The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-08
DIOCESAN SCHOOL REPORT, 1s2O-21
Continued from Page

uiUULUnN uUtlUUL MI UNI lOEU-EI
Continued from Page ~ 49,
Factor 5 will be discussed under Med
ical Service"
Factor 6, viz: subnormal intellectu,
atty, is dealt with by public educators
by elimination; !. e., those pupils who
are mentally defective in a notable
degree, both for their own good and
the good of the system, are placed in
special schools, or at least in special
rooms, where, with teachers trained
for the work, they are developed ac-
cording to their capabilities. Public
school authorities are satisfied with
the results obtained. Obstacles to the
progress of normal children are re-
moved, and the feeble-minded are
scientifically prepared to be Of some
good for themselves and for society.
Very much has been accomplished, par.
ticularly for high grade detectives.
In our system the teaching force is
inadequate to provide special instruc-
ton for the detectives of each school.
Nor does it seem possible for the same
reason to establish a special school
or schools even for the detectives of
the larger communities of st. Paul and
Minneapolis. Under the circum-
stances it might be advisable to turn
the detectives of our Catholic schools
over to public school authorities for
training in their special schools. Such
q a. would I;st; -,
to the child in material way, and
we doubt if it would be hurtful to him
spiritually. For just as the defective
is unable to profit by the regular in.
struction in secular subjects, so is
he unable to acquire more than the
very rudiments of religious knowledge
His time might better be utilized in
learning simple trade.
There is a moral aspect of this mat
ter which is deserving of notice. As
a general thing classroom associates
are companions in play. Retarded de
fectives are drawn to the company OF
the younger members of their class
and ii, as is so frequently the case
moral abnOrmality is present with
mental weakness, the possibilities Of
contamination are great. 1t is danger
GUS, to say the least, to expose gooC
young boys and girls to the company
of older and possibly bad boys anC
girls and this exposure is almost in
evitable where retardation due to in
tellectual subnormality obtains.
MEDICAL SERVICE.
One of the potent factors in retar
dation is the lack of interest and ap
plication. In almost every schoo
pupils are to be found who appear tt
have normal brain power and yet are
languid and Indifferent in their work
They do not respond to the ordinary
stimuli which bring results from thu
majority of the pupils, or, if they dc
| bestir themselves from time to time
their efforts are short lived and produc
| tive OF little fruit. Before the schoo
year is far advanced they are out-dis
tanced by their more diligent fellows
and when promotion time comes they
fail to make their grade. Now, while
some of the laggards may really belons
to the class of unrecognized mentally
deficient, referred to elsewhere in this
report, it is just as possible that they
are not to be SO classified. In which
case there is strong likelihood .tha
the cause of their failure to harmonic
with their environment is physical
| These children may be under-fed OF
improperly fed; they may have nerve
disorders, or bad tonsils, eyes, teeth
ears. Their home conditions may b.
unhygienic, or their habits hurtful tt
the interests of health. Unless teach
ers are mindful of these possibilitie.
they may resort to disciplinary meas
ures unjustly and with no other effec
than to utterly dishearten the child
disgust him with school life, and cause
him to pray for the speedy arrival O
the day when the torture will be end
ed
Just as it means much to the pupi
and to. the school to discover and pro
vide for mental weakness and disorder
so likewise is it of great necessity tina
physical irregularities be located ant
attended to. While the public schools
have perhaps been overly jealous il
their solicitude for the health Interests
OF their children, our Catholic schools
have been neglectful in the matter. II
the knowledge of the writer there ar,
but three schools in the Twin Cities
all in Minneapolis, where any medica
service is regularly rendered, and evel
in these instances the provision is in
adequate. In the rural districts coun
ty nurses call irregularly, and usual.
only when summoned; this, moreover
in not more than a dozen cases.
The parochial schools of st. Pau
need the services of at least five nurs
es; the parochial schools of Mime
apolis should have at least three.
Besides nursing service the regular
though less frequent, service of medi
cal doctors is indispensable. 1t seem
feasible to obtain this service with
out compensation. In each parisl
there should be found Catholic doc
tor who would willingly donate hi
services to the school for couple o
hours once a week. This would b.
sufficient, provided nurses were il
regular attendance at other times.
Regular medical supervision in on
schools would aid materially in re
ducing the evil of irregular attendance
due to sickness. The order of man,
i. i IL. h.,