Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1922-01-25
SALvA0ING MoRoNs.

oHLSnOiNH mOHONS.
Teacher. save that backward
ehlld." Such is the sspla ma lion of
Or. Helen MaeMurphy OF Canada.
Not all backward children are
feeble-minded, Many OF them are
bright enough, once they gel
Strengthened out. Some need 10 have
tonsils or adenoids removed, Others
need 10 have their teeth fixed. Oth.
era see poorly. and still Others hear
Sometimes the trouble Is speech
defect.
Something's they don't libe tho
teacher or maybe they don't warm
up 10 this teacher or any teacher
because some particular teacher was
unfair 10 them. or they thought no.
Save the backward child, because
such small service. such ineonsider-
able help, may make a normal child
OF him.
But suppose he II backward be-
cause he is eeble-minded-let us
say Is n moron. Shall nothing be
There 10 no use trying 10 teach
him what he can't learn. that Is
true.
There are imbeciles and idiots and
even morons who cannot learn
much. Maybe some OF them cannot
learn anything. But the great ma
jority can learn something and
sometimes they can learn that some
thing In n very wonderful way.
Take Blind Tom and his talent
for music. Where would he have
bean had not some clear headed per-
son seen the possibilities OF this tai
ent In spite OF the limitations In
other directions.
OF course. the rights of the nor
NAL children should not be inter-
fered with In order 10 give the
morons chance TO learn, as DIR.
MacMurphy very properly says.
The rule is that II does interfere
with the normal child's rights 10
keep many morons In school after
they have passed their age of mem
tai limitation. whatever their chron-
illogical age may be.
IL. however, each such child Is
studied by the teacher. and then his
case Is made the basis OF consul
tation between the teacher, the prin-
cipal, the nurse. the school doctor
and the parents, some talent or some
capacity will be discovered In the
great majority of cases.
II the boy In question has no great
talent he may have a capacity. and
training in that direction may make
him serviceable member of So
ciety. AS Goddard has shown. there
are lots of jobs which morons can
fill we'll. Many OF them better than
they can be filed by persons of
full mental capacity.
The best laboratory helper / ever
saw was feeble-minded.
MacMurphy gives some advice to
teachers. Such children are easily
fatigued. Therefore, give them
short lessons. There are certain
things they cannot learn. Do not
persist in trying to teach them those
things.
They have good days and bad
days, more than do ordinary chill
dren. Bear that in mind. Keep
them busy. They are often clever
They are easily bored. They gem
orally respond well to physical
training.
Remember, they are OF many
types. For instance, the type that |
Is always unteachable. the voluble.
the restless; never still; the silent, |
and the good, kind ones. Each type
must be handled in a way peculiar |
to itself.
A Big Mistake.
Mrs. J. H. W. writes: 81. I have |
been told that 1t will hurt my g.
baby to wear the rubber
pants every day. Will 1t give him
"2. Is it advisable to give child |
paregoric at night, or will 1t injure |
The brain? I have given him from
four to five drops two or three times, |
rs he cries at night-not real hard, |
out fuses and will not sleep"
REPLY.
1. It will not give her rheumatism. |
It will increase the likelihood of |
chatting and of kindred skin troubles.
2. 1t Is not. Why train your child
% be an opium eater?
Tuberculosis Symptoms.
Mother writes: al. Can a child
contract diphtheria after he has had
his tonsils removed? My boy, who
s II, catches cold in his throat. He |
1as had no tonsils for over four
years, and still he gets that irri-
ated feeling in his throat.
"2. Is there any danger OF a cold
n the throat going down to the
ungs?
IS. Is tuberculosis painful at any
tage?
"a. II so, what are the first symp-
oms? Il
ur vryl,4 ooc non a. ~ Guard