Gossip of the Day: … Pampering the Unfit: Taking part in a Church Congress discussion on the duty of society towards the feeble minded, Mrs. Pinsent (Birmingham) pointed out that all the legislative efforts had aimed at improving the environment of the poorer classes, and in so doing had had the indirect effect of perpetuating the unfit: Fourteen individuals in one family (she said) had been supported at the public expense in industrial schools, reformatories, workhouses, asylums and homes. They passed continually from one of these institutions to another with short intervals of liberty, during which they reproduced their kind. Five publicly paid officials were continually visiting one or other family where a mentally deficient mother had produced ten children, four of whom were mentally defective and two physically defective, while three died in infancy.
Transcribed in whole or part from scanned originals: Presented with or without modified text and punctuation. For absolute accuracy refer to the original newspapers. Source: The British Newspaper Archive.
Referenced
GRO0245 Devonport: Ellen Frances Parker: 1866 – 1949