South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-11

CONTINUED from Page I'D
history should be. II possible receiy-
ed with every child upon admission.
and II not az that time. later. with
the help OF a social worker. The
physical and mental examinations
and subsequent observations should
b made az he Institution.
The family history should state
tho race and birth place Of the par
ents. and whether or not any OF the
blood relatives have or nave had any
pecuLariues OF mind, or body, or
disease such as insanity. feeble
mindedness. cOnvulsiCns. venereal
disease. tuberculosis. alcoholism, etc.
Much OK this Information points 20
the cause OF the condition. whether
q be dependency. disease. delin-
queucy physical or mental defect,
and indicates 20 a certain extent the
treatment or training 10 be insti-
tgted.
The personal history should men
tlou the age. facts and incidents at
tending birth. the diseases OF child
hood. and the age at which they oc-
Cured the date OF tho appearance
OF the various physiological func-
t.0ns. such as watkins talking, and
teething. and any peculiarities
habits and tendencies The age OF
first attendance at school. the time
required for the attainment OF each
grade. and the notes and reports Of
the school teacher concerning pro-
n
slrabie for a thorough understand
Ing OF the child.
Consider EnvirOnment.
Information Of great value "a a
statement describing the child's
former social environment. and its
reaction to that environment. as IS
also the child's conception OF right
and wrong
"A thorough physical examination
IS OF the utmost Importance. A great
many inmates Of institutions are vic
Tins Of many physical defects and
diseases. The most important OF
these are defects OF eyesight. hear
ing. diseased tOnsils. adenoids, nasal
obstruction and decayed teeth. These
should be sought and corrected. Dis
eases OF the heart and lungs are
common. as also are those Of the di-
gestlve tract. Hernia. and deformi-
ties OF the extremities are quite fire.
quent. All OF these should be treat
ed surgically before much Roadway
can be made with the education and
training Several forms Of mental
inferlority are due 20 disease Of the
ductless glands. and when recogniz-
ell early and treated. frequently re-
suit IN great benefit 20 the child. The
early Identification OF these often in
dicates the treatment and training TO
be given, and the degree Of improve
ment TO be expected. This is par
ticularly true OF the mongoI and Gre
tinoid types OF feeble-minde dness
Chemical ARCHAEOLOGICAL and micro
scCpic examination Of the body fluids
aid IN the recognition Of tuberculosis.
venereal and many other diseases.
Finally a complete mental exami-
nation and study Is most essential to
determine whether or not there is
mental inferiority. the degree OF in
feriority. insanity of any character
or personality traits. The psyche
metric tests. such as the Binet and
-
deal OF information, and indicates to
a fairly accurate degree the educa-
bility and trainability or the child.
The social rating scale gives us i'm
pOrtant information when consider
ing the placing of the individual out
in the community. The curriculum
OF academic and Industrial training
should he based upon the results OF
these tests and other observations OF
personal traits This examination is
particularly valuable in enabling
Identification Of misfts I'm the insti-
tuition.
Many Children Misplaced.
"Our study OF the Individual does
not end with these preliminary exam
nations and tests. Many children
are found 90 be misplaced within the
institution They may be in the
wrong class or division or employed
I'm some institutional activity that
they DO not like. or which IS un-
suited 20 their menta, capacity or
personal peculiarities. Each child
therefore. should be the subject OF
CLOSE observation throughout the en-
tire period OF its institutional life
Daily notes should be made by the
doctors. teachers and attendants, re-
latluE the progress attitude and be-
havior toward its training, associates
and environment, ard measures
adopted 10 place the child in the
proper class or group.
Although what I have been tryine
60 describe applies 20 the child under
Institutional care. much trouble and