The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-12-07

Largely under cover, but neverthe-
less widespread, a real sensation de-
veloped in the annual convention of
the South Dakota Teachers Assccia-
ton, held at Watertown last week,
when Dr. j. G. Parsons of Sioux Falls,
retiring president of the School Hy-
giene association, exposed the fact
that Prof. w. Franklin Jones, of the
department of education of the uni
versity of South Dakota, had been
making physical examinations, par
ticularly of sexual organs, in public
and normal schools of the state.
Comparatively little was publish
ed about the matter, and The Repub,
llcan. as result. asked DR.. Parsons
and Prof. Jones each to make a state
ment so that the public would under
stand just what was going on and
what is at issue. DR.. Parsons replied
low. Prof. Jones wired that he would
have his statement in within day or
two. But today letter was received
from him saying that, owing to the
very serious illness of his mother
he was unable to prepare the state
ment, but that it would be made later
The Republican has also asked a
number of educators in the state To
write their opinions of the matter for
publication.
In Sectional Meeting.
DR.. Parsons brought up the matter
in his address as retiring president
of the School Hygiene association,
which is a subsidiary of the South
Dakota Teachers Association. He used
no names but expressed his disap-
prevail of physical examinations OF
pupils of schools by any laymen, even
if engaged in educational work. This
remark was recognized by number
present as directed against the work
being done by Prof. Jones, whose
work as an educator has made him
many acquaintance and friends
among the teachers of the state. A
number spoke and most of them re-
scented DR.. Parsons criticism of the
work as it had been done by Prof.
Jones. This was manifested in def
mite manner by their prompt election
of Prof. Jones as president of the as.
ISOLATION to succeed DR.. Parsons.
Prof. Jones was not present when
the discussion began, but friend
sent for him, and he made personal
defense.
In the course of his statement
Prof. Jones admitted that he had
made thousands of sexual examina-
tons in the state, principally in high
schools and state normals. His argu-
ment was that arrested mental de-
|velopment was often caused by some
arrangement requiring such an ex-
animation and met, it was understood
by sort of primitive operation per
formed by Prof. Jones. 1t was also
understood that these examinations
men.
DIR. Parsons had comparatively lit
tie to say, stating that what he want
ed was the admission by Prof. Jones
that he had made such examinations
Jones. Strongly Supported.
Prof. Jones position was stoutls
supported by the majoritysof those
at this sectional nesting and one Of
his friends asked all present who ap.
proved. Of his course to rise, and most
of those in theSsroom did so. In the
course Of the discussion, one Woman
present manifested her approval ol
Prof. Jones' course by saying that By
her wishes ne had examined her oWr
daughter. There were at this sec
tional melting about seventy teachers
of whom fully so per cent were wo
men.
There was lot of discussion of the
whole matter in private conversation
Throughout the convention, but it wa.
not brought up again for discussion
DR.. Jones did secure from the resolu
lions committee paragraph for it:
report endorsing what was called thu
"educational clinic" This was adopt
ed without discussion, along with thu
rest of the report, by the teachers as
ISOLATION. s..e,..s-i4,....... -.
Prof Jones is not physician an