Available from: UVM Electronic text Archive
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October 29, 1926
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The Women's Auxiliary to the dairymen, who met on the roof garden of the Hotel Vermont yesterday afternoon, listened to talks by Miss Sara Holbrook, department of education, U.V.M., and Prof. H. F. Perkins of the University, head of the zoology department.
All of the women were most enthusiastic in praise of the tea which had been given them at the practice house the day before by the home economics department. They appreciated the entertainment and the talk by Miss Bertha M. Terrill, professor of home economics. In a set of resolutions presented, to the meeting, they expressed the gratitude they felt for the reception, to Miss Terrill and other members of the home economics department.
A welcome was given yesterday by Mrs. H. M. Farnham of Montpelier. Music was furnished by Mrs. F. B. Jenks, and three of her sons. Mrs. Jenks played the piano accompaniment, and the boys played the violin, cello and flute. This was a part of the program which was greatly enjoyed.
Miss Holbrook talked on the problem of the unusual child and his challenge in our rural school. Vermont, she said, has not paid as much attention to the unusual child as have some other states. She said that by tests children may be placed in three groups, superior, normal and sub‐normal. The individual problem of the unusual child must be searched out.
With the superior child, other factors being equal, it is well to let him go ahead into the grade where the work is of his mental level. The sub‐normal child should he given work of which he is capable and in which he is interested.
An incentive for interest has to be found for the sub‐normals. They should be given as much academic work as they are capable of learning, and should he taught what they will need to know in life. In the rural school, the teachers give some handiwork to the backward child that will relieve her so she may have time to spend with the other children.
The criterion for that handiwork should be: something of value; utilization of material of little value; form of work child can do without too much time or supervision; artistic value. Miss Holbrook displayed much handiwork which has been done by backward youngsters in the rural schools. The rural teachers are attempting to make the subnormals become an asset rather than a liability to the their communities.
Dr. H. F. Perkins talked about experience in human heredity. He told about the eugenics work that is being carried on in the state. "Eugenics is a study, not a cult," he said. The taxpayers are called upon to support dependents who are dependents through no fault of their own, he stated. He went on to say that there is no single cure for diseases of the body or mind. A loyalty to the State demands a fair an honest view of the situation as it is. Farmers today are paying much attention to good breeding of their cattle. They find they have much better results with the cows of good breeding. This same care is not given to the choosing of human mates. Therefore, such Institutions as the Home for Feeble Minded at Brandon are filled with children whose parents were not as carefully selected as are the breed cattle. In a survey it was found that many of the children in Brandon have some relative in one of the penal Institutions or insane asylums of the State.
In Brandon and Vergennes, the speaker said, modern scientific methods are used to help the subnormal child. They are practical and give results. The child learns tasks commensurate with his ability, which will help him to cease being a menace and a drag.
Dr. Perkins answered the question: "What makes the feeble‐minded child mischievious or criminal?" He said it is for the same reason that the normal child loves to draw attention to himself.
The Vermont institutions are nearly filled, according to Dr. Perkins. Sterilization is not a cure. It is only one of the methods which would help. "There is no single cure," he reiterated, "for diseases of the body or mind."
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