Notes and News
Conference on Mental Deficiency. ——————————-The Conference of the CAMW of which provisional notice was given in our last issue, will be held at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, on Wednesday and Thursday, July�26th and 27th. The first day will be devoted to the discussion of “Mental Deficiency in Relation to Crime” when with Sir Leslie Scott, the Solicitor General, in the Chair Sir Bryan Donkin, Member of Prisons Board and late HM Commissioner of Prisons, Dr Norwood East, Medical Officer of HM Prison, Brixton, Stuart Deaeon, Esq., Stipendiary Magistrate of Liverpool, and Mrs Patrick Green, JP., Colchester, will giye papers, the proceedings being closed by an address from the Rt. Hon. Lord Justice Atkin. The second day when the President of the Board of Education has consented to give an opening address Dr Brackenbury, Chairman ot the Education Committee of the CAMW, will submit a paper on “Economic Difficulties which Prohibit the Development of Special Schools?some Alternative Methods of Education for certain grades of Mentally Defective Children” to be followed by discussion opened by Spurley Hey, Esq., Director of Education,Manchester.
Lt-Col. Alderman WE Raley, President of the Association of Education Committees will be in the chair. In the afternoon Mrs Anderson, Case Secretary, CAMW, will speak on “Occupation Centres” and there will be short addresses on the work of their own Centres by Miss Elfrida Rathbone (London), Miss I. M. Brayn (Portsmouth), and Mrs J. Cooke-Hurle (Somerset). The second part of the afternoon will be devoted to a discussion on “Working Hostels and other Non-Institutional Methods of Dealing with Defectives” to be opened with a paper by Miss Ruth Darwin, Commissioner of the Board of Control.
Tickets, price 2/6 each, can be obtained from the offices of the CAMW, 24, Buckingham Palace Road, SWI
The Question of Sterilization. —————————-A series of articles has recently appeared in The Morning Post under the title “The Purity of our Race” emphasizing the need of drastic action, notably the adoption of a policy of sterilization, in connection with the mentally defective, and suggesting that the Government should be urged to pass the necessary legislation for putting such policy into effect.
Opinions from leading experts which have been solicited reveal a marked divergence of opinion the balance of which is by no means on the pro- sterilization side. In fact, unqualified support only comes from one medical man, Sir Archdall Reed, and one layman, Mr Harold Cox, both of whom consider a policy of sterilisation to be the alternative to progressive racial degeneration, though the latter would not have it performed in any case without the consent of the patient, or of his parent or guardian! Dr Tredgold approves of it only to a strictly limited extent by taking the view that while “sterilization would be a perfectly justifiable and advisable procedure in particular cases of defect, it cannot dc away with the necessity for segregation and institutional care in a large proportion of cases, and there are reasons why its compulsory application to all defectives is not advisable”; and Sir Bryan Donkin states that he considers that ‘’on the whole the present knowledge regarding the procreation of mental defectives by mentally defective parents (one or both of them) is sufficient to justify the sanction of the proposed operation under precautionary regulations”.
Sir Courtauld Thomson, Chairman of the recently formed Mental Hygiene Committee is opposed to sterilization in any shape or form, and Sir Leslie Scott, the Solicitor General and Chairman of the CAMW, writes as follows:?”My own view is a strong one, that the subject needs much more investigation before the surgical remedy can properly be brought forward as a political proposal in this country. A11 sorts of issues are indirectly involved. We do not know enough about mental deficiency either in its medical or its social aspects to justify a reasoned crusade in favour of artificial sterilization. The taint is infinitely varied in degree. Where draw the line? The truth is that if those interested in the question of the mental health cf our population were to take upon their shoulders the burden of advocating compulsory sterilization they would find themselves plunged in a bitter controversy, with their power for good greatly curtailed, and throw away a large part of the progress they have achieved in the education of public opinion up to date”.
The Council of the CAMW, while fully aware of the racial dangers inherent in any increase in the number of defectives, shares Sir Leslie Scott’s view as to the necessity for further investigation, and it has accordingly referred the matter to the Medical Committee to report fully to the Association.
Formation of a Scottish Association of Care Committees. ——————————————————The following account of this important development of Mental Deficiency work in Scotland has been sent to us by Mr W. W. McKechnie, Chief Inspector of Schools, Scottish Education Department, to whose untiring efforts, together with those of the Paisley Aftercare Committee, it is largely indebted for its inception:
On Saturday, June�17th, a meeting was held in the Technical College, Glasgow, to consider the desirability of forming a Scottish Association for the Care of the Mentally Defective. Sir H. Arthur Rose, Chairman of the Scottish Board of Control presided and the meeting was largely attended by Representa tives of Local Authorities and by others interested in the problem ol mental defect. The Chairman read very cordial letters commending the object of the Meeting from Mr Munro, the Secretary of State for Scotland and Sir Leslie Scott, the Solicitor General for England, and President of the CAMW Sir Leslie had very kindly undertaken to deliver an Address but was unfortunately detained in London by important Government Business. His address, which was read in his absence bv Mr McKechnie, HMIS, made a deep impression. Then Mrs
Fern, the Chairman of the Paisley Aftercare Committee which originated the movement showed briefly how clamant is the need in Scotland for better provision for the mentally defective.
