The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-19

ARE PROBLEM
Their Status in Vermont
Considered at Mont
pelier Conference
TOWNS SHOULD
BOARD SUBJECTS
According to L. Josephine
Webster, Agent for Yer
mont Children's Aid

The first conference ever held in the
state for instruction on the laws Of
parole, probation work, and child wei
fare came to d conclusion yesterday
afternoon in the State House at Mont
pelier, where it has been held under
the direction Of the state board of
charities. The school, which was at
tended by rs persons, was conducted
in the manner of an open forum rather
than with set program, and the two
days were filled with discussion Of the
best methods Of dealing with cases
along the lines under consideration.
Every county except Grand Isle and
Windham was officially represented. A
majority of the municipal judges and
many Of the states attorneys were
present. Various social service organi-
cations were represented, including the
Vermont Children's Aid society, which
was represented by Miss L. Josephine
Webster and Prof Asa A. Clifford,
president; The Vermont Tuberculosis
society, represented by Harold w. Slo-
cum, secretary; Norwich university,
represented by President c. A. Plumley
and Prof X. r. B. Flint, and the Red
Cross, represented by number Of
nurses.
At the opening Of the afternoon and
closing session, the speaker was Miss
L. Josephine Webster, general secre-
tary of the Vermont Children's Aid,
Inc.
ME- yyFnhsfar eai1 nha u,aa orafafr,l
for an opportunity to speak as it
seemed to her there was very practi-
cal solution to the problem which came
up in the morning, viz, the care OF
the subnormal. She then told Of what
the society was doing on small scale
with overseers OF the poor, finding
suitable family homes for children who
were subnormal and yet not subject
for Brandon. This, however, cannot
be done, said Miss Webster, unless the
towns are willing to pay the board Of
such children. In many cases family
care at a reasonable expense is borne
by the town.
Miss Harriet r. Abbott of Bellows
Falls, Children's Aid field agent for
the southern district, when asked re-
garding her experience, said she had
much correspondence on border line
cases and many for whom il had been
impossible TO do anything.
Prof. A. R Clifford, president OF the
society, was called upon by Secretary
Jeffrey to speak on duplication be-
tween the two agencies.
Miss Bernice r futile OF Rutland
brought up the subject of the need of
further discussion of the questions re-
parding children in the public schools
referred to ly Miss Elizabeth 7. Van
Patterns paper. Mrs. William H. JEFF
FREY stated that in her opinion mat
tiers OF child health and dealing with
the subnormal child We're better han
died in the large schools, the real prob
lens presenting themselves in the rn-
raj schools. Hon. Mason $. Stone
spoke on the subnormal child, stating
that in his opinion the rising flood of
the subnormal population was one OF
three factors leading to a vanishing
Of the human race which had much
impressed him. Tho other two factors
mentioned were war and smaller fam.
Ills. He urged that Vermont take
some step to check the rising of the
subnormal population.