Detroit evening times., 1942-06-05

siStant TO the father" of this
cottage, Fred Goner, mature and
Experienced teacher.
II is known in the county build
ing that back of the investigation
is a political dispute resulting
from the recent reorganization OF
the board of auditors.
The training school, which has
an average population of 400 boys
and 200 girls, is not penal insti-
tuition.
CONSENT OF PARENTS
All of the children are sent
there by the probate courts with
the consent of the parents. About
half of them arrive through the
channels of the juvenile court and
the rest are recommended by the
department of special education
of the Detroit Board of Education.
Before being committed by the
court, q child must be adjudged
feeble-minded by two physicians
and the parents must agree,
DOCtOr ftdSkeu Sdlu.
"They are not children who
are merely backward In their
studies," Doctor Haskell ex-
planned. "They are children who
fail to develop properly to
meet social requirements-chll-
dren we call brain-cripples."
RETJTRN To NORMAL
Founded through the efforts OF
the late Tracy w. McGregor, one
of Detroit's best known philan-
trophists, the school is designed
only to aid such children so that
they can take a normal place in
society.
Doctor Haskell explained there
Is no stigma of punishment, mas
much as the children are not sent
to this school as boys are sent
to the State Vocational Training
School at Lancing.
The institutions annual report
shows that last year 81 articles
on the treatment and cure of
feeble-minded children, written by
doctors on the research staff of
the school, were printed in publi-
cations throughout the world.
LEADER IN FIELD
AS a result of such research, the
Wayne institution has been re-
garded as leader in its field.
Doctor Haskell said approx
mately 1000 children have been
sent to their various communities
since the school was founded and
today all but a few have taken a
normal place in society.
The institution comprises 81
modern brick buildings set in al
beautiful valley. Taught are such
trades as printing, mill work,
carpentry, cabinet making, ma
chine lathing, baking, domesticI
science and home management.
LIVE IN COTTAGES
The children, who average Is
years of age, live in cottages. In
two of the cottages, one for boys
and one for girls, the children are
self-dependent and ION their own.
To live in these is special reward.
The others have "house fathers"
and house mothers"
Children may be released at the
request of their parents, If the
parents show they are able to
care for sub-normal sons and
daughters. Or they are released
when the school authorities decide
they can cope with the require
ments of a normal life.
STAY s YEARS
Statistics show that boys and
girls committed to the Waynel
School are treated for an
average of three years. In other
institutions, the average is six
years.
The so-called "jail house" is a
cottage where recalcitrants are
punished by being confined for a
day or two or for a longer period.
According TO Doctor Haskell, the
children are sent there for violat-
ing rules.
"They 20 TO school. but they
lose their play periods and spe-
cial privileges" he explained.
ut is the only form of punish
ment."
FOOD COMPLAINTS
Cbiaf G q n NJ Dr0oac,,tar