
as far back as 1904 the English royal
commission took this matter up and
attempted to divide the feeble-minded
INTO various grades and to study the
proper treatment. ...~......... -
And all agree that they must be
segregated in some institution whence
they, will receive proper treatment
and care. ...... ~ = y.
Some OF these institutions have
been successful in finding means Of
greatly helping those poor children
and In improving their minds to some
extent. r..,..s 2:
At Vineland and at Lincoln this
;ubject is being u6ied exhaustiVely
and must be great help to the right
treatment ard care of these children
There they have tests that show the
true capacity of the mind and in what
hey a"e most deficient. and conse-
luently they SnCw the better how to
.reat them and to what extent they
can help them. IT,. -...~ i. ......
Binet's classifications and tests are
used in these institutions and are
'ound helpful. :-....
There are no tests, understand, of
the mentality of the children Of the
public schools here, and consequently
he teachers have often to labor in
ain over children that are incapable
Learning. ..-. -..
These children drift, and for no
ault of their own, to the juvenile
:ourt, almshouses and hospitals and
the girls industrial schools, none
# wh.cil places are suitable for them
n capable of helping them.
In this city the best place is prob
lbiy the girls industrial 2hoOl, but
4ven there little can be done for
hem, and, what is worse, at Is they
nave to be sent out to be menace
O themselves and others. 49,
Th is certainly great pity and
'0mCs near being crime, because II
S as sure as cen be that they who
are sent OuI lnIO TIC WI III Ihlo
condition Of mind, though they may
ven know now to earn living, will
be led into crime. ~ .... 49,. l
1t S most unfortunate that there is
no institution here to care for the
weak-minded children, where medical
care and treatment can help to re-
store ,hem 10 their. right mind, or as
Ear az nOSSiblp keen them from doing
harm to themselves or others.
Since writing the above have
learned from a friend that n st.
Louis they have what are called re-
tentiOn camps for the feeble-minded.
These camps are nothing but old
houses, that are rented or leased for
this purpose and they are said to be
a great success and at very little
cost. " -. 49,. =. f.. ~ :..
A few teachers are engaged and
they are given IL or IA of these chill
.