Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-04

| For a long time. the average Ameri-
| can went about conscious OF a national
superiority in having public schools
| at all. 30 that il was something of
/ shock couple OF years ago to dis
| education certain European nations
were far ahead OF us. Now an era Of
| school reform has struck the country
! Vocational schools are making their
belated appearance in many cities. ele-
| mentary courses are being readjusted,
| and a great deal OF red tape is being
polished. And. at last. after many
! years, the question OF the supernormal
! child is receiving consideration.
The mentally defective child has al
ways been the subject OF much special
| study. Special schools have been cs-
tablishcd for him, and when his mind
IS too feeble he is placed in "A model
institution where he is studied some
more and tenderly cared for. On visit
children. Professor James remarked
that the nation kept its idiots In lux
my. while II starved its geniuscs.
Recently. however. the number OF
child prodigies that have struggled
into the limclght has excited the In
terest Of psychologists, who are com
ing 10 exert a wide influence on Amcri-
can education. Several special classes
for supcrnormal children were opened
IN large cities last fan, and quite re-
Gently the general board OF cduca-
ton OF New York has started prepara-
tons for a systematic study Of talent
ed children.
Before the establishment Of these
special classes. the public school sys-
tom contained no provision whatso
ever for the abnormally bright child
There WAS absolutely no chance for
individual talent. 4 child could com
plete his grade work at the age OF
eleven and then he refused admi,tance
to high school simply because the re-
CURED high school age was fourteen
II ne stopped school entirely he was
apt to be hauled UP by "a truant Of
hcer, and yet because of a set OF fixed
rules made for normal children, his
education was at standstill unless
ne went TO private school. In cases
where the parents could afford II. this
is what he did.
one Philadelphia girl. who was mar
tIcuiarly bright, was ready for high
schoo! al the age OF twelve, but was
refused adinittance as usual. owing TO
hcF extreme youth. She entered pri-
vhte school and, at the age OF seven
teen had completed a library course
"h'ch. for most people. required six
years OF hard work This girl was
not thin and anaemic- looking as genius
Is usually pictured. Instead, She en-.
IoHed the most robust health. was fond
OF athletics and found plenty of time
10 swim and to win tennis champion
ship cup.
Old Idea Exploded.
The idea that physical disability IL
the result OF extraordinary mental ac-
tir!ty In childhood has, of course, been
destroyed lay numerous instances. There
rs the case Of William James Sidis. for
Example. son Of DR.. Boris Sidis. the
WeIi-known specialist in mental and
nervous diseases. Al the age OF twelve
ms boy delivered a lecture on the
fourth dimension in Harvard Univer-
slty where he is studying the high
est branches OF mathematics. lie reads
iierodotus. Sophoclcs, Euripides. Lu-
cram and other Greek writers insteaa
or ROBINSON Crusoe. and is well-vcrSed
In comparative philology and mythol-
ogE' Ills extraordinary genius for
knowledge has not in any way affected
ms health. lie has clear. rudy COM
pleXion. is muscular and strong above
other boys OF his age, and is possessed
or an extremely happy disposition and
Keen sense Of hrmor
Or. Sidis believes that disease and
nervousness are the result of worry,
emotional excitement and lack of in
terest. rather than study. He asserts
that In his practice as a physician in
nervous or mental diseases. he has
never met a single case OF nervous or
mental trouble caused by too much
thinking or overstudy. IN his recent
book on the training Of children DR.
Sidis says we do not take care 10
develop a love Of knowledge in the
early life OF the child for fear OF brain
injury. and then when it is late to
acquire the interest we force them TO
study, and we cram them and feed
them and stuff them like geese What
You often get is fatty degeneration OF
the mental liver"
Pntxburgh Child Prodigy.
Another child prodigy who is in ihc
best Of health and AN athletic cxpcrt
is Wnifred Sackville Stoner. OF pitts
burgh. This little girl at The age of
thirteen speaks eight languages and
plays four musical instruments, is the
author OF four books which she has
Illustrated herself, and possesses nu-
merouS other accomplishments includ-
ing swimming. rowing. cooking, box
Ing and driving an automobile. Her
talent has been developed by the thor
ough system of natural education,
which started when her mother read
Latin prose ia her in her cradle DAYS
She was not allowed to waste her
youthful energy on baby talk and MUIR
Sery rimes. but was provided with good
literature. mathematics and useful in
formation which soon became q pleas
IRE TO her. The Influences with which
she was surrounded were always
chosen by her mother with an idea OF