Evening star., 1949-05-01
Mental Health
System, Possible
In Schools Here
Senote-Approved
Federal Aid Bill
Muy Allow Program
By Miriom Ottenbero

py milom OrtenDef9
A psychiatric service in tn,
Washington school system to hell
children who can't get along with
their teachers or other student!
may be established If the HOUSE
follows the Senate in providing
Federal funds for school health
programs, it was learned last
night.
School and health officials
agreed that most Of the children
in need of psychiatric help are
not getting it now.
They agreed that years may
pass before a teacher finally real.
ICES a difficult" child also may
be a sick one. And then 1t takes
months to get the child into {
clinic where he may get help.
Bill to Be Discussed.
Health Officer George c. Ruh-
land said he planned to discuss
the Senate-paSsed school health
bill with his staff to see whether
a school psychiatric service comes
under its provisions. The bill
provides for the development
of school health services for the
prevention, diagnosis and treat
ment of physical and mental
defects and conditions" Under
its provisions, the District would
get $75.011 on matching basis
"A psychiatric service in the
schools is a very desirable serv.
ice," DR.. Rutland said. THE prob.
lem child is the expression of the
already neglected child-guidance
program.
DR.. Hobart M. Corning, super
intendent of schools, said he
plans to discuss the possibilities
of psychiatric service with his
staff and then draw up a report
for the next meeting of the
Board of Education.
THE vital thing is to get the
SERVICE" DR.. Corning said. with
children, it is better to have the
service in the schools so they
don't have to go to new and
strange place when they are al
ready disturbed. It is easier to
get the parents to the schools,
too"
Clinics Have Waiting Lists.
DR.. Leopold E. Wexberg, di-
rector of the Districts Bureau of
Mental Hygiene. said the four
public and private child guidance
clinics in the city all have long
waiting lists. He said the serv-
ice would be very desirable. DR..
Wexberg pointed out that New
York has very elaborate psy-
chiatric service in its public
schools.
The District Congress Of Parents
and Teachers is expected to dis
cuss the need for additional mental
health facilities for school children
at its annual convention this week.
Mrs. Mildred Percy, head of the
public school Department of
Guidance and Placement and
chairman of mental hygience for
the parent-teacher group, empha-
sized the preventive side of the
proposed psychiatric service.
Between 3 and per cent of
the children need special PSYCHE
atric help" she said. "but many
more develop little symptoms that
could be checked where they now
go unrecognized."
Cites Examples.
She cited case after case where
children are passed from one
teacher to another and one school
to another, getting no help at all,
but labeled as problems until they
finally reach point where their
behavior is so far out of line that
a clinic is recommended. And then
they can't get in a clinic.
Establishment of a child ad-
justment. clinic within the school
system was strongly recommended
by DR.. George D. Strayer in his
recent survey of the public schools
made for Congress.
He described the current efforts
to serve the emotionally disturbed
child here as most Intellectual"
Criticizes System.
He pointed out that under the
current arrangement of sending
children to the Health Depart
ment's mental hygiene clinic the
psychiatriSt who sees the child
does not talk to the teacher or
principal who sent him to the
clinic.
The child is not adjusting In
school," DR.. Strayer said. They
have referred him so that they
will know. how to help him. AS
a result of the referral. he may
be given. but in most cases is not
given. psychiatric therapy. If he
is having such treatment, there
is little carry-over for the people
who are most interested and
they are as much in the dark as
before the child was referred"
DR.. Strayer reported most cities
in the country have a central
psyche educational clinic operat-
ing as vital part of the school
program. These clinics, he said,
are clearing houses for the guild
ance of every child and also serve
parents or teachers who need
advice.
Home Accidents