ays been
subnormal. The woman is too insane at times to attend to ordinary
household duties or matters of ordinary personal cleanliness. At the
time the children were committed the home was in a shockingly filthy
condition, and at that time was one of the worst brought under the
notice of the Department in the district. The second girl (age fifteen)
has had her hair cut for the sake of cleanliness by some kindly disposed
well-wisher. The mother allowed the dirt to accumulate to such an extent
that the whole of the girl's head was covered with a scab of dirt. She
had to enter the Hospital to have this removed. This was a most
objectionable case. After the State took charge of these children the
mother and father were still allowed to cohabit, with the result that
three more children have been born. Without doubt, these children will
also be supported by the State. The father is a sexual case, and
foster-parents of the children have objected to the father visiting them
on account of the way he handles them.

SECTION 4.--ELEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM.

Wallen, in his book "Problems of Subnormality," draws attention to three
basic phases of the problem of the feeble-minded:--

"(1.) The obligation of society to identify and register as
early as possible all feeble-minded children. All students of
social problems will concede that feeble-mindedness is one of
the fundamental causes of our numerous social ills. It is a
prolific source of poverty, destitution, all kinds of crimes
against property and person, social immorality, illegitimacy,
and of prolific and degenerate progeny.

"There are few problems in present-day constructive social
economics which are more important than the development of a
State-wide and a nation-wide policy for the compulsory
official identification and registration of feeble-minded
children, particularly all those who come from homes where the
conditions are not such as to guarantee continuous supervision
and support.

"(2.) The proper educational care and training of
feeble-minded children. The adequate discharge of this
obligation involves segregating the feeble-minded in special
classes as soon as they can be indubitably diagnosed and
providing for them the type of training which will maximally
develop those powers and aptitudes which they possess and
which will maximally equip them for earning their livelihood.