In the discussion which followed, some of the Representatives of Parish Councils advocated delay in order that the Councils might have time to consider Sir Leslie Scott’s paper and the important problem it raised, but it was decided by a very large majority that a National Association should be formed at once. An influential Committee was appointed to launch the Association which it is reasonable to hope will soon be in active operation. The need for it is great; it will have difficulties to overcome, but it has made an auspicious start and promises to fill a most important role in the national life of Scotland. We extend hearty greetings to our sister Association and wish it a long career of usefulness.
Training of Teachers for the Mentally Defective. New Scottish Scheme. For some years Scottish students have taken advantage of the Short Courses of training provided in England by the CAMW and in Edinburgh by the National Committee for the Training of Teachers, but, as a result of the efforts of this latter body, they will in future be able to secure a training lor the work that is really “adequate and scientific”. The new Course which is being planned by the Committee will extend over a year and will be held in Glasgow with the cooperation of the Local Education Authority, who will not only supply the necessary facilities for school practice, but has agreed to utilize the services of the expert psychologist who is to be appointed in connection with the Schcme. The Course is mainly intended for teachers actually in the employ of Local Education Authorities who have completed two years’ probationary service in a Primary School, and who show special aptitude for work with defectives. The Committee will be prepared to remit the fees of such students if nominated by their Authorities, where good cause is shown, and also to consider applications for limited maintenance grants during the course. They express the hope, however, that Authorities will consider the possibility of allowing their nominated students half-pay during the period of training and in this way pension rights will not be lost.
A period of three months at the end of the course is to be devoted to continuous work in a Special School or Class, and as far as possible it will be arranged for students to carry this out in a school belonging to their nominating Authority so that the period of absence from duty will be lessened.
The detailed prospectus of the Course is not yet published but Education Authorities throughout Scotland have been circularized and applications from intending students have been invited.
We feel that the institution of such a scheme is a matter of congratulation for all interested in the education of defectives and as we shall continue to welcome to our own Short Courses Scottish teachers who are unable to take the longer and more adequate training, we venture to hope that conversely English teachers who can afford a year’s course will be allowed to go to Glasgow.
Enquiries about, the new Course should be addressed to:?James Malloch, Esq., National Committee for the Training of Teachers, 8, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.
New Local Associations. ———————-At the initiative of the Canterbury Women’s Diocesan Council, and with the help of an Organizer from the CAMW, a Voluntary Association is now in process of being formed in Kent.
The area of its activities will be at first confined to the Canterbury Diocese, but it is hoped that later on it may be extended to cover the whole of the administrative county.
Correspondence should be addressed at present to Mrs Gardner, 14, The Precincts, Canterbury.
We are glad also to record the formation at Birkenhead of a Voluntary Association which has been formed with the primary object of undertaking the AfterCare of children leaving the Special School other than those notified to the Local Authority under Section 2 (2) (b).
Correspondence should be addressed to Miss Barker, Special School, Grange Road, Birkenhead.
New Occupation Centres. ———————–The number of Occupation Centres and Handicraft Classes continues to increase?Sheffield, Kingston-on-Thames, Woking, Croydon and Manchester being the latest additions to the list. The first four have succeeded in carrying on with the help of voluntary workers alone, but Manchester has a paid teacher, this being made possible by the untiring efforts of the Secretary of the South East Lancashire Association who, through the organization of entertainments, etc., has raised a fund sufficient to meet the expenses of the Centre for, at any rate, the immediate future.
The Centres at Sheffield, Woking and Kingston are chiefly for high-grade or ex-Special School cases: those at Croydon and Manchester are intended primarily for excluded imbecile children.
Essex Voluntary Association: Meeting at Royal Eastern Counties Institution.
On May�25th, the Essex Voluntary Association held a very successful meeting at the Royal Eastern Counties Institution, Colchester, when addresses were given by Dame Catharine Hunt, Miss Chisenhale Marsh (Chairman of Association), Dr Douglas Turner (Medical Superintendent of the Institution) and Mr Tabor, the Chairman of the County Medical Deficiency Committee.
