HAPPINESS FIRST

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1928, Page 3

HAPPINESS FIRST

DEVELOPING RETARDED MINDS.

“Happiness first, all else follows. ’ One could hardly conceive of a more appropriate motto for a children’s training school dealing entirely with retarded minds. To be associated with an institution living tip to the motto has been the unique experience of two Wellington teachers, Miss P. M. Mc-

M array and Miss E. M. Emerson, daughter of Police Superintendent A. T. Emerson, of Wellington, who returned to New Zealand hv the Aorangi recently after an absence of nine months, seven of which were spent in New Jersey. U.S.A. at tlie famous Vineland Training School, for children whose minds are not developed normally. These teachers, who had charge of special classes for children with retarded minds in Wellington, were granted leave of absence to train at Vineland at the invitation of the principal of the Training School there. They have received modern instruction, and have had the opportunity to observe methods and treatment, which should make their future services to the ctui.se of

education most valuable. H:\lf of the? time was spent in teaching at tin school itself, and the remainder ti training and mental testing tit the institnton’s summer school for teachers which was attended hv sixty student?

from all parts of America, and from

as far afield as Norway. Both ladies succeeded in gaining si special diploma for their work. TESTING AND GRADING.

The Vineland Training School is famous throughout the length and breadth of the United States. It is a private institution, although the State itself sends children to be trained, and pays for their maintenance. In some eases a child' is enrolled “for life.” a lump sum being paid down, tlie school contracting to take all responsibility until death. The school possesses one of the best research laboratories in the States. The children are tested out and graded. according to mental status. They are given a certain amount of academic study, but the principal work of the school is manual training. The institution is made as far as .possible self-supporting, ami possesses its own farm, orchard, vegetable gardens, poultry runs and pig raising establishment.

.Most of the children admitted are trainable, and in numerous instances arc .allowed out on parole to suitable employers or homes. While at school they are housed in a number of cottages, each in charge of ait officer Termed “mother’’ or “father,” as the ease may he. One of the cottages is devoted entirely to crippled boys -crippled to such an extent that their mentality is impaired. Corporal punishment is not allowed in any .shape or form. Every inmate has an O.K. card for what is known as a .-tore account. A certain stun of money is allocated to each child for small purchases at the school’s store, and the cards are "punched” for deliquescence, so much being deducted for each “punch” three

“punches’’ meaning no stores for a fortnight. This is the form of punishment meted out. and it acts well, as the children hate to miss their allowance and behave ai cordinglv. GOOD RESULTS. “Goad results have been achieved,” said Miss Me.Murray to a reporter on hoaid the Aorangi, “but of course you cannot make a brain where there is no brain. Wherever it is possible the children are trained and are made a*s i:-cful to the world as it is possible lor them lo become. A number of the i hildren are. eventually engaged as helpers, and some of the hoys were I L enough to go to the war. (treat care is taken in licensing out to see that the environment is suitable. Tho school has made many children with backward minds useful citizens. Of eour-e it is impossible to even hope that all the inmates could Iwemiie anything approaching to normal, hut the school is serving a useful purpose, and has kept hundreds of children from drifting into imbecility. Our special classes have done very well in New Zealand,” was the concluding remark of Miss McMmray, “but n good deal more money is needed for their development.” THE CHILD FIRST.

Miss Emerson spoke enthusiastically of the splendid tare bestowed upon the children. “They arc- very happy.” she said, “and nothing is left undone to make them cheerful and contented. Tho Christmas festivities are wonderful. Wo had not time to get homesick. The sp'endid hand performance?!, the musical treats, and the theatricals all car-

ried out by the children themselves were a revelation, you would never find better talent among normal people. There is one old lady inmate, sixtv years of age. with a mind of a child of two, and all old fellow called Toni. He is just so happy. He sings every morning. I said to him one day, ‘Are you happy, Tom?’ ‘Of course.’ was his reoly. ‘I am alwavs happy.’ The child is put first in everythin g and this i- largely responsible for the success of the institution.”