7.7.3 Mental Hygiene, Retarded, Handicapped, Troublesome

  • 1914:  According to L.M. Shumate, “A problem.  No solution[1].”
  • 1924.  “How Best to Urge on Backward Children[2].”
  • 1928.  The White Teacher’s Institute of September 11, 1928[3]
  • Special White Children, about 1945.   Files on white children who faced various challenges to graduation, including broken homes.   Editorial Note:   The Edwin Washington Project should bring on board an expert in this field to make a report, which would include information from Visiting Teacher files.  Some of this information is too confidential to be made public, unless specific names are deleted.  Examples:  One file  tracked a boy who had to work at home on the farm. He was described in 1943/44 as “slow, deliberate, and a good worker.  In short, a satisfactory and average pupil.”  In fact, he had made unusual progress that year and by 1944/45 was recommended for promotion.  A girl had troubles, partly due to living in a broken home.
  • 1945:  Reprint of “The Rehabilitation of Feeble-Minded Adolescents.”  Originally from the December 29, 1945 issue of “School and Society,” so was likely used in 1946 or later.  One interesting point made in the paper is that “true democracy draws no line of discrimination,” as to race or intellectual levels, etc.
  • The Slow Learning Child.  From a 1948 perspective, defines an idiot, imbecile, high grade mental defective, borderline defective and mentally retarded.  Paper was presented to a Supervisory Conference held at Carver Colored School, February 26, 1948.
  • 1948: Petition by white parents in Arcola who wanted an additional teacher to handle retarded and handicapped children.  They also wanted the children to be instructed in the hall, to avoid disruptions[4].   For Arcola, 12/13/1948.
  • 1952.   An interesting memo from Ruth Emerick of November4, 1952 indicated analysis in one case that a physically handicapped child thought to have mental problems was probably a victim of neglect.
  • 1953.   A major concern was mental health.  Dr. Jacques was the school psychologist, according to the White Principal’s Association meeting of November 9, 1953.  (See Catalog 4.2   for discussion of this meeting and discussion of mental health.)  The same year Dr. Arthur Kassoff, psychologist, and Miss Lucy Hamilton, Psychiatric Social Workers were employed by Fairfax County but operated a clinic in Loudoun on Saturdays which ran from Dec 1 to the end of the year.  FYI:  Kassoff died in Hillsboro, VA, on July 30, 2002 of lung cancer. Dr. Kassoff was a well-known clinical psychologist and civic activist. A memorial was held at the Goose Creek Friends Meeting in Lincoln, VA, on Saturday, August 3.
  • October 24, 1953.   Workshop on Teaching Retarded Children   This was probably for white teachers.
  • 1953/54  Lectures to “Negro” teachers by Middleburg Community Center sponsored scholars[5].  .
  • 1955:  Virginia School Census, children with issues in Arcola. Restricted Access.
  • November 2, 1955.   Workshop Results, Marshall Street Community Center.  “What can be done about problem and gifted children[6]”.
  • School Board Minutes in 2.2.  See Nov 14, 1955.   Request to approve special class for retarded children at Lincoln with state and donated funds.
  • 1960 special census for physically handicapped or mentally retarded.   Names of impacted white and colored children are provided, but are redacted from my published reports for reasons of privacy.  Specific statistics are also provided for white children, the Corley School (white), the National Children’s Rehab Center (Leesburg), and Ruth’s Home for Subnormal Children.  The papers also list six Negro children thought to be sub-normal.  Users need to be aware that the sheets of paper are tattered and must be handled very carefully.    I highly recommend that they, as well as other individual reports held by the school archives, be studied carefully  in order to provide a professional review of how challenged African-American children were treated.  Also enclosed is the 1955 Virginia Census for children of a set of parents in Arcola (no race given).
  • Psychological 1956.  Rejection of Students – Restricted Access.  Covers both African-Americans and White students.
  • In 4.2 Principal’s folder (1944-56) is a memo of 1/12/1953 in which Emerick wanted a report on the work of the psychologist, Mr.  Indorf.  A list of children Dr. Indorf worked with as of March, 1952 is in 6.11.1 Visiting Teacher’s Folder.
  • Undated.  Northern Virginia Regional Detention Home Study.   Used as the basis for juvenile detention home study program, one of the first in the nation.
 

[1] See “Notable Events of the Year” in Annual Report of June 30, 1914  in 3.3 Annual School Reports 1887-88 to 1892-93 and 1906-07 to 1917-1918

[2] See  4.2   White Teacher Institutes: Sept 9, 1924.

[3] 1928 (See 4.2) devoted an hour to this topic.

[4]  See 2.5.b  White Petition Box.  For Arcola, 12/13/1948

[5] See 6.9.  Negro Scholarships

[6] See 7.1(b) Gifted Children