The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-14

University ofSSouthS Dakota. head of
the school of education at the Uni
versity of South Dakota at vermil
lion, conducted his educational
clinics" among Alexandria school
children last spring, making exam
nations of a very private nature, ac-
cording to a letter received today by
The Republican from DR.. A. j. Gift
ford. president of the Alexandria
board of education.
1t was under the belief that Prof.
Jones was a regularly licensed physi-
clan that he was allowed to carry Oh
his work as an educational clint
clan" among the children in the
neighboring city. according to Or.
Clifford. who is himself a prac icing
physician and surgeon, DR.. G ford
declares most emphatically against
the practice of permitting sexual
examinations" under the guise CT OBJ
tanning data for educational expert
ments or statistics. His letter follows:
Dr. Clifford Writes.
ITO the Editor of The Republicans:
81 have your request for an eX-
preston of my views of the practice
of DR.. Jones in making examinations
of school children.
This same DIR. Jones visited our
schools last spring and our good peo-
pie. as we'll as myself supposed hla to
be regularly licensed NJ. D.. from
our state university, and as such was
given access to the homes of soma OF
cur neople. making examinations Of
a very private nature. and then hav-
Con
that such things he kept from public
comment a thing which no physician
of any standing would think Of de-
ing.
"By the time realized the nature
{ of his operations and that he WIS not
a regularly licensed NJ. D.. it was
nearing the closing hours of his work
here SO that l thought best to let the
matter pass. am unable to see why
any teacher could not assume the
same rights as does DR.. Jones. nor
am l willing at this time, to believe
that after due deliberation the edu-
Gators of South Dakota will still feel
that she should be allowed such liber-
ties.
Personally, believe the practice
to he wholly wrong. when handled
in this way. have not sufficient com
mand of the English language to eN-
press my feelings regarding prac-
tice which I believe to be uncalled
for. and which tends to lessen the
modesty which is the natural protec-
ton of these young people.
A. j. Clifford, M. ID.
Pies. Board CT Education"
A1pyo plrio G n Dno
University Not Condemned.
That the University of South Da-
kota is not to be condemned for the
ing over the educational clinics is
Dress. which declared in an editorial
Sunday as follows:
"Thus far nothing has occurred TO
justify i'll feeling toward the admin
istration of the state university in
connection with the Jones episode.
1t is not matter of record, nor do
we find any indication that either the
board of regents or the president Of
the university is disposed to defend
the nreposterous doctrine of the pro-
fessor who is now under fire.
at was branch of the state ed
ucational association, not the univer-
sityt administration. that treated pr
Parsons so shabbily at WATERFOWL
when no contended that none but q
qualified practicing physician should
under any conceivable circumstances
conduct sexual examinations of young
women and girls in the norma
schools. DR.. Parsons is eternall,
right. the society which snubbed hin
and Endorsed the lay professor who
frankly owns to and defends his per
sonal activities of that nature, i!
everlastinglv wrong. We share viii
the other newspapers Of the stat
that have commented on the suhiec
their establishment that a group of ed
ucaors, most of them women. som
of them mothers, could permit Nthei
faith in one professor to blind then
to the appalling potentialites of sue
a doctrine as his in general practice
But let us remember that this mis-
guided group. who certainly by thi
time must have realized its roliS
does not administer the affairs of til
university. Reproach falls upon ON
faddist who holds subordinate plac
in the university, and upon one grou
of thoughtless Zealots entirely apal
from the university upon tn
institution iself.
80 the matter stands ND to iii
present moment. Responsibility fc
ayerting a university scandal rest
now largely upon the Administrative.
The regents and the president OF tl'
institution do rot defend, they ca,
not countenance. such practices 9
Professor. Jones advocates. y yea
ago the university adu:'nistratio
called upon the professor fer an q
PLANTATION. His defense was that
had heen his practice to conduct e,
aminations only at the request
parents, and always in the present
of a physician. The administratic
then Informed the professor that on
UNDER such circumstances could I'll
practice be tolerated by the unive
sitiy.
we are constrained TO belle,
that in the interest of the unive
sitiy's god name it would be eXpet
lent now for the administration
arrange with the professor for in