California State Board of Charities and Corrections Surveys in Mental Deviation IN 366 Prisons, Public Schools, and Orphanages California Under Auspices of the Stale Joint Committee Brief Description of Local Conditions and Need for Custodial Care and Training Dependent, Defective, and Delinquent Classes ;ional CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICK SACRAMENTO 1918 date Ft? 1 PUBLICATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS OF CALIFORNIA. A Standard Dietary for an Orphanage. 1914. Written for the State Board of Charities and Corrections by Dr. Adele S. Jaffa. "A standard dietary is one which provides for every fundamental need of the body, which makes for good health, full development and best efficiency, and docs this at the least possible cost." Index to Social Legislation. 1915. Laws enacted by the forty-first legislature of the state of California. Prepared by the State Board of Charities and Corrections and published by the San Fr..ncisco Social Workers Alliance. Institutional Reports : What they are and what they should be, by Dr. Samuel Langer, superintendent of Pacific Hebrew Orphan Asylum, San Francisco. 1916. A Guide to California Laws Pertaining to Charities and Corrections. 1916. An index of these laws with brief statement concerning the content of each. County Outdoor Relief in California. 1916. First bulletin by the State Board of Charities and Corrections on county outrelief. This bulletin presents the salient facts concerning the administration of public relief to the poor in their own homes in California. The outline shows the distribution of responsibility for the care of public dependents between the state and county governments on the one hand and between institutional and outdoor care on the other. A Study in County Jails in California. 1916. Prepared by Stuart A. Queen, when secretary of the State Board of Charities and Corrections. Shows the uses and cost of the jails and recommends various changes: primarily the establishment, by the state, of a colony for misde- meanants. A Standard Plan for Small Jails. 1917. Plans prepared by Earl H. Markwart, architect, with brief explanation. \ California State Board of Charities and Corrections Surveys in Mental Deviation IN Prisons, Public Schools, and Orphanages IN California Under Auspices of the State Joint Committee Brief Description of Local Conditions and Need for Custodial Care and Training Dependent, Defective, and Delinquent Classes CALIFORNIA STATE PRINTING OFFICE SACRAMENTO 1918 CALIFORNIA STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. STATE JOINT COMMITTEE ON DEFECTIVES IN CALIFORNIA. MRS. CABBIE PARSONS BBYANT, Chairman, Vice president. State Board of Charities and Corrections. DB. MARTIN A. MEYER, President, State Board of Charities and Corrections. REV. GEOBGE W. STONE, Member, State Board of Education. DR. GEORGE E. EBBIGHT, President, State Board of Health. DB. WELBUB A. SAWYER, Member, State Lunacy Commission. MB. JOHN FBANCIS NEYLAN, Former Chairman, State Board of Control. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. BY DR. LEWIS M. TERMAN, Professor of Education, Leland Stanford Junior University. DB. J. HAROLD WILLIAMS, Director, Department of Research, Whittier State School. DR. GRACE M. FEBNALD, Head of the Department of Psychology, Los Angeles State Normal School. Assisted 6j/ H. E. KNOLLIN MARGARET HICKSON VIRGIL DICKSON LUCILE G. PHILLIPS LOWBY HOWARD EDYTHE KATHARINE BRYANT MAUD WHITLOCK MBS. J. HAROLD WILLIAMS Published by th STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS State Printing Office Sacramento 1918 TABLE OF CONTENTS. Page REPORT OF THE STATE JOINT COMMITTEE 5 A PARTIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL SURVEY OP THE PRISON POPULATION OP SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA, BASED ON MENTAL TESTS OP 155 CONSECUTIVE ENTRANTS. By Lewis M. Terman, Ph.D., and H. E. Knollin - 6 BACKWARD AND FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF "X" COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. By Lewis M. Terman, Ph.D., Virgil Dickson and Lowry Howard 19 THE INTELLIGENCE OP ORPHAN CHILDREN AND UNWED MOTHERS IN CALIFORNIA CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. By J. Harold Williams, Ph.D ! 46 THE MENTAL EXAMINATION OP 75 CHILDREN AT THE "Y" HOME. By Grace M. Fernald, M.D 82 REPORT OF THE STATE JOINT COMMITTEE. A nation-wide awakening to the menace of the feeble-minded is one of the most noteworthy movements of present public thought. Increas- ing attention is being given the problems of mental deviation. This attention reaches roughly into two fields: first, intensive study of feeble-mindedness as a social problem and the consequent increased number of surveys ; second, the study of the mental defective in institu- tions and the possibilities of education. California has but one state institution for the care of the feeble-minded. At this institution, the Sonoma State Home, accommodations limit the final capacity to 1,400 inmates. With the ever-increasing number of the mentally defective which surveys and other investigations are discovering, the need for additional provision for their care is becoming increasingly urgent. Calls from juvenile courts, county outrelief offices, state institutions, and private citizens lay bare the fact that California's present provision for the custodial and educational care of the feeble-minded is wholly inadequate. In 1916 the State Board of Charities and Corrections invited the members of the State Board of Education, the State Board of Health, the Commission in Lunacy, and the State Board of Control to. meet with it for a general discussion of this problem. The outcome of the confer- ence was the appointment of a committee to be known as the State Joint Committee, whose duty should be to secure such surveys of mental defectives in California as would in the judgment of the committee best furnish the necessary material upon which to base a judgment as to California's conditions and consequent needs in relation to mental defectives. It was determined, therefore, to make a study (1) of con- victs in San Quentin Prison; (2) of a group of children's institutions under state supervision, chosen to represent types of children ; and (3) of the public schools of "X" County, California. We are in deep appreciation of the courtesy of Dr. Lewis M. Terman of Leland Stanford Junior University, who generously gave his time not only to direct but to assume responsibility for gathering the facts and compiling the final reports of the surveys made in San Quentin Prison and in the public schools of "X" County. Also do we wish to acknowledge the cooperation of the Whittier State School. This school volunteered the services of its Research Depart- ment. Dr. J. Harold Williams, the director of the department, conducted the surveys in all but one of the children's institutions chosen. To Dr. Grace M. Fernald we are indebted for valuable assistance. Dr. Fernald gave from her much overcrowded days the time to conduct a careful survey of one of the children's institutions. The committee expresses its thanks to the State Board of Education and to the State Board of Charities and Corrections, who provided such financial assistance as the work demanded. STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. A PARTIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE PRISON POPU- LATION OF SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA; BASED ON MENTAL TESTS OF 155 CONSECUTIVE ENTRANTS. H. K. KNOLLIN and LEWIS M. TERMAN,* Stanford University. Plan of the Study. This study was undertaken in September, 1916, at the request of the California State Board of Charities and Corrections and on the invita- tion of Warden J. A. Johnston. No psychological classification of the inmates of this prison had before been attempted, and in view of the fact that the prison is one of the largest in the United States and is conducted at an annual expense to the state of more than four hundred thousand dollars it seemed desirable that an investigation be undertaken for the purpose of gaining more exact knowledge regarding the intel- lectual capacities, and in this way regarding the educational and reformative possibilities, of this large class of the state's wards. In view of the time limitations (it was stipulated that whatever work was undertaken should be reported on as early as possible after January 1, 1917) there was no possibility of making a complete psychological survey of the 2,400 inmates of the prison, desirable as this would have been. Such a survey would have necessitated the employment of a psychologist, two assistants, and several field workers for a period of a year or more, and would have cost from $10,000 to $15,000. Since only a very limited and partial survey was possible, the important question was how to direct it in such a way as to make it yield a fairly reliable index of the mental composition of the prison as a whole. Two points, especially were involved: (1) The method of selecting subjects so as to secure samplings which would be as nearly as possible representative of the entire prison population; and (2) The choice between superficial tests of a large number of subjects and more thorough tests of a relatively small number. (1) As regards the choice of subjects, there were two possible methods of sampling, either of which could undoubtedly have been depended upon to give a fairly accurate idea of the mentality of the prisoners in general : choice by alphabetical order of names, and choice in order of entrance. The latter was the plan adopted. All who entered the prison between September 25 and November 20, 1916, were tested in the order of their entrance. The number was 155. This study was planned and directed by me. The tests were carried out under my direction by Mr. H. B. Knollin, a graduate student at Stanford University. Mr. Knollin had previously tested 150 unemployed men, also a number of ordinary business men and college students ; about two hundred individuals in all. The results here set forth are as accurate as they would have been if all the tests had been made by me rrsonally. The responses given by the subjects in the tests were written down, and have in all cases verified the scoring. The data have been worked over by us jointly. Lewis M. Terman. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. Several other prisoners were tested on request of various prison officials, but as these were selected cases they are not considered in the present report. The testing began on September 25 and ended December 24. It began with prisoners who had only entered a few days previously, but as the rate of testing did not keep pace with the rate of admission, the last subjects tested had been in prison about a month. The question may be raised whether our group of 155 unselected cases is large enough to constitute a fair sampling of the inmates of this prison, with its population of more than 2,000. We believe that it is. As far as the laws of chance are concerned, the sampling is certainly large enough to be reliable; and there is no evident reason why prisoners entering during the months of October and November should be different from those entering at any other time of the year. Fortunately it is possible to check up the matter empirically. We can find out how evenly the tests run by comparing the per cent of feeble- mindedness found in the first half of the testing with that found in the second half. A fairly close agreement between the results of the two groups would mean that either group alone would have given a sufficiently large sampling. Applying this criterion we have the facts set forth in the following table : , Number Percent First half of testing (78 subjects): Feeble-minded 14 17.9 Borderzone . 10 12.8 Dull-normal _ 21 26.9 Average-normal 27 34 Superior 6 77 Second half of testing (77 subjects): Feeble-minded 13 169 Borderzone 10 129 Dull-normal 18 23.4 Average-normal _ _ 32 416 Superior 4 5.2 It is seen that the figures of the first half and the second half of the testing agree so closely that there can be no doubt as to the adequacy of our sampling. (2) In regard to the degree of intensiveness with which the study should be carried out, it seemed to us desirable for several reasons to make the tests as thorough as possible. The difficulties involved in arriving at a satisfactory mental classification of adult individuals on the basis of a brief mental test hurriedly applied are well known, and the possible error and dangers involved in such superficial examina- tions have been repeatedly emphasized by the more responsible psychologists at work in this field. We did not hestitate, therefore, 8 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. in deciding upon an intensive rather than a more extensive and correspondingly superficial study. The Tests Used. Notwithstanding the great progress which has been made in recent years in the selection and standardization of mental tests, there is yet no single system of tests which, used alone, can be relied upon to give absolutely accurate results with all classes of subjects, particularly with miscellaneous adults who have often had little opportunity for a formal education. On the other hand, it is possible, by using a number of different tests with the same individuals, to check up the shortcomings of the different test methods and thus to arrive at a final estimate of an individual's mentality which will be reasonably accurate. The tests selected for this purpose were the following: (1) The Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Intelligence Scale; (2) The Yerkes- Bridges Point Scale; (3) The Trabue Completion Tests; (4) The Vine- land Psycho-Anthropometric Tests; and (5) A series of performance tests to be used with subjects who were handicapped in the other tests because of their limited knowledge of English. These included the Knox Imbecile Test, the Healy-Fernald Construction Tests A and B, and the Healy Picture Completion Test. .Psychopathic conditions other than feeble-mindedness were left entirely out of account in our study, though in a complete phychological survey they would probably have been found almost as important factors as feeble-mindedness in the production of crime. Here is a rich field for the psychiatrist. Practically all of the subjects who understood the language sufficiently were given all of the first four series of tests above men- tioned, and the final classification was made on the basis of their combined results. In the case of subjects who had rather limited com- mand of English, 20 in all, dependence was placed chiefly upon the performance tests. An examination usually consumed from two to three hours, instead of the thirty to fifty minutes commonly employed in studies of this nature. By far the most important part of our results came from the use of the revised Binet-Simon tests. "We have no hesitation in saying that many of the criticisms which have been made of the Binet-Simon method are unfair and misleading, and that in the main such criticisms apply only where the method is misused by persons who do not know how to evaluate its results. It is true that the system of tests as Binet left it was not sufficiently dependable above the mental level of ten or eleven years and that its use in this form tended to exaggerate the amount of feeble-mindedness among adult groups. This defect, how- ever, has been largely if not wholly remedied in the Standard Revision, SURVEYS IN MENTAL, DEVIATION. 