Patsy
- Author:
Margaret C. Brooke,
Department Social Service, Psychological Clinic, University of Pennsylvania.
Patsy was piloted to the Clinic because of “Behavior” which, being interpreted, meant in this instance, stealing, impudence, utter disregard for authority, lying?in fact his sins of commission and omission were many.
To look at him in the Clinic anteroom one naturally thought of saints and cherubims. He gave the impression of a chap who hadn’t the ambition or “pep” to start anything. Nothing seemed to challenge or interest him and his attention was apparently fixed on space. His school and family records however were not so uneventful as his composure indicated. He was one of a family of eleven, five of whom, including triplets, died at birth?the remaining members ranging in age from eight to twenty-five years. The father and mother were foreign born, the former an ordinary day laborer but reported as dependable, reliable, trustworthy and good to his family.
It takes no great amount of imagination to realize that the home was not meeting the necessary requirements, nor challenging any particular interest for this boy of twelve. At school he had made friends with several other boys whose opportunities at home were commensurate with those at school, while Patsy had to make up for that lack in some original way. He was properly clothed and fed but, to a youth of this age, these material things are taken for granted. Patsy, on order to let off steam, began a series of misdemeanors which he managed to camouflage for a considerable time. Finally, before his departures became too non-conformed, he was taken in tow by one of his teachers who does missionary work, before, during, and after, the prescribed schools hours. She, realizing that the situation called for the advice and interpretation of an expert, made an appointment for a psychological examination.
So Patsy, aged twelve years two months, doing fifth grade work, found himself before the bar of justice. He had no medical history other than measles and chicken pox although an automobile injury resulted in a fractured skull necessitating hospital care for one month. The history of his babyhood was negative.
His mental age, on the Terman Revision of the Binet Simon Tests, was 13 years 2 months; his intelligence quotient 108.2. It is not surprising that he was seriously handicapped in this test because of a very limited vocabulary, perfectly obvious in view of home environment. He passed all the tests at the twelve and fourteen years levels, except the vocabulary.
His performance on the mechanical tests were especially intelligent?analytic and persistent concentration of attention, likewise his coordination, being very significant. His reaction on all tests proved him to be well equipped mentally and from school reports and his conduct, after thawing out in the Clinic, he gave every indication of good social orientation. Fortunately Patsy’s school life is ideal in that he is a part of an up-to-date suburban school, well equipped and not over crowded, with a corps of teachers who are interested personally, as well as academically, in their charges. Had he been identified with an over-crowded school in a congested district the complaints against him would doubtless have been more complicated and involved. The Clinician talked with the boy in a very personal way, finding out his likes and dislikes, “chumming” up to him generally and then dismissed him with the following challenge: Return to me here in just one month, in the meantime make weekly deposits in the school bank and refrain from lying. This ultimatum was administered, not in the form of a rebuke, but as an appeal. Just one week later his teacher reported that the results had already been more than their fondest hopes?he had reacted like magic to the appeal on the part of the Clinician. At the end of the month his report was not entirely beyond reproach but, at this time, the Examiner stressed only the favorable points with no reference in any way to his one failure, viz., regular and systematic bank deposits. He complimented him repeatedly on his successful efforts and dismissed him for another month with the tactful request that he then bring his bank book showing school deposits. The irregularities of these deposits were accounted for by reason of numerous expenditures for petty articles. The Examiner had been apprised of this during a private conference with the teacher but had discreetly refrained from alluding to it. The boy gave him a critical, searching glance but, seeing no change in his friendly attitude, did not challenge the inference.
Reports from his teachers and principal during the second month of probation were most encouraging, terminating with a visit to the Clinic that was like a triumphal entry. Patsy was wreathed in smiles and so spic and span that he shone. When ushered into the august presence of his Adviser he lost no time in producing a bank book showing regular and larger deposits. Immediately his teacher reported his last mark for conduct was 100 per cent?the only one in his grade?his work in school, excellent and that, for three weeks, discipline at home had been unnecessary.
At this moment?the psychological one?the Clinician shook his hand and, in no uncertain terms, told the boy how delighted he was to see that “he had the real stuff in him.” Beaming from ear to ear, Patsy left the Clinic as monarch of all he surveyed. He is to report again in the Fall and there is every indication that he will present a clear record. How many square pegs are trying to fit round holes when often all a “feller” needs is a friend who will take a real interest and make a friendly appeal.
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