News and Notes
Conference on Mental Deficiency.
The Joint Conference of the C.A.M.D. and the National Special Schools Union of which we gave notice in our last number, was held at the Church House, Westminster, on November 25th, 26th, and 27th. Applications for 1,252 tickets were received which can be classified as follows:?
Government Departments of the Board of Control, Board of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Pen- sions, Home Office and India Office i. .. .. 53 Local Authorities under the Mental Deficiency Act .. 156 Local Education Authorities .. .. .. .. 204 Boards of Guardians .. .. .. .. .. 211 Special Schools (for P .D. and M .D. children) .. .. 286 Certified Institutions, Approved Homes, and Certified Houses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 112 Voluntary Associations for the Care of the Mentally Defective .. .. .. .. .. .. 114 Social Organisations .. .. .. .. .. 89 Reformatories .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Individuals .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 1,252
Owing to his absence in Geneva, the Rt. Hon. H. A. L. Fisher was unable to deliver the opening address. His place was however taken by Sir George Newman, K.C.B., M.D.
A full report of the Comference, giving the papers read and all the discussions, can be obtained from the C .A .M .D. Offices, 24, Buckingham Palace Road, S.W. (price 2s.). The papers by the Commissioners of the Board of Control, Mrs. Hume Pinsent on “The Relation of Day and Residential Special Schools to Certified Institutions for Defectives,” and Dr. Rotherham on “The Case for the Large Mixed Institution,” which were unable to be published beforehand, will be included in this Report.
After the discussion following Mrs. Hume Pinsent’s Paper, the following resolution was carried, with three dissentients only: ‘ ‘That the Conference is of opinion that there should be no legal obstacle to combination between Local Education Authorities and Local Authorities under the Mental Deficiency Act for the purpose of providing a Joint Insti- tution, for all grades and types of defectives, certified by both the Board of Control and the Board of Education, and asks the Government to introduce the necessary legislation.”
Standing Medical Committee of the C.A.M.D. At the first meeting of the above, held on December 9th, consisting of all the Medical Members on the Council of the C.A.M.D., Dr. Tredgold was elected Chairman. The following were co-opted Members:? Dr. F. C. Shrubsall, Principal Asst. Medical Officer, London County Council.
Dr. A. Greenwood, Medical Officer of Health, Kent County Council. It was decided that an Honorary Medical Secretary to the Committeee should be appointed who would attend meetings and conferences in various parts of the country and bring the subject of Mental Deficiency before other Medical Men.
Dr. Eric Prideaux, M.D., Medical Officer in charge of the Psychological Clinic, Cambridge, was proposed, and he has accepted the appointment. It was decided, subject to the approval of the London University that a fortnight’s Post Graduate Course be arranged for 1921, and a Sub-Committee was appointed to make arrangements. Details of this Course are given below.
The Chairman drew attention to the fact that, though during the last few years six Universities had established Diplomas in Psychological Medicine, only one (London) had any reference to Mental Deficiency, though Cambridge had the matter under consideration. It was obvious therefore that a man might obtain the Diploma without any knowledge of Mental Deficiency, or that a man special- ising in Mental Deficiency would be debarred from taking it.
It was therefore resolved to send round a letter to all Universities pointing out to those who have not already issued a Diploma, the advisability for granting such a Diploma, and urging on all that the study of Mental Deficiency be granted a proper and definite place in the Syllabus.
University of London Post Graduate Course in Mental Deficiency. The third Course arranged by the University Extension Board in co-operation with the C.A.M.D., will be of two weeks’ duration and will begin on Monday, May 23rd, 1921, and end on Saturday, June 4th.
The Clinical Instruction will consist of visits to Schools, Homes and Institu- tions for the Mentally Defective and deomonstrations of individual cases of defect by experts, to small groups of students. As in the previous Courses it is intended more especially for those medical practitioners who are engaged in Certifying Officers to Local Authorities under the Mentally Deficiency Act 1913, as School Medical Officers, or definitely concerned with defectives. The Course will be based on the requirements of the Syllabus for the University of London Diploma in Psychological Medicine.
Lectures will be given by Dr. A. F. Tredgold, Dr. W. C. Sullivan, Dr. Eric Prideaux, Mr. Cyril Burt, Dr. F. C. Shrubshall, and Miss Lucy Fildes. Visits to Special Schools and Institutions and demonstrations will be arranged. The fee for the Course will be ?6 6s.
A detailed Syllabus and further particulars can be obtained from Miss Evelyn Fox , University of London, S .W .7. Course for Teachers in Special Schools.
At the suggestion of some teachers who have already attended two of the Courses arranged by the C.A.M.D. and are therefore ineligible for further ones, the C.A.M.D. hopes to arrange a Special Course for these, and for other experi- enced teachers of the mentally defective, for one week in the summer in either July, August, or possibly the beginning of September.