9 in which the tests have been so extended and increased in number in the upper levels as to make possible the measurement of normal and superior adult intelligence. This revision contains 90 tests, as con- trasted with 54 in the Binet scale of 1911. It possesses also another advantage no less important : the fact that it has been applied to several hundred adult individuals of the nondefective classes. The most frequent criticism of the Binet method when used with delinquents is that, for all anyone knows, ordinary business or professional men might not make any better showing if the tests were given them than criminals or delinquents make. This criticism can not apply to the Stanford Revision. We have applied it to enough persons in the ordinary walks of life to know that such subjects never grade feeble- minded by it, or anywhere near the border line of mental deficiency. Those who claim accuracy for the tests usually base their contention upon a belief which is the result of a comparatively lengthy experience with their use. However, having made no attempt to definitely estab- lish what the degree of this accuracy might be, they can only make an approximate judgment in regard to it. Irrespective of how accurate such offhand judgment may be, nevertheless, in the minds of those critics who are only partially familiar with the use of the tests it remains nothing more than an unconvincing personal opinion. Accordingly, in order to avoid the necessity of depending upon "firm conviction" in this matter and in order to successfully meet criticism of this nature it was decided to ascertain mathematically the degree of accuracy of the tests and thus establish the facts beyond question. The accuracy may be indicated by finding the probable difference between any two measures of the mental age of an individual by the revised Binet-Simon scale. This is called the reliability of the scale and is measured by the probable error. A detailed description of the mathematics involved in the process of finding the probable error of the scale has been given elsewhere and need not be repeated here, but it may not be out of place to give a general idea of the procedure. The whole scale was divided into halves and every prisoner tested was scored by each half as well as by the whole scale. In dividing the scale, the tests numbered 1, 2, and 3 in each age group were considered as constituting the first half (scale "A") and those numbered 4, 5, and 6, as constituting the second half (scale "B"). In the age group comprised of eight tests, the first four were assigned to scale "A" and the last four to scale "B." The original value of each test was doubled in order to make the score by each half comparable with that of the whole scale. The average of the scores by the two halves was therefore equal to the score by the whole scale. 10 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AXD CORRECTIONS. The "A" scores and the "B" scores were then treated as coordinates and the points were plotted on a graph. A graphical method was employed to equate the two scales and determine the probable error of the whole scale. This was found to be one-half of eleven months, or, roughly, about a half year. The statement that the probable error of the scale is six months, means that in 50 per cent of cases mental ages found by it may be assumed to be correct within six months; from w r hich it follows theoretically, that in 90 per cent of cases the score would probably be correct within about fifteen months, and in one case in a hundred a score may be in error to the extent of about twenty-three months or more. These facts speak for themselves in the matter of the accuracy of the scale and are a sufficient answer to the unjustified attacks which have been made on the Binet method. Results of the Tests. A summary of the results of the tests is here presented together with a comparison of data of similar nature gathered from individuals in various classes of society. Only in the light of such comparative studies can the significance of mental test results become clear. Our classification of the 155 unselected subjects is as follows:* Feeble-minded, 27, or 17.4 per cent ; Borderzone, 20, or 12.9 per cent; Dull-normal, 39, or 25.2 per cent; Average-normal. 59, or 38 per cent; Superior, 8, or 5.2 per cent; Very superior, 2, or 1.3 per cent. In this classification we have been extremely conservative. There is no doubt that many phychologists would have classified a majority of our borderzone cases as feeble-minded and many of our dull-normal as borderzone cases. It is now generally recognized that any line which may be drawn between feeble-mindedness and normality is purely arbitrary. Feeble- mindedness is not like a disease, which one either has or does not have. It is an all-around weakness of the mental powers and may exist in any degree from obvious imbecility to an extent of deficiency so slight that the subject merely suffers a minor handicap in the competition of life. In a certain sense, individuals as low as our "dull-normal" group are also subnormals, since they are below the average in mental endowment ; but we do not call them defectives since they are able to This classification is based on the combined results of all the tests given. In the case of those who knew little English reliance had to be placed chiefly on the performance tests. The data have been treated statistically for intercorrelations among' the various tests, but as the results of this treatment are of a technical nature they are reserved for publication in a psychological journal. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 11 manage themselves and their affairs with reasonable prudence, can do semiskilled or sometimes even skilled labor, and may be useful, law- abiding members of society. By feeble-mindedness is usually meant a degree of mental inferiority which makes a normal, independent existence impossible or at least precarious. What degree of intelligence is requisite for this purpose ? For some time it has been customary to take 12-year mentality as the dividing line; that is, the degree of intelligence possessed by the average child of 12 years. Experience is showing, however, that this criterion compels us to classify as feeble-minded no small number of individuals who are fairly competent laborers of the unskilled group and who manage to make a living for their families and to keep out of trouble. The tendency at present is to draw the line at least a year lower, that is, at about the 11-year level. We would point out, however, that there is no simple standard of this kind which can be accepted as an infallible criterion of an individual's fitness to be at large. Ability to "get on in the world," "to manage one's self and one's affairs with ordinary prudence," etc., depends upon many things besides intellectual ability. It depends in part upon emotional traits, health, looks, bearing, muscular strength, inherited wealth, sympathetic friends, economic and industrial condi- tions, the prevailing level of intelligence among those with whom one must compete, etc. For this reason an individual who grades at the 11-year intelligence level, for example, may or may not be feeble-minded in the social sense. If well endowed in other respects, and if his environmental conditions are not too unfavorable, he may get on fairiy well in the world and deserve to pass as normal. On the other hand, if such an individual is emotionally unstable or otherwise handicapped, either mentally or physicially, he may not be able to pull his own weight or to adjust normally to the conditions of social life. In the case of a certain number of subjects of borderline intelligence, it is not and never will be .possible to decide the question of social com- petency on the basis of a mere intelligence test. With individuals below a certain level, however, this is entirely possible. The facts seem to be about as follows : If an individual grades below the 10-year level it appears that a normal social life is rendered so difficult that the term "feeble-minded" practically always applies. We have never yet tested a person below this level who could by any reason- able use of the term be called normal. Such an individual may be equal to certain kinds of unskilled labor, under supervision, but the super- vision and social guidance are always necessary. Lacking it, the individual is nondependable and incompetent. He is also a social menace, for moral responsibility can not rise above the intelligence level. 12 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. On the other hand, the person who grades as high as 12 years is rarely debarred, by reason of his intelligence alone, from living a reasonably normal social life and from succeeding at some kind of useful labor, even though it may be of a humble sort. That such is the case is shown by the fact that few individuals above the 12-year mental level find their way into institutions for the feeble-minded. Accordingly, if a subject grades below 10 years or above 12 the classification is in a majority of cases easy enough. The real difficulty comes with the subjects who fall between these levels. In such cases it may take years to decide the question of an individual's fitness to be at large. Our aim in the present study has been to classify only those as feeble- minded whose intelligence was so low as practically to exclude the possibility of a normal social life. We have classified as dull-normals those whose intelligence was found distinctly inferior but not inferior enough to prevent, in itself, a perfectly normal social life in the ordinary sense of the term "normal." Between these are the border- zone cases, the doubtfuls, who may or may not be competent to get on in a reasonably simple environment. The group we have classified as feeble-minded range from 7 to 11^ years in intelligence ; the borderzone group from 10 years to 12^ years in intelligence. That is, our classification has not been based solely upon Binet "Mental Ages," but has taken into account the performance in the other tests as well as other supplementary evidence from other sources. The foreign born who were handicapped by a limited knowl- edge of English were given the benefit of a good deal of doubt. We believe that if we have erred at all in this respect, it has been in the direction of leniency. Comparison of the Amount of Feeble-mindedness Found Among Prisoners With That in Other Social Groups. Our statement that 17.4 per cent of the prisoners whom we tested are feeble-minded may mean a great deal to the reader or it may mean nothing at all. In order that it may have significance we must have a knowledge of the amount of feeble-mindedness which is to be found among the population at large. It has been estimated that from one-half per cent to one per cent of the general population are feeble-minded. In order to be conservative in our comparison of the amount of feeble-mindedness at the prison with that in the population generally we will take the one per cent rather than the one-half per cent estimate with which to make the com- parison. Using that figure, we see that feeble-mindedness is a little over sixteen times as prevalent among our prisoners as among the general population. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 13 Let us see how this compares with the feeble-mindedness to be found in other groups of society. In a group of 180 unemployed men, vagrants, tested by one of us (Knollin) in a previous investigation, 10 per cent were found to be feeble-minded. This is ten times the amount generally conceded to be existant in the general population. In a group of 156 unskilled employed men tested by a graduate student under the direction of Terman, five individuals, or only 3 per cent, were found to be feeble-minded. Of these, none had a mental age below 10 years, while the feeble-minded among both the prisoners and the unemployed vagrants went as low as 7-| years in mental age. Among a group of 150 delinquents at the Whittier Reform School about 29 per cent were found by Dr. Williams to be feeble-minded. Among a group of 40 Wells Fargo employees tested by a graduate student under the direc- tion of Terman, no feeble-minded individuals were found. Among a group of 40 business men previously tested by one of us (Knollin), no feeble-minded individuals were found, nor any who approached the borderline. None of these groups had had an education above grammar school. Among 150 high school educated adults tested by Terman and Proctor, no feeble-minded were found, nor any who were near the borderline. The above comparison, besides giving a clear idea of the meaning of the percentage of feeble-mindedness found at the prison, emphasizes the fact that those adults whom we would naturally expect to test normal do so when the scale is applied to them; that is, normal individuals test normal by the Stanford Revision of the Binet Scale. Assuming that the aim of the modern penal institution is to do all in its power to reform its inmates and turn them out as nearly normal in behavior as possible, the presence of this feeble-minded group com- plicates and hinders the accomplishment of this aim. Not only from the standpoint of reform but also from the point of view of administra- tion, it is desirable to know the amount of feeble-mindedness in the group to which correctional methods are to be applied. Relation of Feeble-mindedness to Nationality. Of our 155 cases, 38, or 24.5 per cent, were foreign born. However, these furnished 40.4 per cent of the feeble-minded, 45 per cent of the borderzone cases, and 28.2 per cent of the dull-normals, but only 8.7 per cent of the average-normals and superior normals. Since only 24.5 per cent of the 155 were foreign born, it is seen that notwithstanding the leniency of our grading the ratio of feeble-mindedness and border- zone intelligence is about twice as high among the foreign born as among those born in the United States. Something like this has been found to be the case at the Whittier State School, also, and it indicates 14 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. that California has drawn a large proportion of immigrants of an undesirable type. The following table shows what proportion of certain nationalities and races were found to be feeble-minded or of borderzone intelligence : Feeble- minded Horde rzone Cases Per cent Cases Per cent Mexican, Spanish and Portuguese (20 cases) 8 40 4 20 Negroes (10 cases) 2 20 2 20 European, excluding Spanish and Portuguese (57 cases) 13 22.8 9 15.8 American, excluding native-born Spanish and Negroes (60 cases) 4 6.6 5 8.2 That certain races and nationalities are more often found among our convicts than their numbers in the state would warrant, and that a much higher ratio of feeble-mindedness is found among these same races and nationalities than among those of American stock, are facts of serious significance. Relation of Intelligence to Previous Delinquency Record. It was rather expected that repeaters would be more often found among the feeble-minded and borderliners than among those of normal intelligence. However, this expectation was not borne out by the prison records, as is seen from the following table : Previous prison, percent Tall?" 8 per cent Previous reform school, per cent No record previous, per cent Feeble-minded 148 74 74 704 Borderzone 15 o 10 75 Normal and superior 231 213 55 501 From this it may be seen that nearly 30 per cent of the feeble-minded have previous records of some kind ; that 25 per cent of the borderliners have such records; and that almost half of the normals and superiors taken together have such records. It was also expected that a record of venereal disease would be found more often among the lower intelligence group than among the higher, but this expectation was not borne out by the data at hand. Of the feeble-minded, 40.7 per cent admitted venereal disease; of the border- zone group, 65 per cent; and of the normal group, 55.5 per cent. These percentages are based on the records of Dr. Stanley, prison physician. SURVEYS IN MENTAL, DEVIATION. 