The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-04-14

lie 1OI Tie girl WHO CO-OpeIdCtS may
be very interesting. The drama class
is taken to Helena for musical pro-
auctions.
The gym class came away with a
number of ribbons this past winter,
won in 'Y' competition. Two girls
earned trip with their teacher to
the FILA convention in Great Falls
in March, and they came home in
great spirits because of the wonder
full time they had had and the splen-
did way they had been treated.
Medical Attention Necessary
Besides this overall program there
are other things that enter into the
picture. Most of the girls who come
to the school are in poor physical
Mrs. Steed says most of
them are undernourished and in gen
orally poor health. SO before much
can be done in the way of an emo
tional cure, which must come mental
ly, their bodies must be built up.
There are glasses to be bought, there
are dentists bills to be paid, there
are babies to be delivered and the
hospital care attendant thereto. Some
Of these girls have had so little at
5ention in their lives that they are
complaining simply to re
,eive recognition. 1t takes a patient
person to determine whether there
S anything wrong, and at the same
ime properly get her on. the track
10 she isn't demanding this unneces-
ary attention.
Upon entering the school a girl is
lothed from the skin out. Parents
ire encouraged to provide one outfit
or her so she can have something
'resentable to be seen in when the
comes she may take a
rip on the Outside" If this isn't
ossible, of course, the state must
rovide her with something in that
ne too.
So, basically, you see we have a
inc program in action at the school.
sychiatric Treatment
However it does not end here. At
ne present time girls in the most
eed are taken to Dr. Wilder, the
ate psychiatrist, who is very much
and certainly doesn't
ave the time to devote to these girls
lat they need. As soon as one is
Mrs. Steed will have on
II staff trained psychiatric social
orker.
In the meantime, as soon as the
ri enters the school liason is form
between the girl and the home
MS appealed to me as it is not rea-
nable to suppose that girl can go
ok into a home where she had not
EN- able to live in peace, if there is
more understanding than when
e left. 1t is generally conceded
at 1T takes at least a year before
e school can do much for the stu
mt, but during this time the super
tendent has been visiting parents,
king to the girl about them, and
lifting bit Of understanding on
tn sides. At the proper time a girl
to go home for visit. Lat
she may be allowed to go home for
vacation, returning in the fall to
sumo her schooling. There are
'es where girls refuse to return to
cir local high schools, and insist
graduating from the vocational
lool.
There are also cases where a girl
so completely shamed by the ac-
ms IN her home she will not return
der any circumstances. Often the
otlonal strain of such burden is
basic reason the girl is in the
titution.
e On the Outside" Hard To Face
once in a while girl is put back
0 her normal surroundings and
lot able to make go of it. Some
re used their last nickel to call
s. Steed to come and get them.
ne are sent back through the same
tlne that put them there in the
- place. Mrs. Steed feels strong
about the reception given the girls
en- they get back home. AS one
put it Everything goes swell
e, but after we get on the out
again the way people look at
and tho lind re L - = - -