The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-09-18
Maryland Official Asserts At
taoks on institutions During
Year We're uneounded.
DISCUSS THE INSTITUTIONS
Vast Numbers Of Backward
Children Suffer From De.
fects, Expert Says.

Otscussi0n or SOCIAL ana civic ac-
uvities of Catholic charity work, and
o. the work In connection with chill
. dren. featured this mornings sessions
% the national conference OF Catholic
charities. at Mcmahon Hall. Catholic
University.
The committees on social and civic
activities. and children. met at $3.50
o'clock this morning. and listened to
several papers pertinent TO those SUBJ
Jects. Mrs. Mary A. Barr, OF Massa-
chusetts, presided over the meeting
or the committee on social and civic
activities. while Mrs. M. e. Ford. OF
iaeseport Conn, was in the chair
Il hold no brief or. any institution
HsPssnd rr sssss Boar. %f% os Of Ss
IN a talk on "The Policy and Prac-
tfce OF Catholic Institutions in Placing
and Retaining Children" "and re-
cara the nome as the true social unit.
Criticisms Unfounded.
During the past year Catholic in
stitutions nave been singled out and
the attack on them has been SO bitter
as to suggest not thoughtful effort
TO correct methods Of work, but a
crusade having for It's object the
ciosing Of al Catholic institutions.
olosaV es,thiSation. however. will dis:
against the institutions are unfound-
60. Sbaokwardness cannot be charged
TO the Institutions"
th.t. cannot be too closely emphasized
enal boy or girl IL kept in an in
stitntion until an age of twelve or thir-
Teen years. IL Is nothing short Of cruelty
70 put him or her out into the world
.nen, unequipped by education and
child" declared Miss Mary Tinney, for
mer social Investigator for the Depart
ment or Public Charities. of New York
city. who gave her Interpretation of
York Catholic Home Bureau.
Let the institution keep the children
until theySare at least sixteen, and give
them along with their ordinary school
tnued.
Wanted for Drudgery.
According to Miss Tinney's findings,
girls over twelve years OF age who are
asked for by families are wanted. not
for their own sake. but to mind the
baby 'sor do mental work or drudgery.
They have little chance Of proper
schooling or training. and are likely to
be turned adrift, insists for the life
which otherwise they could have en-
Miss Tinney declared that the children
not taken for adoption presented the
hardest problem to any placingIout
agency. IL they are placed before they
We're likely to be adopted, or II over
twelve they were likely to be dis
charged as self-supporting when eight
cen or twenty. but the ages between
AT the meeting OF the committee on
sick and detectives this afternoon: sew
eral papers were read. James Z. Nolan,
Of st. Paul. Mimi. presided.
Backward Child Problem.
In a paper on THE Problem of the
Backward Child" DR.. 8. r. Pietrowicz,
Of Chicago, presented to the conference
the results OF a personal investigation
Of SIS cases of backward children. DR..
Pietrowicz found that. out OF this num-
ber. the vast majority were suffering
from some physical defect. The speaker
estimated that approximately one-third
OF the public school children In this coun-
try: are retarded because OF physical or
mental defects. and that about 8 per cent
Of the Juvenile delinquency of the coun-
try is traceable to the same source. DIR.
Pietrowicz appealed to the parochial
school teachers he ss to pay more attention to
Discussing the Types and Causes Of
Feeblemindedness. DR.. Moore. professor
OF psychology at the Catholic University,
criticised the tendency In certain quar-
tiers to overemphasize "heredity." The
time Is not yet ripe. according to DR..
Moore, to pronounce definitely on the
hereditary character OF feebleminded-
ness. The Investigations which have
been conducted In this field do not Jus
tify such a announcement. he said.
DR.. 0'Hara Speaks.
Other speakers before the committees
in session today were DIR. Frank O'Hara,
who talked on THE Relations OF Private
and Public Employment Agencies" DR..
]. Elliot Ross. OF the Social Welfare
Board. Austin, Tex, who discussed
Methods Of Catholic Relief Agencies In
Finding Employment" and DR.. ]. r. He
garty. of Ohio State University. who
gave an account OF the work OF finding
employment for the handicapped.
A general session OF all the delegates
TO the conference will be held in McMa-
hon Han. Catholic University. at
o'clock tonight. Bishop Shahan will pre-
side, and the national conference in It's
relation to various phases Of Catholic
charity work will be taken up.