15 Feeble-minded and Borderzone Cases. Austrian Pole. Age 38 years. Mental age approximately 8 years. Serving five years for manslaughter. No record as to his schooling, but has been in the United States twenty years and can not read or write the simple English that most foreigners master in a few years. He understands English fairly well, but can not talk very well. Teamster and common laborer. Has no previous criminal record and no record of bad heredity as far as could be ascertained. Any kind of mental effort was very fatiguing. Complains of dizziness and shows indications of other phychopathic conditions besides feeble-mindedness. Bad disposition. Is married and has three children. He could tell the day of the week, but did not know what month it was, the day of the month nor even the year. Could not tell in his own language. This adult with a child's mind will be released probably inside of five years, probably to commit other crimes and to produce more of his kind. Mexican. Age 23 years. Mental age about 8 years. Crime, robbery. Stole a watch. Sentence, two years. Attended school three years in Mexico and also a short time in California, but could talk very little English. Occupation, laborer. This is his second term in a California prison. Indian. Born in California. Age 19. Mental age 8 years and 8 months. Father is a half-breed, mother full-blooded Digger Indian. Occupation, laborer. Crime, second-degree burglary stealing wine from a neighbor's cellar. Sentence, two years. Record of gonorrhea. Was 14 years old when he left school, but had not finished the second grade. Is fairly good looking, has a quiet, pleasant manner and would not be taken for feeble-minded. All his reactions in the tests were typically childish. Russian Jew. Age 51 years. Mentality of 8 years and 7 months. Came to the United States when 16 years old. Never attended school anywhere. Can not read or write. Occupation, junk peddler. Crime, burglary stealing brass. Sentence, one year. Was previously on probation for three years. His disease history shows a record of gonorrhea covering a period of one year. A ready talker and has a rather pleasant personality which leads one to overestimate his intelligence. American, with some French and Spanish blood. Age, 19 years. Mental age of 8 years and 7 months. Attended school until 16 years old, but was unable to com- plete the fourth grade. Objected to going to school and played "hookie" most of the time. Occupation, blacksmith's helper. Burglary, one and one-half years. Record of gonorrhea. Heredity shows insanity in one grandmother and both tuberculosis and alcoholism in father. Presents a striking contrast to the last described case, for although of the same mental level his appearance makes him easily recognizable as feeble-minded. Indian. Has no knowledge as to his exact age or of the Indian tribe to which he belongs. Thinks he is about 24 years old. Mental age 8 years and 6 months. Attended school in California until 16 years old without completing the fourth grade. Occupation, laborer. Crime, assault with a deadly weapon. Sentence, one year. Cut a man with a knife in a drunken brawl. Has been in jail before for drunkenness. Record of gonorrhea. Appears somewhat stupid but has a pleasant face with a good smile and would not be taken by the average person to be feeble-minded. Pole, American born. Age 26 years. Mental age 8 years and 4 months. Attended school from the age of 7 to 14 without learning to read or write. Is a teamster. Grand larceny, ten years. Record of gonorrhea. Did not know the name of the month. Mental effort very difficult. Negro. Age 51. Mental age below 7 years and 6 months. Attended school till 14 years old without completing the third grade. Occupation, cook. Burglary, two years. Stole goods from his employer. Can not make change with simple sums under 25 cents. Has a clever way of avoiding a direct answer to a question, thus covering up his lack of intelligence. German. Age 23. Mental age 11 years and 4 months. Eight years in the United States. Attended school in Germany till 14 years old, but could not give the German alphabet. Occupation, ranch hand and laborer. Second-degree burglary, 16 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. three years. Found drunk in a foundry preparing to carry off some tools. Previous jail record. Record of gonorrhea. He is pleasant and fairly good looking and thus would escape being recognized as being feeble-minded. Irish-American. Age 43 years. Mental age 10 years and 6 months. Attended school for several years, but can hardly be said to read. Can not write anything except his name. Occupation, boiler tender. Sentence, two years for "assault to do great bodily harm." This is his third term in a California prison and he says it will not be his last. Record of syphilis. Has two children. His general appear- ance would not suggest defect to the casual observer. Mexican. Born in the United States. Age 21. Mental age 10 years and 4 months. Attended school in California till 18 years old, but did not finish the fifth grade. Occupation, blacksmithing. Serving a ten-year term for a "hold-up." General appearance is normal ; talks fluently and makes a good impression. American born. Age 19. Mental age of 10 years and 11 months. Never suc- ceeded in getting past the fourth grade in school. Occupation, ship rigger. Assault to rob, ten years. Graduate of Preston Reform School. Irish. Age 50. Mental age 9 years and 7 months. Attended school in the United States from age of 10 till 16 years old, but could not finish the fifth grade. Laborer and foundry hand. Fifteen years for second degree murder. Killed a man when drunk. Born in the United States. Age 27. Mental age 10 years and 5 months. Attended school from age of 9 to 14, but could not finish the fifth grade. Ran away from school frequently. Occupation, laundryman. Forgery, one year. Has one child. Father, alcoholic. One brother, tubercular. Negro. Age 48. Mental age 10 years and 4 months. Never attended school. Occupation, cook and laborer. Robbery, eight years. General appearance, very good. Would not be suspected of feeble-mindedness. Mexican. Age 32. Five years in California. Mental age about 9 years and 6 months. Attended school in Mexico for three years. Speaks very little English. Is a rancher. Robbery, one year. General appearance, very stupid. Mexican. Age 21 years. Six years in California. Mental age about 9 years. Attended school in Mexico two years. This is his second visit to a California penitentiary. General appearance is much better than the above case but his intelli- gence is about the same. Mexican. Age 22. Two years in California. Mental age 9 years and 6 months. Attended school in Mexico for two years. Laborer. Burglary, two years. Speaks little English. Failed in the test of drawing a diamond from copy. Italian ; born in the United States. Age 21. Mental age 10 years and 2 months. Attended school in California till he was 15 years old, but never finished the fifth grade. Did not like school and preferred to steal rides on freight trains. It took him three years to do the work of the fourth grade. Occupation, plumber (plumber's helper?). He was a special officer for the State Board of Pharmacy, doing special detective work. Used as a ferret in raiding gambling joints. Grand larceny, ten years. Previous jail record. Is such a fluent talker and good bluffer that no one would suspect him of being feeble-minded. He could not pass the absurdity test. Swede. Age 25. Mental age a little below 10 years and 6 months. In this country ten years. Attended school in Sweden till 13, only reaching the fourth grade. Occupation, waiter. Grand larceny, five years. Spent fifteen months in a Washington reform school. Disease history shows a record of gonorrhea covering a period of three years. His manner is so stupid that the casual observer would hestitate to call him normal, but his mental level is really higher than that of some others who appear brighter. Mexican. Age 22. Has resided in California six years. Mental age about 9 years. Speaks little English. Occupation, laborer. Manslaughter, ten years. General appearance, very stupid. Italian. Age 23 years. Came to the United States when 14 years old, but can speak very little English. Mental age about 11 years. Has never attended school. Laborer. Burglary, one year. Record of gonorrhea. Has a pleasant personality and a winning smile like that of a good-natured boy. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 17 Irish. Age 20. Born in the United States. Mental age 10 years and 3 months. Occupation, teamster. Robbery, seven years. He could do none of the tests above the twelve-year group. Possesses neither good looks nor a pleasant personality. Was very stubborn and had to be coaxed into taking the tests. Reactions childish. American. Age 23. Mental age 9 years and 5 months. Attended school from age 7 to the age of 17. Says he finished grammar school, but this is obviously untrue. Ranch hand. Two years for issuing a fictitious check. Violated probation. Record of gonorrhea. Mother has tuberculosis. Father born in England, mother born in Australia, possibly of Negro descent. Age oG. Mental age about 10 years. Never attended school. Could not read or write. Structural iron worker. Burglary, one year. This is his second time in a California penitentiary. Record of gonorrhea. Has two daughters. Is a very good talker and a good bluffer, but has an unpleasant disposition. American. Age 54. Mental age 11 years and 6 months. Attended school till he was 17 years old, but failed to finish the sixth grade. Farmer. Serving a life sentence for murder. Is a very glib talker, has a pleasing personality and is very accommodating. Mexican. Age 21. Two years in the United States. Mental age 9 years and 4 -tnonths. Attended school from 7 till 10 years of age. Did not finish the third grade. Talks English very well. Is; a laborer serving four years for robbery. Had a sister who died of tuberculosis. Irish. Age 43. Borderzone or lower. Mental age 10 years and 8 months. Attended school till 14 years of age, but reached only the fifth grade. Was a wild lad and played truant half the time. Occupation, teamster. Serving a one-year term for assault with a deadly weapon. This is his second visit to a California penitentiary. Record of gonorrhea. Has two children, grown. Slavonian. Age 30. Born in Austria. Mental age 9 years and 10 months. Attended school from 7 till 12 years of age in Austria and came to this country when 16 years old. Has been in the United States fourteen years, but does not know the language very well. Is a mine laborer. Burglary, eighteen months. Irish-American. Age 25. Mental age 10 years and 6 months. Went to school from G to 14 years of age. Occupation, stevedore. Six years for manslaughter. Record of gonorrhea. Has a clever tongue, a ready Irish wit, and a pleasing and winning personality. Would ordinarily pass for normal intelligence. Irish-American. Age 28. Bordenzone. Mental age 12 years and 7 months. Attended school from age 6 to 11, never getting beyond the third grade. Occupation, upholsterer. Life sentence for first-degree murder. Record of gonorrhea and tuber- culosis. Could hardly read or write and displayed psychopathic traits other than low mentality. American. Born in the United States. Age 22. Mental age 12 years and 4 months. Attended school from age 7 to 16 or later, but never finished the seventh grade. Occupation, laborer. Second-degree burglary, one year. Record of gonor- rhea. Father alcoholic and mother insane. Mexican. Age 25. One year in California. Borderzone. Mental age about 11 years. Never attended school. Occupation, laborer. Robbery, one year. Negro. Age 30. Born in Bahama Islands. Borderzone case. Mental age 11 years and 8 months. Went to school three years. Is a laborer and is serving a two-year term for forgery. Could not come within eight days of telling the day of the month. German-American. Age 33. Borderzone. Mental age 11 years and 11 months. Attended school from 9 to 16 years of age. Occupation, waiter. Grand larceny, ton years. Is a deserter from the army and a second-time visitor to a California penitentiary. Very stubborn. Mexican. Born in the United States. Age 23. Mental age 10 years and 5 months. Attended school from 6 to 13 years of age, not completing the sixth jrnule. Laborer, serving ten years for robbery. Is tubercular. General appearance, rather bright. .Speaks English as well as an American. Did not know the meaning of tlu> words "pity," "charity." nor "envy."' 286214 18 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. Mexican. Age 27. Borderzone. Mental age about 10 years and 6 months. Has had no schooling whatever but reads fairly well. Can not speak much English. Is a laborer, serving two and a half years for burglary. Is married and has two young