Care of the Feeble-Minded: Meeting in Newcastle: On the invitation of the Mayor and Mayoress (Ald. J. Baxter Ellis and Mrs. Ellis) a meeting was held at the Mansion House, Newcastle, yesterday afternoon, at which Mrs. Hume Pinsent, a member of the Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the Feeble-Minded and “chairman” of the Birmingham After Care Committee, gave an address on “The Care of the Feeble-Minded.” There was a large attendance … Introduction … Mrs. Hume Pinsent, who was given a cordial reception, said she understood that Newcastle had in the past, and was about to take in the future, a very progressive line on the subject of the permanent care or control of the feeble-minded, having already established a special school. She had not been slow to learn the great lesson which special schools always taught, and she realized that her afflicted children would need care and control not only during the first few years of their lives, but to the end of their natural existence. Mental deficiency existed to an alarming extent and was said to be on the increase. It was estimated some years ago that there were 100,000 such people in this country; recent investigations had disclosed a yet greater number. Our gaols contained large numbers of mentally defective people. Not only were these sorts of people to be found in prisons but in rescue homes, and still more in workhouses. It would be much better for the community if they entered the workhouse earlier than they did. Mrs. Pinsent then proceeded to detail numbers of cases in different places, some of which she had had to do with and specially enlarged upon the characteristics of the afflicted; and she also referred to legislation that had been carried out. She advocated the establishment of boarding schools for the worst cases, remarking that there were many mentally defective children whom it was impossible to educate in a day school – children who had wandering propensities, who came from very bad homes, and who had criminal and vicious habits. It would be more economical in the long run to have such children placed in boarding schools, and then pass on to an industrial colony, than to pay policemen to run after them and then detain them in gaol. A special school could give an adequate education to 90 per cent. of defectives, while the remaining 10 per cent. should be placed in boarding schools. While she admitted that industrial colonies would involve a considerable outlay, she pleaded for economy to be exercised. There was no necessity to build palaces and equip them with electric light and all the recent improvements in laundry apparatus. If they could have sufficient air and light, very simple diet and clothing, and the simplest possible dwelling place, this would make defectives perfectly content and happy. As regards the question of individual liberty, the sooner there was interference in regard to defectives the better it would be both for the individual and society. (applause): … (further discussion) …
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Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949