Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1919-06-20

cent feeble-minded, so per cent sub-nor-
NAL as a whole. Intellectual test for
aptitude is now given and has proven a
wonderful help. Fifteen or sixteen
months is the average stay in TINS
school. The parole system had worked
we'll Badges worn for good behavior
was another incentive for success. 165
were now in the army, and so Tar no
bad reports had come from them. 26O
boys are now in school at an average
cost of $149.73 per year.
Friday afternoon session at 1:45 was
presided over by Ralph w. Wheelock,
State Board of Control.
DR.. E. J. HuenekenS spoke on Babies
or Infant Welfare Clincs. He is director
of the bureau of child conservation and
was chock full Of his subject, and made
us all feel that baby was the most i'm
portant thing in all the world. He had
conducted 35 clinics since last August.
The only thing necessary to secure
a baby clinic was to make the people
understand it's Importance and ask first.
All children up to years were eligible
to those clinics which were preventive
in many many cases. The one thing
receiving much emphasis was the i'm
portance of nursing through the moth
ers. After eight months begin to feed
solid foods. Between two and five years
adenoids and tonsils should be given at
tention. He also said that deformity
was quite often preventive which fact
alone was worthy of a clinic request in
any county of the state. He had found
the worst conditions in ST. Louis county
on the range, especially. DR.. Beckman
was the first donor toward a fund for
Baby Clinics, by the gift Of $1,000.
Mrs. Margaret B. Lettice, director of
Baby Welfare Association followed DR..
Huenckens. She said this organization
was effected July 1910 in st. Paul, when
that year 28 deaths per thousand had
occurred and in Minneapolis the death
rate was sc per thousand. The prime
object was to save babies thuorgh the
education of the mothers-best done
through a competent nurse. All work of
this association in placing babies was
in cooperation with Child Welfare and
State Boards.
Work of a county health nurse, was
ably presented by Amelia Bengston,
County Supt. Of RenVille, who advised
that a county nurse be employed as
part of the teaching force and Supt of
grounds and recreation.
John P. Gardiner, Commissioner of
Labor then reviewed and fully explained
the Child Labor Laws of Minnesota. He
said that poverty was no excuse for
keeping child out of school and that
since 1895 there had been law that no
child under ID years of age could be
employed but should go to school. He
then presented statistics showing a
marked decrease Of delinquency since
this law had been in use.
E. M. Phillips gave us fine talk on
the subject of Compulsory School Laws
He made it obligatory upon the part Of
any one who knew these laws were be
ing violated to report at once to the
proper authorities, any cases for in
I'll, ,1,SN,7 II
be used, and English qualified teachers
employed.
misunderstanding rest at
hotel.
The evening session was presided over
by Charles E. Vasely. I was too tired
to return to this meeting Miss Moran
gave the following item from General
Secretary Stegner, speaking on methods
! of social investigation, said the invest
| igator should have clearly in mind the
purpose to be carried out and although
! it might be embarrassing to obtain need
! ed information such information must
| be gained through the medium of family
| friends and more especially through the
| family physician. The family-the child
| should be accorded courtesy in all things
even as tho they were guests, and in
order to do this, we must never lose
sight of our own responsibility.
SATURDAY, 8 A. M.
c.. J. Swendsen, State Board of Con-
! troll, presiding.
The program opened with a sym
postum on Child Welfare, led by Hart
son, who said that any phase of the
! work, as an entity was wrong. 1t must
be taken as a whole. The question Of
Health Boards Of county nurses must
be talked of and discussed until public
opinion were back of the project He
| also said the county attorney should be
| expected to cooperate freely with those
| seeking to have our labor laws relating
| to children kept inviolate. Question
| What would you do if the county at
| torney showed no interest, or absolutely
refused to act?" Answer would
see to it that his place be filled by one
who would, in the nearest possible fu-
! ture" Educating the public up to what
| is needed is an important factor. II
| is the duty of the Child Welfare Board
| to get the facts and then push the mat
ter. In the matter of adoption, the
| particular home for the particular chile
must be considered-nOt in a part1a
! Way-but with respect to that child
| special needs-tOgether with the desire
of it's foster parents. The responsibility
| of giving a report for adoption is great
! Absolute candOr and honesty are needed
! A full picture-goOd or bad should Ok
! presented. Through work, personal con
| tact is absolutely necessary. Place
| rent of children must be promptly re
ported to the Board Of Control, contac
be held, records kept and personal visit