daughters. Record of tuberculosis. German. Age 21. Came to the United States very young. Borderzone. Mental age 11 years and 3 months. Attended school in New York State till 15 years old, but can scarcely read or write. Occupation, cooper. Serving two years for burglary. Record of gonorrhea. Mexican. Age 23. Three years in California. Mental age about 10 years and 6 months. Laborer, serving one year for attempt to commit robbery. Disease his- tory records both gonorrhea and syphilis. General appearance is above the average of the Mexicans at the prison. Irish-American. Age 27. Borderzone. Mental age 11 years and 5 months. Attended school until he was 18 years old, but could not do the work of the seventh grade. Was inferior in all his studies. Occupation, newsboy. Ten-year sentence for manslaughter. Record of gonorrhea and syphilis. Brother died from alcoholism. American. Age 29. Borderzone. Mental age 11 years and 3 months. Attended school until he was 15 years old, but did not finish the fifth grade. Is a machinist and is serving three years for forgery. Previous jail record in Utah. Record of gonorrhea. Has three children. Alcoholism in maternal grandfather. General appearance gave indication of a much higher intelligence. Other psychopathic traits present in his behavior. Japanese. Age 57. Eight years in the United States. Mental age about 10 years and 6 months. Attended school only one year in Japan. Occupation, vegetable gardener. Serving fourteen years for second-degree murder. Speaks very little English. Record of venereal disease. Has one daughter. Chinese. Age about 30. Mental age 10 years and 6 months or 11 years. Occupa- tion, cook. Serving one year for having opium in his possession. This is his second time in a California penitentiary. Record of gonorrhea. Is a victim of the opium habit. Sister died of tuberculosis. Negro. Age 21. Borderzone. Mental age 12 years. Could read and write only with great difficulty. Occupation, waiter. Serving ten years for manslaughter. Is a graduate of Preston Reform School. Record of syphilis. Heredity discloses alcoholism in father. American. Age 50. Borderzone. Mental age 11 years and 3 months. Always at the foot of his class in school. He is a barber and carpenter. Serving one year for bigamy. Has four children. His general appearance would lead the casual observer to the conclusion that he was an ordinarily intelligent man, with a pleasant personality. Chinese. Age 62. Has been in this country all his life. Borderzone. Mental age between 11 and 12 years. Occupation, laundryman. Serving thirty years for rape. Record of both gonorrhea and syphilis. SUMMARY. 1. One hundred and fifty-five successive entrants at the San Quentin prison were tested by the Stanford Revision of the Binet-Simon Intelli- gence Scale and by three other series of standardized tests. 2. All degrees of intelligence were found between 7 year mentality and that of very superior adults. Of the total number, 17.9 per cent were classified as feeble-minded, and 12.8 per cent as borderzone cases. 3. The basis of classification was conservative. Of those classified as feeble-minded none had a mental level above 11| years and most were under 10 years. A majority of those classified as borderzone cases are SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 19 so inferior in intelligence as to make a normal social life extremely problematical. 4. Comparison of these results with tests of other social groups indicates that the ratio of feeble-mindedness is more than 16 times as high among San Quentin convicts as in the population at large. 5. It appears that individuals of extreme mental inferiority are directly responsible for at least one-fourth, and possibly for one-third of the total amount of delinquency and crime. 6. The ratio of feeble-mindedness was far higher among Mexicans, Negroes, and recent immigrants from Europe than among those of native American stock. The former three groups make up about three- fifths of those tested, but they account for nearly nine-tenths of the feeble-minded and borderzone cases. 7. As far as the prison records go, there is a somewhat smaller proportion of repeaters among our feeble-minded and borderzone cases than among those of higher intelligence. The ratio of venereal disease was also relatively independent of intelligence. 8. A number of our feeble-minded cases have already inflicted offspring upon the state, and most of them will soon have to be turned loose to reproduce their kind without restraint. 9. All the findings of this study emphasize the necessity of bringing a larger proportion of our defectives under social surveillance and restraint. The present huge cost of feeble-mindedness to the state can only be reduced by preventing, as far as it is possible to do so, the reproduction of degenerates. In conclusion \ie wish to express our very great indebtedness to Warden Johnston and to Dr. Stanley for their assistance in carrying out this study. In countless ways their generous cooperation and never-failing courtesies smoothed the way and helped to make our task a pleasant one. BACKWARD AND FEEBLE-MINDED CHILDREN IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF "X" COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. By LEWIS M. TERMAN, VIRGIL DICKSON and LOWRT HOWARD.* The request for a survey of the type herein described came to us near the end of October, 1916, with the stipulation that it must be completed as early as possible in 1917. A small sum of money was set aside by the State Board of Education for the employment of assistants and the work was begun without delay. *This study was made at the request of the California State Board of Education. It was planned by Terman and carried out under his direction. The mental tests were made by Dickson and Howard, with a small amount of assistance by other graduate students at Stanford. The results were worked up by Terman, Dickson and Howard, and this report was written by Terman, who assumes responsibility for the accuracy of the facts and data here set forth. 20 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. The time requirements necessitated the choice of a county not too far distant from Stanford University and not too populous. "X" County was selected as fulfilling these requirements.* Its area is between 400 and 1,000 square miles, its population between 25,000 and 50,000, and its school enrollment between 4,000 and 8,000. Between 10 and 20 per cent of the pupils enrolled in the county attend rural schools having less than three teachers. The remaining pupils are divided not very unequally among about a half dozen small cities. To make a complete survey of mental deficiency in all the schools of "X" County would be a much greater task than it was possible to undertake at this time, one that would require the work of several individuals for at least a year. It would have been well worth while to give an intelligence examination to every school pupil, had this been possible, and to have employed field workers to investigate facts of heredity and social conditions prevalent among the least desirable families. Notwithstanding the great amount of expense and labor which would be involved in such an investigation, the results would amply repay the cost to any county, or, for that matter, any state. Such a survey would, for the first time, give a county an adequate idea regarding its most precious assets ; namely, the raw material for its future citizenship. However, it w r as necessary to limit the scope of this survey to much more modest proportions. Since not all the children could be tested, the question arose how to plan the study so that it would be reasonably thorough within a limited area and at the same time furnish a good index of the number of backward and feeble-minded children in the parts of the county not so thoroughly covered. Fortunately, it is not necessary to test all of the school children in a county in order to find the approximate number of feeble-minded. In the first place, children who are doing entirely satisfactory work in the grade where they belong by age are above any trace of suspicion of feeble-mindedness. In the second place, it is not necessary to make intelligence tests in every school. Samplings can be made of the schools, and the propor- tion of deficiency found in those selected can be taken as representa- tive for the entire county, provided such sampling is checked up in ways to be hereinafter described. The plan finally adopted was to test the suspected cases in all the rural schools of the county and in "Y" city, and at the same time to obtain data from all of the other cities of the county of such a kind as would indicate whet her the proportion of mental deficiency in those Throughout this report the county, cities, schools and teachers will be referred to by a system of symbols, the key to which is on file in the laboratory of the Bucket Foundation, Stanford University. The description of the county here given is pur- posely made somewhat indefinite in order to prevent identification. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 21 cities differs greatly from the per cent found in the schools where mental tests were given. The first step was to obtain from the teachers such information as would make it possible to locate suspected cases. A blank was sent to each teacher, and with it a letter from the County Superintendent of Schools urging the teacher to supply the information asked for. Each teacher was requested to furnish the following information regarding each pupil enrolled: name, age, grade, years attended school previous to the present year, quality of the school work graded on a scale of five, birthplace of the father, birthplace of the mother, and information regarding possible causes of retardation where retardation was present. Each teacher received, with the information blanks, a copy of the following letters : . INSTRUCTIONS TO THE TEACHER. (Please read carefully before filling blanks.) 1. Please write as legibly as possible. 2. In giving the grade in which child is enrolled please indicate whether it is the first half or second half of grade ( I 1 1 I i 1 I i i r p i i F I i Number of cases 3 3 14 42 29 61 22 *It should be stated that adults testing at 70 have a mental age of approximately 11 years, since in calculating the Intelligence Quotient of adults, years of age above 16 are disregarded. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 27 In making this classification, we have placed no child below the borderzone group whom we did not consider feeble-minded beyond all dispute. Correspondingly we have placed only those in the "dull- normal ' ' group who were fairly above suspicion of being feeble-minded. The doubtfuls are placed in the borderzone group. While many of these will doubtless in time demonstrate their ability to lead a normal life, others in this group will just as certainly fail to do so. Notwithstanding the conservatism with which the classification has been made, the percent of mental deficiency is astonishingly high, so high, in fact, that we almost despair of convincing others of the accu- racy of our results. In the rural schools 4.9 per cent of the children enrolled are feeble-minded, and in the city of "Y" 3.5 per cent. The percent for the two combined is 4.24, disregarding the 1.98 per cent -who belong to the borderzone group. This takes no account of the feeble-minded children of school age who are kept at home, or of those who have been placed in the Sonoma State Home. Nor were epileptics included in this survey. Perhaps it would be asking too much to expect the average reader to accept the above figures without some skepticism. They are so unus- ually high that the writers themselves would have been slow to believe them if they had been presented by any one else. They have found nothing like them elsewhere. Certainly no one would be justified in concluding that the proportion of mental deficiency throughout the state is as high as has been found for "X" County. Among the factors responsible for the large amount of feeble-minded- ness in "X" county are the following: (1) The county possesses an exceptionally high proportion of foreign- born in its population. In the rural schools and the city of "Y" 44 per cent of the children had parents who were both of foreign birth. Many of these were of Portuguese parents who had come from the Azores. It is especially significant in this connection that for an extended period the Azores were used by Portugal for the deportation of criminals and undesirables, many of whom were probably feeble- minded. (2) "X" County contains a large proportion of low-grade laborers who are employed on the country estates of wealthy people. (3) It will also be evident, from facts to be set forth later that the county has been unfortunate in claiming a rather large number of families in which feeble-mindedness is plainly hereditary. A single family, for example, yielded 22 per cent of the feeble-mindedness found in the rural schools. 28 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. Comparison With Other Investigations. The most extensive investigation of feeble-mindedness in the public schools of California has been made by Mrs. Vinnie C. Hicks at Oakland. As a result of this study, which has extended over a period of six years, Mrs. Hicks classifies 3 per cent of the school children as definitely feeble-minded. In 1912 one of the writers in cooperation with Dr. E. B. Hoag, made a parti.il survey of mental deficiency in the city schools of San Luis Obispo, and found 2 per cent of the children mentally defective. Stanford tests of 1,000 unselected children in the public schools of five California cities showed 1 per cent falling below 70 and 2^ per cent below 75. Certainly more than 1 per cent of these 1,000 unselected children were feeble-minded. After a number of investigations in Eastern cities, including New York City, Dr. H. II. Goddard estimates that about 2 per cent of the school children in any average city will be found feeble-minded. Dr. Wilhelmine Key in an extensive study of a county in northeastern Pennsylvania finds 3.2 per cent of the population mentally defective. An important investigation has recently been carried out by the United States Public Health Service in the public schools of Porter County, Indiana. In this study all the 2,185 children enrolled in the rural schools of that county were given a Binet-Simon test and a medi- cal examination. Approximately 1 per cent were classified as definitely feeble-minded, and another large group as doubtful. A similar investigation by the United States Public Health Service has been made in New Castle County, Delaware. Abbreviated mental tests were given to all the 3,793 children enrolled, and on the basis of these the seriously retarded children were sifted out for a complete Binet-Simon test. As a result of the investigation 1.8 per cent were classified as probably being of institutional grade. In addition to these, .21 per cent were epileptic and several others of psychopathic tenden- cies. We see therefore that the investigations have usually shown from 1 to 3 per cent of the school children to be feeble-minded. The ratio in ' ' X " County, 4 per cent, indicates an exceptional condition.