This Course will not be as strenuous as previous Courses, as there will be no school visits. Lectures, Classes in Singing Games, etc., and possibly in Manual Work (according to the demand) will be arranged, and there will be ample oppor- tunity for informal discussions. A seaside resort on either the East of Welsh Coast has been suggested as being the most convenient place for such a Course. The Course will, however, have to be self-supporting, so the sum charged to students must cover the expenses of lecturing, etc., as well as of board and lodg- ing. For the latter a sum of from 2| to 3 guineas for the week will be the probable charge. If thirty students attend, lecturing expenses, etc., will amount to ?2 10s. to ?3 a head. If there are more students it will be proportionately less. The total cost would therefore be about ?5 10s. a head. It is possible that some Education Authorities may assist their teachers to attend.
There are still a few vacancies for this Course. If any teachers with special experience would like to join, would they send their names provisionally as soon as possible, in any case not later than January 31st, to Miss Evelyn Fox, C.A .M .D. 24, Buckingham Palace Road, S.W.I.
Would they also at the same time make any suggestions as to how the Course would be most helpful to them and state whether any of the times suggested are impossible.
London Association for the Care of the Mentally Defective. We should like to draw special attention to an important development in the work of the above Association.
When the Association was formed in 1914, it, as one of its activities, worked in co-operation with the After Care Committee for Children leaving Special Schools. There has been a steady growth in this branch, the number of cases on the books in 1913 being 1,198 and in 1919, 5,042. The Association has hitherto received a grant from the Board of Control, the L.C.C. Asylums and Mental Deficiency Committee (for carrying out supervision under Section 30 (b) of the Mental Defi- ciency Act), a few smaller grants and voluntary subscriptions, but no direct grant has been received for this particular branch of its work. The L.C.C. Education Committee therefore, subject to the approval of the Board of Educa- tion that such a contribution would rank as recognised expenditure under Section 44 (2) of the Education Act, 1918, made the following recommendation, which was adopted by the Council:?
“That in pursuance of the provisions of the Education (Choice of Em- ployment Act), 1910, as amended by Section 22 of the Education Act, 1918, approval be given in principle to payments to associations for the after-care of blind, deaf and crippled children, and mentally defective children, in respect of the work performed by such bodies in connection with the after-care of children leaving special schools; and that the Council be recommended accordingly.’’
This grant has been approved by the Board of Education.
We hope to publish further details as to the amount of grant and the organisa- tion of this branch of the work in a subsequent issue. This grant under the Education (Choice of Employment) Act, 1910, should be a valuable precedent to other Associations undertaking similar work.
Meetings of Secretaries of Local Associations.
Two well-attended meetings of Secretaries were held on November 23rd and 24th. At the first meeting the following Secretaries spoke on special features of their work:?
Grants recently made to the Association by the L.C.C. Education Committee for the After-Care of Children leaving Special Schools. Miss Darnell (London).
New Occupation Centres for Defectives. Miss Brayn (Portsmouth), and Miss Woolston (Ipswich).
Occupations for Defectives in Institutions approved under Section 37, where only a limited number of cases are taken. Miss Blake (Wiltshire).
Work in connection with Police Courts and cases dealt with under Section 9. Miss Nevile (Essex)-
The placing of Defective Boys on the Land.. Miss Walford (Warwick).
Wolf Cub Packs for Defectives. Miss Townsend (Cambs.)I STUDIES IN MENTAL INEFFICIENCY.
Classes for Voluntary Visitors. Miss Luce (Organising Secretary, C.A.M.D.)
At the second meeting a new Form of Annual Return from Local Voluntary Associations to the C.A.M.D., drawn up by the Statistical Committee of the C.A.M.D. Avas fully discussed, amended and adopted. The Council and Medical Committee of the C.A.M.D. feel that the information thus obtained may be most valuable for statistical and research purposes.
Lectures arranged by Local Associations.
Several Local Associations have during the last three months arranged lectures for their members and visitors and others specialty interested in work for defectives.
The Portsmouth Association has had among others a lecture by Dr. Devinc, Sheffield by Dr. Nairn, Wiltshire and by Dr. Glover.
An interesting address was given in Lancaster to the North Lancashire Association by Dr. Coupland, Medical Superintendent of the Royal Albert Institution. After tracing the growth of public opinion during the last century and the different developments in the work for defectives up to the passing of the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, he went on to show how Voluntary Associations could be of the greatest assistance to Local Authorities by helping to obtain com- plete ascertainment of persons in the area who were defective, and supplying accurate information. They could also do very good work by assisting the relatives of all defectives in their homes by kindly advice and suggestions for their care, and where possible introducing some simple occupation. The Magistrates’ Association.
The recently formed Magistrates’ Association should do much to aid Justices in their work, and especially that part of it which affects mentally-inefficient offenders, to which we understand particular attention will be given. The chief purpose of the Association is to keep Justices informed of developments in penal thought, practice and experiment, both in Britain and abroad, and to this end there will be set up a clearing-house to collect, collate and publish?possibly through the medium of a journal?information on all aspects of Magistrates’ work, other than the purely legal. There is great need for a settled policy on the part of Magistrates, and when it is remembered that in England and Wales the courts of Summary Jurisdiction alone number more than a thousand, that each court works in its own water-tight compartment, so to speak, neither profiting by, nor even cognizant of, the experience of courts elsewhere, the vagaries of “Jus- tices’ Justice” are easily understood. Hitherto, every court has attacked its problems de novo, because there existed no machinery whereby it could do other- wise. The Magistrates’ Association will afford such machinery. In addition to a “general clearing house,” the Association will set up standing committees relating to matters on which data are constantly required, e.g., Probation, Licensing, Defective Offenders; and ad hoc committees to deal with such special matters as from time to time arise, e.g., war-strain and crime. Enquiries should be addressed to me at 43, Devonshire Chambers, E.C.2.