Miss Chisenhale Marsh, dealing with the work of the Association, referred to the importance of occupation for defectives,?as ‘ ‘the best way to make them safe and happy was to make them useful”; Dr Turner emphasized the wide scope of the Institution in which they met, successfully catering as it did for defectives of all grades and of all ages, and stated that in his opinion a large Institution was not only more economical than a small one, but able to provide a brighter life for its patients. Thus dances and wliist-drives were at Colchester common events, and last year they had 50 football matches.
After the meeting?through the kindness of Dr Turner?the visitors made a tour of the workshops, and a number of children under the direction of Mr Harris, the Head Master, gave an admirable performance of singing, dancing, etc. while the band of the Institution played selections.
Reformatory School for Abnormal Girls. ————————————-A new departure in Girls’ Reformatory Schools is just being inaugurated at Inval, Haslemere. Here 20 girls who have proved physically or mentally unfit for the ordinary curriculum of the Reformatory School are to be received for individual care and specialized training. Cases of adolescent instability and Cental retardation are specially contemplated. The training scheme is to be very varied, including gardening, spinning and weaving, besides other handicrafts, and every effort will be made to ascertain each girl’s best line ot approach. The Warden is Miss Pierce, who will gladly answer any enquiries.
We hope to give a further report of this interesting venture in a later issue. Holiday Camps for Special School Children.
In spite of the inroads of the “economy campaign” Special School children in at least two favoured districts are going to the country this year, as they did last and we should like to record these ventures, one initiated by voluntary the other by official effort:?
The Lilian Greg Centre (London) has been able to arrange very successful camps (each lasting a fortnight) for three batches of Special School children, ?Senior Boys, Junior Boys, and Girls, respectively, a total of 89 in all. The first batch went to the Shaftesbury Society’s Camp at Whitstable in charge of teachers in the LCC’s service who were lent for the occasion: the other two fortnights were spent in the Epping Forest Shaftesbury Camp, and for the staffing of these the Lilian Greg Centre was responsible although in each case the Council lent one teacher to assist. The cost of the holidays was borne by voluntary funds raised for the purpose and augmented by contributions from the Children’s Country Holiday Fund: in as many cases as possible contributions were also obtained from the parents.
How much work experiments of this sort entail, only those who have taken part in them can fully realize, but the effort is small compared with the great joy that they are the means of giving?a joy which it is no sentimental banality in the case of these children, the limitations of whose environment are so great, to call ‘ ‘new life.’’
The official venture referred to above is that of the Birmingham Education Committee who have again rented a house at Barmouth to serve as a Summer School” for the Special School children of the city during the summer months: Groups of 24 children are being sent fortnightly,?from the Schools for the Deaf, the Physically Defective, and the Mentally Defective at an estimated total expenditure of ?510, ?75 of which is expected to be recovered from the parents.
The staff of the School consists of a House Mother and a Cook, and two teachers accompany each batch of children, or when Physically Defective Children are present, a Teacher and a Nurse.
The Timetable is elastic, and though certain fixed time are prescribed for mental work, handwork, and physical exercises, the school routine is varied by singing and organized games on the beach, bathing, and excursions to places of interest.
We feel that this venture is such an important and interesting one that for the benefit of those of our readers who have influence with Education Authorities, we quote in full the opinion of the Birmingham Special Schools Subcommittee as to the value of the Summer School held last year?an opinion which is not likely to be reversed when the time comes to report on this year’s school:?
“The School greatly improved the children in many ways. They became more alert, happier, more anxious to help and to do their day’s work; their health improved: new standards of personal cleanliness have been set up: and in some cases both conduct and regularity of attendance have also noticeably improved since tie visit to the School. The Subcommittee are more than ever impressed by the incalculable benefits to the children, and feel that the establishment of the Summer School has had a most valuable and far-reaching effect not only on the children who attended there, but on their parents, and indirectly on the children who are attending the Special Schools generally”.
London Special School Boys’ Gallantry. ————————————-Some of our readers may remember that in our January issue we printed a report of the London Special Schools Sports Association at the end of which was recorded the awarding of the Vellum Certificate of the Royal Humane Society to a pupil of the Edward Street Special School, Deptford, who saved a boy from drowning in the Thames.
- The Head Master of the school now informs us that this same boy, who is now
has recently saved another life under similar circumstances, and that this
makes the fifth rescue from drowning which he has effected. The Thames Police Patrol have sent his name to the Humane Society for their further recognition of his bravery.
The name of another pupil of Edward Street School has also been sent up who, though only “a slim little chap of 12” and unable to swim, waded into the river up to his neck on Empire Day at Greenwich and so saved a child from drowning.
We feel sure that our readers will want to join with us in sending their congratulations both to the young heroes themselves and to the school which shares in their prowess.
Such incidents should make those who condemn the education of feebleminded children as a useless extravagance, think again.
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