* Since the above was written Dr. C. Macfle Campbell, Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University, has published (in Mental Hvgicne, Vol. I, No. 1) the results of a survey of mental deficiency in a district of Baltimore. Of 1,281 school children in this district, Dr. Campbell classified 3 per cent as having "pronounced mental defect." An additional 6 per cent were found to be so markedly inferior that their future appeared altogether problematical. On the whole, Dr. Campbell's findings agree closely with those for "X" County. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 29 Supplementary Tests in Three Kindergartens. We are able to supplement the investigation made especially for the State Board of Education by reporting tests of kindergarten children in the same county by Miss Irene Cuneo.* These tests were made as a separate investigation and had for their purpose to explore the individ- ual differences in mentality among children of kindergarten age. Fifty-one children Avere tested, including all those enrolled in three of the six kindergartens of "X" County. Of the 51 children examined, 20 were tested twice; first, in the spring of 1916 and again in November and December of the same year. The discovery of feeble-mindedness is naturally somewhat more difficult in the case of children of kindergarten age than with older children. Nevertheless, of the 51 kindergarten children, 2 were found to be so obviously feeble-minded that there could be no possible question about the diagnosis. One other doubtful case was found. Leaving the latter out of account, however, it is seen that approximately 4 per cent of the children enrolled in these kindergartens were feeble-minded, a figure which closely approximates that found for the rural schools and "Y" City. One of the three cases is a Portuguese child of six years, with barely three-year intelligence. The teacher pronounces this child hopelessly deficient and the test itself would indicate that in all probability the child will never go above the mental age of five years. Number of Feeble-minded Children in the Remaining Schools of "X" County. The question arises whether the ratio of feeble-mindedness in the remaining schools of "X" County is as high as in the schools where testing was done. Our data give us a line on this from three different angles, and the combined evidence of all makes it possible to answer the question with a reasonable degree of accuracy. (1) We can compare the percentage of pupils rated low by the teachers in the remaining schools of the county with the percentage so rated in the schools where tests were made. It will be remembered that each pupil was rated by the teacher on a scale of five, both for quality of school work and for intelligence. In this rating, 5 was taken to mean "very inferior"; 4, "inferior"; 3, "average"; 2, "superior"; and 1, "very superior." Children who were rated 5-5, that is "very inferior" both in quality of school work Miss Cuneo is a graduate student in Education at Stanford University, and a Graduate of the kindergarten department of the State Normal bcnool or ban Jose She had previously testfd a large number of kindergarten children for the purpose of assisting in securing data for revising the Binet scale. She is therefore exceptionally well acquainted with the method of giving the tests and is a so experienced in dealing with children of kindergarten age. The tests which she made in X County kinder- gartens were made under almost ideal conditions and were therefore exceptionally complete and reliable. 30 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. and in intelligence, naturally came into the group of suspects. More than one fifth of the children so rated in the rural schools and "Y" City were feeble-minded.* In the rural schools and "Y" City 9.5 per cent of the children enrolled were rated by the teachers 5-5, 5-4, 4-5, or 4-4, and in the remaining cities of the county the ratio was almost exactly the same, namely, 10 per cent. This method of reckoning would indicate a ratio of mental deficiency of about 4.46 per cent for the untested areas (9.5:10::4.24%:4.46%). (2) In the second place, we can compare the rest of the county with "Y" City and the rural schools as regards the number of over-age children. The following table shows the per cent retarded one, two, three, and four years or more : TABLE 3. Showing Amount of Retardation in Tested and Untested Ann*. 33: Retarded 2 years, percent Retarded 3 years, percent Retarded 4 years, per cent "Y" city and rural schools 178 82 38 27 Untested areas reporting 175 78 26 1 1 The above table shows that the untested areas make the better show- ing. The proportion retarded three years or more is only 3.7 per cent in the untested areas (reporting) as compared with 6.5 per cent in the tested areas. For retardation of two years or more, the corresponding figures are 11.5 per cent and 14.7 per cent, respectively. It is known, however, that the two cities not reporting fully enough to be included in the above table have a relatively large amount of retardation, and this would have tended to even up the figures. By this method of reckoning it would appear that the proportion of feeble-mindedness in the untested areas is at all events probably not less than two-thirds as high as for the tested areas ; that is, two-thirds of 4.24, or 2.82 per cent. (3) We have shown further on that the ratio of feeble-mindedness among school children bears a close relation to the occupational status of their parents, the lowest occupational group (class 5) furnishing approximately twice its share of feeble-minded. Therefore, by com- paring the school children of the tested and untested portions of the county as regards the occupational status of their parents we derive Frequently also a child who was not rated low by the teacher fell into the class of suspects because enrolled in a grade two or more years below that where he belonged by age. For example, a child of 12 or 13 years who was enrolled in the second or third grade, and whose work in that grade was about average for the class, was sometimes rated by the teacher as "average" in intelligence. In such cases, however, the test always showed such a child to be considerably retarded mentally and not infrequently feeble-minded. It is because teachers do not understand the significance of a child's over-ageness that they so often fail to recognize feeble- minded children as such. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. another valuable index of the amount of mental deficiency in cities where no testing was done. This comparison is made in the following table : TABLE 4. Social Status of Children in Tested and Untested Areas. (Class 1 is Highest; Class 5, Lowest.) OccupaO nal status of the father PerU 2 Percent Percent 4 Per cent 5. Percent Rural schools and "T" city 621 1675 2124 389 169 Cities not tested 323 186 377 27 134 The figures in the above table are also seen to be slightly in favor of the cities which were not tested. In the latter the proportion of the entire school enrollment below average social status (that is, below 3) is 40.4 per cent, while in the tested areas the proportion is 55.8 per cent. This is partly but not entirely counterbalanced by the larger per cent found in class 1 in the tested as compared with the untested areas. On the whole, the evidence from the occupational status of the children indicates a ratio of feeble-mindedness in the untested areas about four-fifths as high as in the tested areas. Four-fifths of 4.24 per cent is approximately 3.4 per cent. Summarizing, we find the three lines of evidence suggesting, the following ratios of mental deficiency for the untested areas: Teachers' ratings 4.46 per cent Over-ageness 2.82 per cent Social status 3.4 per cent Taking the average of the three per cents given above we have approximately 3 per cent, which we believe may be taken as indi- cating very closely the ratio of feeble-mindedness in the cities where testing was not done. A fourth line of evidence may be mentioned : namely, the fact that the proportion of children of foreign parentage was almost as high in the untested as in the tested areas, and our data show that foreign- born parents have furnished a disproportionate number of defectives. On the whole we believe that an estimate of approximately 3^ per cent for the untested schools would be conservative. Who Are the Feeble-minded? Comparison of Sexes. Of the 62 feeble-minded children found in "Y" city and- the rural schools, 34, or 55 per cent, were boys; 28, or 45 per cent, were girls. In the kindergartens, one of the two cases was a boy and the other a girl. Leaving the kindergartens out of account, there were 4 boys and 2 girls grading below middle moron, 4 boys and 32 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. 10 girls grading at middle moron, and 26 boys to 16 girls grading at high moron. TAMI.K .'. si,<,irin1<- Min C * 85 1 32 iHi-I lil HI 6 "S .6 .6 .6 6 .6 .6 6 6 6 6 0666666666606000000 42 STATE BOARD OP CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. The Burden of Feeble-mindedness. We have elsewhere* estimated the annual cost of feeble-mindedness in the state of California at $5,000.000. This is probably a minimum figure. On this basis "X" County's share of the burden would be over $60,000 annually. It is of course impossible to itemize the cost to the last detail, but the following facts will indicate in some degree the extent of the problem. During the last year "X" County devoted $42,955 to poor relief, including poor farm, a large part of this sum going to the support of individuals whose dependency is due to mental deficiency. The immediate families of children tested in this survey are receiving a total of $1,440 per year as poor relief. Again. "X" County handles each year, at considerable expense, a large number of cases in its juvenile court, probably 30 per cent of whom are feeble-minded. At least ttventy-four of the children tested in this survey Jiad either Jiad juvenile court experience or had come in contact with the probation officer, ivhile a few had already gradu- ated from the reform school. Others of our cases, now too young to make trouble, are certain to follow the same road within a few years. If we could accurately itemize such costs as relief for indigent and dependent defectives, expenditures for court proceedings and proba- tion work for feeble-minded delinquents, depredations committed by defective delinquents, expense to the state of feeble-minded indi- viduals in the prisons, reform schools, and Sonoma State Home for the feeble-minded, and finally the inoiiej'- which is worse than wasted in the futile attempt to educate feeble-minded children in the public schools of the county (last item at least $40 by 200, or $8,000, annually), we should probably have a total considerably in excess of the above-mentioned, estimate of $60,000 as the total cost of feeble- mindedness to the people of "X" County. Finally, we have not included in these estimates the losses accruing from vocational unfitness, alcoholism, venereal disease, and prostitu- tion among the defective population. It would not be surprising if these losses, although less tangible and altogether impossible to esti- mate accurately, were as great as all the other losses combined. Nor have we included the cost of keeping a certain number of defectives in private homes, or the cost of the county's fifteen to thirty-five epileptics and one hundred or more insane. *See Report of California Legislative Committ3 on the Care of the Feeble-minded. Superintendent Fred Nelles, Chairman. Chapter by Lewis M. Terman. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 43 What Should Be Done? This question answers itself if four facts are borne in mind : (1) That feeble-mindedness is incurable; (2) That it is a condition which can be readily diagnosed by suit- able tests in children of school age; (3) That in the large majority of cases it is caused by heredity; (4) That the permanent segregation of all feeble-minded individuals throughout the period of reproduction would quickly extinguish the defective strains which now encumber our prisons, reform schools, jails, courts, and public schools. The first step in this direction should be the establishment of an additional state home for the feeble-minded, preferably one planned especially for defectives of moron grade. Such an institution would -save to the state every year many times the cost of its support.* As regards the public schools of "X" County, the immediate problem is extremely difficult as well as urgent. There is at present no possibility of turning over to the care of the state the two hundred or more feeble-minded children whom they enroll. If there were institutions to receive them, this would be the ideal solution. The public school could then turn its attention to the backward and borderzone cases, who, by appropriate training along vocational and practical lines, can usually be made self-supporting and prevented from becoming a menace to society. In the schools of "X" County there are at least two hundred other children who are not feeble-minded, but who are of such inferior mentality that they can not profit anything like normally from the ordinary methods of instruction. These repeaters clog the educational machinery; they take an undue proportion of the teacher's time; they pull down the standard of achievement for the other children; and after successive failures they become discouraged and leave school to become industrial failures or to drift into pauperism, alcoholism, or crime. For such children approximately twelve special classes are needed in "X" County, classes which would throw the emphasis upon vocational and moral training rather than upon instruction in the usual abstractions of the last grammar grades. The city of "Y" needs from two to three such classes and the rural schools at least two. Until permanent custodial care is available for the feeble-minded children of the county, these should be segregated in additional special classes. This would double the above estimate of the number of special classes needed. The plan of establishing special classes is simple enough in the cities but impossible for the rural schools under the present district Since the above was written an additional institution has been provided for by the state legislature It will he located in southern California, near Los Angeles. The Initial appropriation was $250,000. 