Cecil Leeson, Hon. Secretary, Magistrates’ Association. Tavistock Clinic.
The Tavistock Clinic for Functional Nerve Cases was opened in September at 51. Tavistock Square, W.C.I, to bring the most modern treatment for such conditions within reach of those who cannot afford specialists’ fees. Every form of Psychotherapy will be available when necessary. Patients will be treated gratuitously or charged a fee not exceeding 4s., according to circum- stances ; whenever possible they should bring a letter from their own doctor. Every weekday there will be three sessions, beginning at 10, 4 and 6-30 respec- tively. It is anticipated that some mental defectives will present themselves in the children’s department. These will be advised how to obtain treatment in special schools or institutions if necessary. Dr. H. Crichton Miller is the Hono- rary Director of the Clinic, and Dr. W. A. Potts is the Director of the Children’s Department.
Board of Education (Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer for 1918). The Chief Medical Officer in this report states that three new schools for mentally defective children have been opened during the year. There are now 194 in England, and five in Wales, providing accommodation for 15,825 children in all.
A return furnished by the Board of Control is printed in this report, giving the total number of cases ascertained during the year by various Local Authorities showing which of the number have been notified to the Local Education Authori- ties. These figures show great divergence of activity on the part of both Local Authorities and Local Education Authorities. The latter are reminded that their duties under the Mental Deficiency Act include the notification to the Local Control Authority of all children who fall within certain specified classes as defined by Section 2 (2) of the Mental Deficiency Act. The attention of the Local Education Authorities is also drawn to the Board’s Regulations (Art. 31 .d.) requiring that for all special schools particulars must be given of the after careers of children who have left.
Ministry of Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
The above Bill contained an interesting though highly controversial clause (Clause 8) on the Treatment of Incipient Mental Disorders. The whole Bill however was thrown out by the House of Lords at its first reading on December 13th. New Residential School for Mentally Defective Children in the County of Durham.
The Durham County Education Committee have established a residential school for mentally defective children at Dinsdale Park, about four miles from Darlington. The school is accommodated in the Hall of Dinsdale Park, which has been purchased by the County Education Authority and altered to meet the requirements of the Board of Education. The Hall overlooks the river Tees and stands in about ten acres of grounds, beautifully laid out, and has been furnished and fitted with great care. The school is certified by the Board of Education for 100 children (52 boys and 45 girls).
The classrooms are bright and airy with a south aspect and with delightful views of the valley of the Tees and the North Riding of Yorkshire. The School was officially opened on the 1st June, 1920, and there are now 50 scholars in residence. It is expected that the accommodation will be fully taken up after the Christmas Vacation. The whole of the accommodation is reserved for children residing in the Administrative County of Durham. The Master and Matron of the school are Mr. and Mrs. Robert Young, who are assisted by a staff of certificated teachers. During the short time the school has been opened, the physical condition of the children in residence has shewn a very marked improvement.
The school is organised to give special training in practical work, and apparatus has been provided for recreative and hand-work exercises. Singing and games provide facilities for brightening the corporate life of the school. The grounds provide unusual opportunities for the special development of Nature Study lessons.
The fact that the children are taught in very small classes ensures the possi- bility of special consideration being given to each child’s needs in the general scheme of instruction.
Rawcliffe Hall Institution.
Rawcliffe Hall, near Goole, was opened last September by the West Riding County Council for the reception of mentally defective women and girls over 10 years of age. The Board of Control issued their certificate authorising the admission of 130 patients of the feeble-minded and imbecile type. By the middle of December a small staff and 27 defectives were in residence.
The Institution was formerly a private residence. The grounds are exten- sive and include a good kitchen garden. The elder defectives are receiving training in housework, laundry work and plain sewing. In the spring they will assist in the gardens under the direct supervision of one of the staff.
The younger defectives are to receive instruction on Kindergarten lines.
They will also be taught sewing, knitting and rug-making.
The accommodation is to be reserved for West Riding cases.
Provision of Institutions and Schools for Defectives by Local Authorities under the Mental Deficiency Act.
Dr. Rotherham’s paper on “The Case for the large mixed Institution for Defectives, which he read at the C.A.M.D. and N.S.S.U. Conference in Novem- ber should be of interest to all Local Authorities who are starting or about to start Institutions for Defectives.
Local Authorities under the Mental Deficiency Act and Local Education Authorities should read Mrs. Hume Pinsent’s paper on “The Relation of Day and Residential Special Schools to Certified Institutions for Defectives,” as it refers to the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, which seems to indicate that it may not be possible.
The C.A.M.D. is taking up the question and we shall be very glad to hear of any Authorities which have the matter under consideration.
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