Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-12-06
constantly applied to thousands of the
irresponsible.
A MEASURE
FOR MINDS

irresponsible.
A MEASURE
FOR MINDS
A measuring scale for minds has
never until recently been available.
We could always guess but we could |
never definitely know. Binet and
Simon in Paris in 1905 developed |
such 4 scale and afterward in 1908 and |
1911 greatly perfected 1t. Since then
others, particularly Prof. Terman of
Stanford University, have added i'm
proyements until we now have a pretty
satisfactory means OF determining the
great of intelligence possessed by any
one. This intelligence scale Is of the
greatest possible value not only in
estimating the amount of mental re-
tardation present in the mentally de-
ticient. but in determining the mental |
status of normal people, for even
among the latter various degrees of
mental development are found pres
ent. This fact now makes it possible |
to give great aid in properly placing |
normal individuals where they will
be unlikely to fail, whether this be |
in school, college or out in life.
While everybody knows that physi- |
cal development has perfectly defin.
lite limits. the same fact is not well
understood in regard to mental de.
velopment. 1t is. however. true that
our mental possibilities are fixed at
birth and we have as much intelli-
gence, at least potentially, then as
we will ever have. Mental develop.
ment is just as much fixed in an in
| dividual as physical stature Is. In
the feeble-minded this limit does not
pass above the IL or 12-year limit;
in the dullnormal 1t does not exceed
a IL to 13.year limit; while in the
normal individual the mental age Is
equal to the actual age. 1t should
be understood, however, that adult
normal intelligence for all practical
purposes Is supposed TO reach it's full
development at about 16 to Is years
of age.
USES OF
EDUCATION
All that education can do is to teach
e Us to make the best use of the intelli.
gCnCe with which we are endowed at
> birth. 1t does not increase intelli.
gence itself in the least. Since the
time that mental measurements be.
came practically possible. the problem
OF fceble.mindedness has become
greatly simplified 1t is no longer
E necessary TO make the errors OF the
past in regard to the treatment OF
= many of our subnormal individuals II
society. We cannot expect child o.
the moron type who appears in tn,
juvenile court for a serious deln
quency to be placed on probation will
; much hope of success under the ole
5 conditions. Someone has to be respon
y sible for his behavior. Society is toe
y complex for him to struggle with sue
n cessfully. He cannot compete com
n mcrcially, socially or morally on cuua
u terms with his fellows. He Is Away
a child in his reaction to his environ
ment. The fact that there are a
i least l TO 2 per cent of the schoo
+ population definitely feebleminde
makes II clear to us that our dut,
i Is to recognize this defect early an
D so educate and safeguard the individ
ual that he will not fall victim L
his own incapacity. This is one of tn
= most important prs,I--.I- g. ,,.c publ
: schools today. Prevention is far NOR
, important than cure. More than o
l. per cent of adult criminals begi
y their careers as Juvenile delinuuents
y II must be well understood tina
l. mental deficiency is incurdble, Jus
as incurable as blue eyes or short sta
ture. All we can do is to help tn
individual to make the most OF wha
he has and not expect him to use tina
= which he has not. He must therefor
8 be placed il surroundings in whic
,. there is some hope OF success, wit
r the mcagor talents he possessc,
e guarding against those surrounding
r which will tend to make him vicious
o Nearly all such individuals may be
{: come self-supporting and rcspectabl
!, members OF society, with proper edu
). cation and guidance. Relatively few
4 need TO be placed in public institution
; and relatively few need nccegsarll,
drift into crime, pauperism and o;he
: forms Of social failure. In the pas
and largely in The prorcn'. IN feeble
minded drift into social Incompetence,
and become our public wards.
The grcatest problem OF feeble
mindedness, however, is that OF pre-
venting its growth and continuance
Much more than twotbirds OF all Of
It due to direct hereditary faint. Az
long as the feeble.minded are freel,