44 STATE BOARD OF CIIARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. school system. If the county system were adopted and rural schools were consolidated, as has been done in many Eastern states, the back- ward children now attending rural schools could be provided for in special classes. Consolidation of most of the rural schools of "X" County would be possible and advantageous in every way. Until such consolidation has been effected, the rural schools will doubtless con- tinue their present ineffective work with backward children. SUMMARY. 1. Data were collected from the grade teachers in all but a few of the public schools of "X" County, California. The data included for each child enrolled the following items: Name, age, grade, years attended school, quality of school work (rated on a scale of 5). intelli- gence (rated on a scale of 5), birthplace of each parent, cause of retardation where retardation was present. 2. On the basis of these returns nearly all the children in the rural schools and in "Y" City who were making exceptionally unsatis- factory school progress were given a mental test, including 174, or 15 per cent of those enrolled. 3. Of the 174 subjects tested, 62 were certainly feeble-minded and 29 others were classed as borderzone cases. 4. The feeble-minded amounted to 4.24 per cent of the total enroll- ment of these schools ; the borderzone cases to 1.98 per cent. 5. The probable number of feeble-minded in the remaining cities of the county was estimated by comparing the age-grade distribution and the teachers' ratings of the children in those cities with the age-grade distribution and the ratings in "Y" City and in the rural schools. On this basis of reckoning it appears that about 3 per cent of the school children in those cities also are feeble-minded. 6. In a separate investigation 51 kindergarten children Avere tested, including all who were enrolled in three of the six kindergartens of "X" County. Two of these, or approximately 4 per cent, were feeble-minded. 7. One explanation of these exceptionally high figures is the fact that in the case of nearly half of the children both the parents were foreign born, among whom the percentage of feeble-mi ndedness was extraordinarily high. This was particularly true of the Spanish and the Portuguese. The ratio of feeble-mindedness among children of American parentage was only 1.9 per cent, a figure which agrees closely with the results of most other investigations. 8. Eighteen families were found who were represented by two or more feeble-minded children. These 18 families furnished 51.6 per cent of the 91 feeble-minded and borderzone cases. Two related SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 45 branches of one family (children cousins) furnished more than one- fifth of the feeble-minded children in the rural schools. 9. Occupational ratings of the fathers on a scale of 5, following the method of Professor Taussig, showed that a large majority of the feeble-minded children belong to the lower social classes, 82 per cent having fathers below the grade of ordinary skilled laborers. 10. Of the 62 classified as feeble-minded, 44, or 55 per cent, were boys ; 38, or 45 per cent, girls. 11. Notwithstanding the fact that the feeble-minded children were for the most part from two to five years over-age for their grade, nearly all of them were located in a grade above that corresponding to their mental age. 12. Teachers often fail to recognize feeble-minded children, and this 'is traceable chiefly to the failure to understand the significance of over- ageness. If a 12-year-old child with a mental age of 8 years (feeble- minded) is doing fair work in the second grade, the teacher may rate the child as only slightly inferior in intelligence. 13. The reasons assigned by the teachers as the causes of the children 's failure to make normal school progress were in a majority of cases irrelevant. 14. One rural school with 41 children has 13 who are feeble-minded. This is approximately a third of all the feeble-minded pupils in all the rural schools of "X" County. Another room in the city of "Y" has 8. Feeble-minded children are an intolerable burden to many teachers of "X" County and are monopolizing much attention which should go to normal children. The hopelessly feeble-minded should be removed from the public schools and placed under permanent custodial care. For the less backward cases special classes should be provided. 15. That most of these feeble-minded may be considered potential delinquents is indicated by the fact that many of them have already had juvenile court experience and that others are disciplinary cases in the schools. 16. It is estimated that the annual cost to "X" County of its feeble- minded is not less than $60,000. Much goes to monthly relief payments to feeble-minded families, which are thus enabled to reproduce their kind. Money thus spent is in effect a subsidy for the breeding of feeble- mindedness. 46 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. THE INTELLIGENCE OF ORPHAN CHILDREN AND UNWED MOTHERS IN CALIFORNIA CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS. A SURVEY BY THE RESEARCH STAFF OF WHITTIER STATE SCHOOL. I. Introductory. Nature and Purpose of Survey. The data here presented were obtained at the request of the California State Board of Charities and Corrections, with a view to ascertaining the conditions among certain dependent classes with reference to mental development. The report of the board for the year ending June 10, 1916, indicated that there were at that time 5,324 children in private institutions under state supervision. In addition to these, many young unmarried mothers have been cared for in private maternity homes, which are also under the supervision of the board. Just what proportion of these children and mothers are likely to develop into useful law-abiding citizens, how many are likely to continue to be state charges, and what social conditions are contributing most to the apparently increasing stream of public dependents, are among the problems w r hich have thus far been unsolved. It is the purpose of this report to present data concerning the mental development of an unselected group in California of these dependent persons. It is believed that much of what has been learned will apply in a general way to the population of similar institutions throughout the state, and that the gathering of such data will aid materially in understanding the social problems with which dependency is associated. The intelligence tests were given by the director of research of Whittier State School, who was assisted by other members of the research staff in gathering and compiling the supplementary data. Mr. Karl M. Cowdery, the field-worker for the department, gathered most of the information with reference to family history. Superin- tendent Fred C. Nelles of Whittier State School has cooperated in arranging for the extension of the research work to other institutions. Cooperation of Institutions. Throughout the study the research staff has met with the hearty and intelligent cooperation of institution offi- cials, to many of whom the use of intelligence tests and the systematic inquiry into the conditions related to dependency have opened a new and important line of interest. Several institution heads have expressed the hope that the kind of assistance rendered by the present survey may continue to be available. This spirit of cooperation in the study of SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 47 child welfare problems is highly valued by those who are engaged in researches of this kind. Modern institution work demands all the guidance that can be obtained through systematic analysis and classifi- cation. The behavior, social development, school progress and future success of children are very largely dependent upon intellectual, moral and physical factors. Scope of the Survey. The work has covered five institutions, four of which (A, B, C, D) are homes for dependent children. The fifth insti- tution (E) is a maternity home for unwed mothers. For purposes of convenience these letters will be used in referring to the institutions studied. In all, 162 cases were studied, which are believed to be fairly representative of these two dependent classes, so far as concerns California institutions. An individual clinical examination was held for each case, and the test results later analyzed and compared in the light of supplementary field data. The examinations were recorded verbatim by an assistant, from thirty minutes to an hour being required for each. The field- work consisted in personal interviews and a careful searching of records. With a few exceptions the record of each individual case included the following : 1. Intelligence examination. 2. Record of physical and medical history. 3. Data on heredity, including family chart. 4. Data on early environmental conditions. 5. Data on school progress. 6. Data on conduct in and out of institution. The data will be discussed under appropriate headings. II. The Intelligence Tests. What tests were used ? The Binet-Simon Scale for Measuring Intelli- gence was used in all cases. The nature and reliability of this method hardly needs introduction to those who are likely to read this report. Tests of thousands of children in many countries have shown the superiority of this over all other methods for determining the general level of intelligence. The Binet-Simon Scale is particularly adaptable to a survey of this kind for several reasons: (a) the purpose of its use is to measure the general level of intelligence; (&) tests are not confined to one or two mental faculties; (c) the grading of the tests permits the comparison of the subject with unselected persons of the same age; (d) satisfactory showing in the tests does not depend too largely upon school instruction, and thence they may be used with persons whose schooling has been neglected or interrupted; (e) the tests are interest- ing; children seldom fail to cooperate to the fullest extent when the 48 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. proper experimental conditions are afforded, and the tests correctly given; (/) the tests allow for the expression of intelligence from many different angles, thus giving useful insight into the subject's probable reactions when confronted with a new situation; (#) the scale includes the tests for the higher mental faculties (reasoning, judgment, compre- hension, etc.) which are so important in the struggle for success in life. The Stanford (1916) Revision of the Scale, which was used in this study, is the latest and most accurately standardized form in which the tests have appeared. Dr. Lewis M. Terman, the author of this revision, has done a great deal of careful work in extending and supplementing the tests and refining the method of procedure. His extension of the scale to the adult levels has made possible the com- parison of the unwed mothers with ordinary unselected adults. The "years and months" method of expressing the intelligence level is another feature which adds to the value and accuracy of the test results. In view of the results of other recent comparative studies, we may safely expect the test results in this survey to be as reliable as the present status of intelligence testing will permit. FIG. 1. Distribution of ages and mental ages of 150 orphan children. Continuous line represents chronological age; dotted line, mental age. The Mental Ages. The results of 150 tests of orphan children, arranged by half-year mental ages, are shown in Fig. 1. The actual (chronological) ages of these children, represented by the continuous line, range from 4 to 17| years. The mental ages (dotted line) range from 2 to 17 years. The median chronological age is 10 years; the median mental age is 9 years. This represents a group retardation of 1 years from what might be expected of an equal number of children of the same ages selected at random from the public schools. This does not mean, of course, that all of the children tested below age. More than one-half tested up to their own ages or above. The pres- ence of a somewhat larger proportion of feeble-minded and borderline cases than can be found in the general population brings the average slightly below that for unselected school children. Tests of twelve unwed mothers, being the total enrollment in Institu- tion E, and a group representative of the young women usually admitted, resulted in finding mental ages much below the chronological ages. The data for these cases are shown in Table III. Ranging in SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 49 actual age from 12 to 21 years, the mental ages of these unwed mothers run as low as 7-J years. Here the average is much lower than would be expected of an equal number of young women selected at random from the population from which these mothers came. Here again the presence of feeble-minded girls brings the average level of intelligence down. The median mental age is but 12 years, although all but two of the women are chronologically and physicially adults. The mental age is a highly significant factor in mental development. Careful observations of children and young adults have shown that within certain limits we may expect most individuals to react socially, industrially and morally in very close accord with their mental ages. Our case No. 1 among the unwed mothers, for example, although actually 17 years of age, has always behaved like a child. Her intel- ' lectual activity is more like that of a child between 7 and 8 years than like that of most young women of 17. She has never been able to advance very far in school, and for several years has been in the ungraded room. Her mental age is a practical and reliable index of her ability to meet the ordinary problems of life. It is fully as unreasonable to expect one of her intelligence to meet them with ordinary success as to expect such a performance from a child of 8 years. Yet up to the time of the survey, few persons had suspected that this young woman was feeble-minded. It was generally conceded that she was "very dull," but just how dull, how far she is likely to develop, and whether or not she might reasonably be placed upon her own responsibility are matters which had been given but little atten- tion. Xow that this information is available, the decision is not difficult to render. Many similar cases testify to the value of mental age as an indicator of the probable degree of social success. The Intelligence Quotients. The mental age of a subject is of significance only when considered in its ratio to the subject's chrono- logical age. To say that a child tests 7 years by the Binet-Simon scale means nothing unless we know how old the child is, and hence what mental age to expect. If he were 5 years of age, for example, the mental age of 7 would indicate marked superiority over other children. If he were 10 years of age, the mental age of 7 would indicate the serious retardation of 30 per cent. Thus it is necessary to consider these ages in the light of their percentage ratio. This ratio between the chronological and mental age is known as the Intelligence Quotient (usually designated by the abbreviation I. Q.). Children and adults who are of average-normal intelligence almost without exception test within a few points of 100 per cent. Extensive experi- mentation has shown that most persons who fall below 75 per cent (that is, who have an I. Q. of .75 or below) are so intellectually 50 STATE HOARD OK CIIARITIKS AND CORRECTIONS. inferior to the general population as to warrant their removal to an institution or colony for the feeble-minded, where the burden of com- peting with others will not be thrown upon them. On the other hand, children and adults who test much above the average I. Q. of 1.00 (say 1.10 or higher) and who are not handicapped by emotional or temperamental weaknesses, may usually be depended upon to take their places with better than average success. The I. Q. is a highly reliable index of social success, provided it is properly calculated and correctly interpreted. 