Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-12-06
THE CHILD THAT
NEVER CROWS UP
How the Mind is Measured to
Determine Degree of
Development

The following interesting article,
which is in answer to the question,
What is Predetermined? is by DR..
Ernest Bryant Hoag. The system OF
mind measurements was recently in. /
stituted in the Nevada School of In
dustry of this place:
In a general way it may be said that
feeble mindedness represents a re-
tarded mental development amounting
to several years. For example; If
a child is IL years old but has a men,
tai development corresponding only to
that OF nine-yearold child, he would
ordinarily be regarded as feeble-mind-
ed. In other words, a mental retarda-
ton of three or more years usually
means feeble-mindedness. II an in
dividual passes the 12-year stage OF
mental growth, he could not ordinarily
be regarded as feeble-minded, no mat
ter what his actual age might be. We
would then probably refer to him as
dull, normal or a border-line.
A person who is three or more years
retarded in intelligence and whose
mental age does not exceed that Of a
normal 3-year.old child is known as
an idiot; II his mental age is between
3 and Z years, he is known as imbecile,
and, finally, If his mental age is some
where between and IL years, we
speak of him as a moron.
All these are feeble-minded.
TWELVE-YEAR
MENTALITY GETS BY
Twelve-year mentality will ordinar
lily float a person in our present social
organization.
These high grade mentally deficient
people whose mental ages fall some
where between and IL years ant
most often between 0 and liz years
furnish us our greatest problem o.
feeble mindedness. Unaided they
never float successfully.
are easily recognized and may be
cared for at home or in public in
stltutions. We never expect them tC
become responsible members of so
cety. But the feeble-minded of the
higher type. the morOns. are usually
very difficult to recognize even b!
hns 70 Il tn0 4,
friends. This group comprehend
many of the ne'er- do-wells, such a!
many of the Juvenile delinquent
tramps, adult criminals. paupers
prostitutes, as well as certain children
who are much retarded in school II
spite of good health and the usua
education2l opportunities.
Members OF this moron class ar
never able to compete. on even rela
lively equal terms, with their associ
ates. They do not and cannot handle
the affairs of life with reasonable pru
dence. They never hold any jol
long. They never hold good job TO
even a short time.
More often than not they are blam
ed for their failures, for society re
CARDS them as mentally and moral.
responsible. while, as q matter Of fact
they are neither. No class OF societ.
is more unjustly dealt with. Soclet
often needs protection against them
but more often they need protection
against the injustice OF society.
FORTY PER CENT OF
CRIMINALS MoRoNs
About 40 rer cent OF the prisoner
in our state penitentiarics are OF thl
class; at least 60 per cent OF our r.
form school children: about 20 pc
cent OF the delinquent children OF tn
Juvenile Court: approximately rs pc
cent OF the prostitute class; a larg
proportion OF the poor house inmates
20 per cent OF the city unemployed
and 80 per cent OF the chronic alco
hoilcs. Large numbers are founC
among tramps. every city Jail harborl
them.
Children retarded in school two Of
more years without evident reason
should at least be looked upon with
suspicion and carefully examined in
regard TO their mentality.
Yet In the main our Jails. penitepti.
aries. poor houses. rescue homes,
other public agencies and even our
schools. fail TO recognize the plain
facts OF the problem before their very
eyes. Our laws and school customs
IRE made for the mentally responsible
Then, as matter Of fact they are