The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-01-21

clinic have any mental abnormality
whatsoever.
''They are all ordinary children
who have emotional blocks which
can be eliminated" Sister de-
clared.
Often one or two visits, Sister
said, are enough to solve a child's
problem.
Others, like the children in Sis
ter Julienne Marie's remedial read
ing class at ST. Joseph Cathedral
School, must come almost every
day. AT present, there are Sc pu.
pills (18 each at morning and after
noon sessions) who are slow read.
ers. All are quite normal, but they
are unable to read on the level of
their class.
+ Other difficulties which beset
the boys and girls, aged 2 to 18,
who have come to the center in
clude aggression disturbance in
class, temper tantrumS, quarrelling
or bullying), fear, truancy, and
speech defects.
Mrs. Paul Weilbacher Of ST. Aga.
tha's Parish, an Ohio State Uni
versity graduate, gives one day OF
each week to the center as volun.
teer speech therapist. Another vol
unteer is Mrs. Frank Murphy OF
st. James the Less Parish, psy'
chiatric social worker who is as,
signed to the task of interviewing
the parents.
The center, situated on the third
floor of the Diocesan Office Build
ing, 246 E. Town St, employs the
team system" in its work, Many
referrals are made through the
School Board office and the Catho
lie Welfare Bureau which are 10
Gated in the same building. The 10
cation of the three offices facili
tateS close coordination.
The procedure by which the child,
/ problems are analyzed is a com
| pick one. There are interviews
physical examinations do deter
mine any possible organic defects
a series of achievement tests, the
famous ink blot test designed tC
give insight into the child's per
sonality, and readings which sug
gest to the child in subtle man
ner that attributes like cheerful
ness, cooperation, bravery obed
ienee and kindness are good.
There is also a play room filled
with toys. This playroom puts chill
dren at ease in the center helps
with the diagnosis, and often is {
therapy in itself.
children can often play oui
their difficulties, Sister Francoi,
said.
The sffahle nun, who has had
many year, of school experiences,
also believes that a little love
for a hid can often be the so.
luton of a problem. She be.
lieves younsster likes and ex.
poets love and discipline. that
parents should never draw com.
psrisons between their ehildren'S
accomplishments, that parents
should never administer diseip.
line when angry. There also is a
danger, she said. of being per-
fectionist and mot allowing your
children TO be normal"
Sister Francois is a former com
munity supervisor of secondar,
education in Ohio and Illinois fol
the sisters of Notre Dame de Ma
mur. Born in Philadelphia, she en-
tered the Orders novitiate in Ma
mur, Belgium, and completed hel
studies for bachelor of arts de
gree at Xavier University IN Tin
cinnati.
She also holds master of art'
degree in Sociology from Catholic
University, Washington, with EN-
phaSis on character training anC
guidance. Sister taught at Sunni
Country Day School in Cincinnati
for 16 years, at Notre Dame Higl
School in Chicago for four years
and at st. Joseph Academy in Co
lumbus for five years.