1Q... ..45-49 30-5* 55-59 60-6465-^9 7O-74 75-79 flOe45-<59 90-9495-99 IOO-fHOS-09 /0-J4. 15- 19 20-24 FIG. 2. Distribution of intelligence quotients, 150 orphan children. Calculated from the mental and chronological ages shown in Fig. 1. The distribution of I. Q.'s for the 150 orphan children is shown in Fig. 2. These range from .45 to 1.22, the median I. Q. being .94. This is but 6 per cent below the median found by Dr. Terman in classifying 1,000 unselected children in the public schools of California. It is significant that the median falls within the average-normal group. There are relatively fewer superior children and relatively more feeble-minded than Dr. Terman found in the public schools, as will be shown in the discussion of the social-intelligence groups. TABLE I. Distribution of I. Q.'s by Institution*. Orphan* a ml I ////< 5 5 19 90-94 11 4 5 5 1 26 95-99 13 5 3 ) 30 100-104 g 1 2 2 1 14 105-109 . . 9 6 1 16 110-114 5 4 1 10 115-119 2 3 1 1 120-124 1 1 Totals 66 37 95 22 ]> IfiO STKYKYS IX .MKXTAI. 1)1 Table I shows the distribution of intelligence quotients, fimmgrd in groups of five, for each of the institutions studied. Thus divided, the number for each institution becomes too small for general conclusions. but inasmuch as the children tested are entirely representative in each case, any I. Q. differences are significant. It will be seen that Institution B falls below Institution A. and that E is lowest of all. Institutions A and C have very few children whose I. Q. 's fall within the limits of definite feeble-mindedness. In all the institutions there are cases who test above the average median I. Q. of 1.00. The lowest I. Q. (.45) was found in Institution B. The great majority of rases in all of the children's institutions fall within the average limits of .90 to 1.10. The average adult level of 16 years is used as a basis for calculating intelligence quotients of adults. This standard may be taken as sufficiently reliable for the purposes of this study. The Social-Intelligence Groups. For convenience of discussion, the cases have been divided into five general groups. These may be designated social-intelligence groups, for they represent intelligence as expressed in the social sense, i. c., the extent to which the subject is mentally capable of "managing himself and his affairs with ordinary prudence." Persons incapable of doing so, and who can not compete in the world with persons on reasonably equal terms, fall into the feeble-minded group. We may ordinarily expect to classify persons as feeble-minded whether or not the test results show them to fall withing the usual I. Q. limits of that group. Few feeble-minded persons, however, test above .75. Most of them test below .70. The average-normal group, which comprises the great bulk of the popula- tion, includes persons who are socially normal, so far as the expression of intelligence is concerned. Most individuals of average-normal intelligence and social ability fall within the I. Q. limits of .92 and 1.10. The borderline and dull-normal groups include those who are between social normality and social feebleness. The superior group includes persons of unusually high intelligence, most of whom have I. Q.'s of 1.10 or above. TABLE II. Distribution of Social-Intelligence Groups ly Institutions. Feeble- minded Border- zone Dull- normal Average- Superior Total A 3 4 12 39 8 66 B 3 7 4 16 71 37 C 1 4 6 12 2 D . 2 2 10 7 1 22 E 5 2 1 3 1 12 Total 14 19 33 77 19 1 162 I 52 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. The distribution of cases by these social-intelligence groups for different institutions is shown in Table II. In Institutions A, B and C, the average-normal group contains the largest number of children. In Institution D the dull-normal group predominates. In Institution E the feeble-minded group is largest. It will be seen that of our 162 cases, 14 are classified as feeble- minded. This refers in each instance to feeble-mindedness in the social sense. Using the most highly approved methods, and applying standards conservatively, these 14 persons are found to be incapable, by reason of mental defect, of becoming independent, self-supporting citizens. Five of these 14 feeble-minded cases are unwed mothers. 2.0 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 ORPHAN CHILD REN UNWCO MOTHERS FIG. 3. Percentage distribution of social-intelligence groups, comparing orphan children and unwed mothers with unselected school children examined with the same tests. Expressed in terms of percentage, 6 per cent of the orphan children and 41.6 per cent of the unwed mothers are feeble-minded. How these compare with what is found by applying the same tests in the same way, using similar supplementary data with ordinary public school children is shown graphically in Fig. 3. This figure offers a number of important suggestions. In the first place it should be noted that all of the social-intelligence groups are represented in both the orphan and unwed mother classes. There has been every opportunity for intelligence to be discovered where it was present. Supplementary information, carefully analyzed, was continually made use of as a check for the tests, so that we are reasonably sure that any unfair tests could not have been misinterpreted. Children and young women who were said by their teachers and matrons to be unusually bright almost without exception tested above the average for their ages. Children who were known to be "slow." "dull," "stupid" and irresponsive in their school work and daily duties usually tested correspondingly low. In other words, there was a remarkably close agreement of the test measurements and the other criteria for judging SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 53 intelligence. We may therefore safely conclude that Fig. 3 is a reliable picture of the conditions we have set out to determine, so far as may be judged from the institutions included in the survey. Feeble-minded Orphans. What is perhaps the most striking feature of Fig. 3 is the relative proportion of feeble-minded in each of the three groups shown. The uppermost bar represents 1,000 unselected school children examined under the supervision of Dr. Lewis M. Terman and classified according to the manner described in his Measurement of Intelligence (1916). The extensive investigations made by Dr. Terman and his assistants revealed about 2 per cent of the school children to be so low in the scale of intelligence as to war- rant their classification as definitely feeble-minded, both intellectually and socially. In addition to this group, 8 per cent of the unselected children were classified as borderline, 10 per cent dull-normal, 60 per cent average-normal and 20 per cent superior. That both the orphan children and the unwed mothers as groups are inferior to average school children is plainly evident. The proportion of feeble-minded- ness in the orphan group (6 per cent) is three times as great as Dr. Terman found among the unselected children ; the borderline and dull-normal groups are correspondingly greater among the dependents, and the average-normal and superior groups are correspondingly smaller. It is not known exactly to what extent these orphan children are representative of all orphan children in California charitable institu- tions. There is reason to believe, however, that the proportion of feeble-minded among the 150 children included here can not be less than the proportion for orphans throughout the state. These four institutions can not be much different, and certainly not inferior, on the average, from others in different sections. On the whole, perhaps it is safe to say that the findings in these 150 cases may furnish a safely conservative (perhaps too conservative) basis for estimating the number of feeble-minded orphans in institutions throughout the state. It has been stated that the children's institutions in California enrolled 5,324 dependent children for the year just passed. Using our conservative 6 per cent as a basis for calculation, we may estimate that there are no less than 319 feeble-minded children in the 61 institutions reported upon for that year. Only two of the institutions had enrolled more than 300 children. One of these enrolled 562, the other, 375. The probable number of feeble-minded orphans in the state, then, is greater than the present total enrollment of any, save two of the children's institutions in the state. The Training School at Vineland, New Jersey, could be more than half filled with these feeble-minded orphan children alone. It should be remembered in considering this ")4 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. estimate that mentally defective orphan children in institutions almost without exception ;n-e of the moron grade. Very few imbeciles and no idiots are received by the orphan homes. I low many additional defective children of these lower grades are left as a burden upon private individuals we have no way of estimating. Certainly the total number of all grades for the state would fall not far below 500. It is sufficient for this discussion, however, to deal with the 6 per cent which have been actually found. That dependent feeble-minded children belong in an institution of a different sort from the orphan home in which so many have been placed, would hardly be disputed by anyone who is familiar with the far-reaching consequences of feeble-mindedness. The public schools, through which a few localities are now attempting to meet the problem, at best can only provide special instruction by means of ungraded rooms, and that for but a few school years of a few months each. Kven if they are to be cared for by the orphanages, the present custom requires that they begin to shift for themselves at the age of 14 or shortly after. . It is from this self-shifting that the most disastrous consequences of feeble-mindedness evolve. No person whose intelli- gence is limited in its development to that of a child of less than 12 years, as is always the case with the feeble-minded, can long main- tain the struggle for existence without becoming a public burden as a delinquent, criminal, prostitute, pauper or vagabond. Among the inmates of jails, prisons and industrial schools may be found many social incompetents who were thus turned loose to prey upon .society or to become the prey of others. The problem of properly segregating the feeble-minded is by no means confined to the defective orphan group. The Census of 1910 gave 555,554 children of school age in California. The number in 1!>1 7 is much greater. Using the 1910 number, however, and calculating upon the basis of 2 per cent,* the probable number of feeble-minded children in the state reaches the stupendous figure of 11.000. Even if we were to figure on a basis of 1 per cent, the number of persons socially incompetent under the present rules of society still remain greater than ever provided for by the most drastic legislation. It will be necessary to resort to more widespread control of defective mating* or to the building of an enormous number of colonies if the problem is to be solved. To both of these methods there will doubtless be many objections offered. The colony method, if permanent segre- gation is provided, is the better of the two. The enormous cost. *Dr. Lewis M. Terman in his Mr(i!tiiri')iii')it <>f Inti Ilif/rncc says (p. 6) : "Wherever intelligence tests have been made in any considerable number in the schools, they have shown that not far from 2 per cent of the children enrolled have a grade of intelli- .ui-ncf which, however long they live, will never develop beyond the level which is .novmul to tin- average child of 11 or 1:2 years of age." STRYKYS IX MKXTAL DEVIATION. 55 however, as seen by those who fail to consider the cost of feeble- mindedness without these colonies, would he too 17-4 17-10 112 Superior 12 High adult Oas Xo ! was not a mother, but was being held for observation. Her older sist-r was pregnant, and their experiences had been similar. Feeble-minded I'mrid Mothers. Turning again to Fig. 3 we see the enormous proportion of feeble-minded in the home for unwed mothers (Institution E) represented by the lower bar. Percentages, it is true, are unsafe when calculated from so small a number as given here. How- ever, since this represents the entire number of girls passing through the institution in several months, in view of the statement of the mat run that these cases are in no way different from those continually received, the proportion of feeble-minded found is significant. It is not likely that tests of several hundred of these girls would show a much smaller percentage. A glance at Table III will be enlightening. Taking the five feeble-minded mothers, we find their ages (discarding months for the present) to be 14. 16, 17. 