The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-13
LEGISLATION ON
 MENTAL HYGIENE
 NEEDED IN STATE
pr. TidweIl Presents Before Meeting Plans to Provide For the Mental Defi-
 cient of State

The opening meeting of the Ala bama Society for Mental Hygiene was held last night in the private dining room of the Tutwiler hotel. insane hospital at Tuscaloosa, and Every seat waas taken when Dr. w. D. Partlow, superintendent of the president of the society, opened the meeting at 8 o'clock.
 R. E. Tidwell, assistant state su- perintendent of education. made the principal address. Mir Tidwell spoke on "A State Program for Training Mentally Inferior Children" Mir. Tid- well told of the work being done by other states for the benefit of the fec ble minded and the part that the state of Alabama must play for the treat ment of the mentally deficient.
 Mir. Tidwell was asked by members of the society to prepare a state pro- gram for training and after telling the society of the work now being done in this state, Mir. Tidwell placed before the society, for their consid- eration. four recommendations for the furtherance of the work in this state.
 Future Program After carefully going into the study of this subject, and investi- gating the work being done in other states" said Mir. Tidwell, q have tried to sum up in as few words as possible a future program for the work of this organization in the state of Alabama.
 'I suggest that bill be prepared that will provide for special classes for mental defectiVes in the public 1 schools, carrying an appropriation from the state treasury for their maintenance. That specialists be en- ployed by the department of educa- ton to help with the work. That the Home and School for Mental In feriors be given an appropriation for it's upkeep.
 T want to also suggest that this organization ask pr. Partlow. the state superintendent of education, the director of the child welfare depart ment the state health officer and a representative from the juvenile courts, to act as a committee to work out the details of a bill, such as have suggested"
 An answer to MT. Tidwells sugges- tons will be given out at today's ses- sion.
 Dr. PartIOw Speaks
 Dr. Partlow told of the work and objects of both the national and state societies.
 q want to say few words on the work of this organization, and the objects for which we are all work ing" said pr. Partlow.
 'The Alabama Society for Mental Hygiene is, as you know. affiliated with the national committee on men tai hygiene and they. as we, have for our objects, first. the prevention of mental and nervous diseases. Next the care and treatment of the feeble minded. The education of the public, as to the causes leading to mental de- ficiency. Promoting movements lead ing to the better care and treatment of such persons"
 Other speakers of the evening were Dr. c. B. Glenn, superintendent of schools of Birmingham; A. F. Har- mon, superintendent of county schools, Montgomery, and pr. Sarah Ritter, department of education, Woman's college. Montgomery.
 The society will hold a short busi- ness meeting this morning at 9.30 o'clock at the Tutwiler and at 10 o'clock the closing session will be held. A feature will be an address on "The Practical Value of Mental Hygiene to the State" by Maj M. c. Rains of the United States Veterans hospital of Augusta, Ga.