20 and 21, respectively. Their m< nlul n;iis, upon which their social success is more dependent, are 10, 10, 7, 9 and 10. Upon the supposition that measurable intelligence does not develop 56 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. much beyond the chronological age of 16 years, we have in reality five young children none intelligent enough to have much appreciation of her condition of unwed motherhood or the social consequences involved. Had their f eeble-mindedness been recognized at an early age, and had each been placed in an institution or colony under kind and intelligent supervision, these blameless young mothers could have been at least partly self-supporting, and would have been saved the unhappiness incident to their recent experiences. That these five women with child- minds have become mothers is clearly the fault of the society that per- mitted them to be at large. Now that they are under supervision, a repetition of their experience should be avoided by placing them in permanent custodial care. To do otherwise can be nothing less than hazardous. Feeble-minded Cases. It is deemed well worth while to give a brief account of each of our fourteen feeble-minded cases. Nine of these are in the orphan group, and five are unwed mothers. Following are the feeble-minded orphans : R. M. Boy. Age 12-6 (i. e., 12 years, 6 months). Mental age 8-6. I. Q. .68. Probable limit of mental development, 10 years. Of Mexican- Indian descent, but shows no indication of this heritage in appearance. Phlegmatic, slow, dull and stupid. Has tubercular spine. Has reached fourth grade in school, but probably will not succeed in going very far beyond. A twin sister, who is not at present in an institution, is of about the same grade of intelligence. Both are clearly cases for perma- nent custodial care, since there is little chance for them as independent citizens. Few children of this grade ever develop sufficient intelligence to render them capable of managing themselves satisfactorily in the ordinary walks of life. In an institution for the feeble-minded, however, they could properly become nearly self-supporting, and would be saved the necessity of competing with persons of average-normal intelligence. In the orphans' home R. M. is a burden because he is unable to compre- hend the ordinary rules of conduct. He easily becomes the vicitim of his more intelligent playmates and his stupidity becomes the object of much ridicule. The fact that he appears bright to persons not trained in observing the feeble-minded adds nothing to his advantage. There is every reason to believe that he would be happier and better trained in an institution specializing upon this grade of intelligence. B. R. Boy. Age 14-2. Mental age 10-2. I. Q. .72. The only child of a feeble-minded, excitable mother. Is in the ungraded room of the public school, where he is reported to be dull and backward. His teachers state that he is indolent in all his work, but that he is "better in manual training than anything else." Even in manual work he is SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 57 said to be "lacking in application." This is exactly what might be expected of a high-grade feeble-minded boy of his age. The failure to apply himself may easily be explained by his relatively low level of intelligence. We would hardly look for much interest in regular school class work from a feeble-minded boy nearing maturing. We may look, however, for serious social consequences if he is placed upon his own responsibility because of his chronological age. He can not develop intelligence much higher than his present level, but there are many years ahead of him, judging from his good physical condition. The advisability of forcing B. E. to meet the problems of these coming years without supervision may well be questioned, in the light of many case histories of delinquents and criminals of about the same intellectual grade. We can not, of course, positively assert that B. R. will continue to be a public charge. But we do know that he is far from normal ; that he will never become normal ; that he has not been trained to sup- port himself in any vocation ; that he is of a level of intelligence which leaves him easily susceptible to evil influence ; and that it would be to the interest of all concerned if he were in a training school for the high-grade feeble-minded. S. B. Girl. Age 11-7. Mental age 8-6. I. Q. .73. Foolish, hysteri- cal and nervous. Very backward in school. Is now in fourth grade, but unlikely to advance much beyond. One of a number of children in one family whose paternal parentage is uncertain. The mother is highly excitable, immoral and probably feeble-minded. It is not likely that S. B. will ever develop an intelligence level beyond that common to average children 11 or 12 years of age. In the light of her personal and family history she may be safely recommended to an institution more highly specialized in training children whose intellectual development is limited to the lower levels. She can not be a safe companion of normal children and needs closer supervision than most orphan homes provide. B. W. Boy. Age, unknown, probably above 8 years. Mental age 4-0. I. Q. about .45. Has been an inmate of charitable institutions since very early infancy. Nothing known of parents. Was adopted into the home of a private family upon the supposition that he was normal. In the absence of psychological and sociological data these charitable people had no reason to believe otherwise. As a result of this child's feeble native endowment he has developed into an almost hopeless case from the standpoint of private home management. Believing that something could be done to develop his weakened powers, he has been taken to many specialists, but none can extend these limitations of nature. The fact that certain family sentiment has been built up around the child makes the burden still greater, and can not but emphasize the need for a special institution to which such children may be transfererd so that 58 STATE BOAKD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. they will not be adopted upon incorrect assumptions. The case of B. \V. has probably been repeated elsewhere many times. G. L. Girl. Age 14-2. Mental age 8-0. 1. (^. ..",ti. Is several years retarded in school, having readied only the fourth grade. Was admitted to orphan home with her sister (see following case) from the juvenile court as needy and dependent. Has strongly developed immoral tendencies and is of too low intelligence to profit greatly from the moral instruction necessary to correct her. Is "needy" in that she needs constant supervision and special guidance if she is to pass through her adolescent period with any degree of safety. The family conditions, as indicated by the genealogy (Fig. 4 and subsequent description) are not unusual for the grade of intelligence common to several members. The best development of G. L. and the normal children with whom she is now associated require that she be placed in a special institution. D. L. Sister of G. L. Age 12-7. Mental age 9-1. I. Q. .72. A high-grade moron like her sister, and much like her in conduct and school work, but of somewhat higher mental development. Neither can possibly be considered normal in comparison with children of their ages. Both are properly eases for a special institution for their own protection and that of the society in which they are likely to float if placed upon their own responsibility. Feeble-mindedness is common among the relatives. A glance at the family chart suggests its probable reappear- ance if another generation or two be added. D. R. Boy. Age 12-9. Mental age 9-0. I. Q. .70. High-grade moron. Of Mexican-Indian descent. Although in regular school attend- ance for several years has reached only third grade, this representing the significant retardation of three years. Can not do regular school work satisfactorily, ['liable to pass any of the intelligence tests in the twelve-year group (his own chronological year) which most children of that age readily pass. Vocabulary is very low and poor in quality. This low test result can not be explained by reason of any unfairness of the tests to Mexican children. "While it is true that the tests were standardized chiefly with white children, we can find no tests in which D. R. is at a disadvantage so far as concerns the measuring of his intelligence. He speaks English fluently and has had at least average school opportunities. A few of the test responses may serve to illustrate his inferiority to most 12-year-old children. A bonfire is "a bomb that you fire with"; curse means "what girls wear"; a treasury is "when you build something": jux1i<-< means "just as you have done." A /, -nift -l>l!> iron." One who is familiar with the responses of average children of 12 years for these tests will immediately see the inferiority of these, and their nearer resemblance to those which might be expected of a 9-year- old. The responses of D. R. do not differ from those of a feeble-minded white child of the same age and in no way indicate any racial handicap. D. R. 's brother, who was also examined, tests average-normal and has reached the same grade in school, -although two years younger. We must conclude either that the one is feeble-minded, or that the other is decidedly superior to average children of his age. The evidence strongly favors the conclusion that D. R. is a high-grade moron and will probably not develop an intelligence level-high enough to insure social stability, unless placed under very close supervision. He can be most efficiently provided for in a special institution. GK M. Girl. Age 14-11. Mental age 8-0. I. Q. .54. Middle- grade moron. Highly excitable, nervous. Makes foolish motions and grimaces. Mutters to herself while doing such tests as form-board, weight ball and field, etc. Vocabulary index is but 19, that for most girls of her age being not less than 50. This poverty of expressive terms is further indicated by her failure in the word test in which she could think of but 21 words in three minutes. Nearly all normal children 10 years of age readily name at least 60 words in three minutes, and under the same conditions. G. M. also fails on many tests which children of 9 years pass without difficulty. Her definition of pity is "to do something wrong"; clwrity means "happy"; eyelash: "to lash something ' ' ; muzzle : " a club ' ' ; regard : " to guard something. ' ' These responses are clearly indicative of very low intelligence when given by a young woman who is practically 15 years of age. In the public schools G. M. has reached only the fifth grade, although her opportunities have been normal and her school work not seriously interrupted. She has a sister and a brother, both of whom are borderline cases (I. Q. .80) and dependent upon charity. The children are half-orphans. All would be better off in a special institution, but it is especially important that G. M. be placed under close supervision. R, T. Girl. Age 14-0. Mental age 8-2. I. Q. .58. Middle-grade moron. Test characterized by unusual "scattering" of responses, which often indicates mental instability. No psychiatric examination had been made, but if a psychopathic condition exists it must be in addition to definite feeble-mindedness. It is clearly evident that her general capacity to adapt herself to new conditions more clearly resembles that of a child of 8 years than of normal girls of 14. She had just come from another state where, in a small two-room school she was reported to have reached the seventh grade. A twin brother is still in grade IV. In the Los Angeles schools she was unable to do even sixth irnulf work 60 STATE BOARD OP CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. and it is probable that her level of ability will be found so low that it will be necessary to place her in the special class. Nearing the age limit for compulsory school attendance, however, and already beyond the age at which children may be kept at the institution under the regular rules, it is not likely that school work will offer much attraction to her. If not placed soon under close supervision there are many dangers awaiting, and it is a practical certainty that she will soon become a public charge. How much unhappiness and misfortune would be saved by placing her now in a well-equipped training school or special home for feeble-minded dependents, can only be determined by neglecting to do so. The foregoing cases of feeble-minded orphan children must be reasonably representative of feeble-minded orphans throughout the state. Few cases are of such low intelligence that their deficiency can be readily recognized without the use of standardized intelligence tests. The retardation in each instance is given in terms of deviation from the performance of average children of the same age as the subject. There are enough of these children, who are sufficiently retarded to warrant their removal from the institutions in which they are now living, to an institution especially equipped for caring for the high-grade feeble-minded. With the unwed mothers the conditions are somewhat the same. No feeble-minded person, child or adult, whether orphaned or not, should be forced to compete on equal terms with normal persons. The following cases of feeble-minded unwed mothers furnish concrete evidence of the need of better provision for persons who are unable to meet the ordinary conditions of life without supervision. L. A. Age 17-2. Mental age 7-6. I. Q. .47. Low-grade moron. Is of Mexican-Indian descent, but speaks Spanish no better than English. Has very poor use of words, but her inability to speak correctly in no way interfered with the test. This was indicated by the reading test, which she passed satisfactorily. When last attending school was in the ungraded room, being unable to do regular school work. She can not repeat five digits, describe pictures, draw distinc- tions between common objects, arrange the five blocks in order of weight, copy the designs, nor comprehend the absurdities. These are among the simple tests which any normal child under 10 can pass without difficulty and failures on them at this young woman's age are in themselves indicative of feeble-mindedness. The history of L. A.'s case verifies our diagnosis and leaves little room for any other conclusion as to her feeble ability to manage herself with ordinary prudence, even among her own people, where social reactions are probably few. The mother is dead, the father is a laborer. There are SURVEYS IX MENTAL DEVIATION. 61 three other children in the family. The man responsible for her pregnancy is a motion picture employee who has promised to marry her when he is financially able. The girl is a ward of the juvenile court and ^has been turned over to a charitable institution as "dependent" and in danger of growing up to lead an idle and dissolute or immoral life. This danger faces any girl of 17 whose mind is that of a child of less than 8 years, and whose management is trusted to herself. In a training school for the feeble-minded, or in a special institution set aside for mentally defective young mothers, there is little doubt that she could become nearly self-supporting and unlikely to repeat the experience which has made her a court ward. D. M. Age 20. Mental age 9-5. I. Q. .59. Middle-grade moron. Very ignorant and illiterate, although she has had every opportunity to go to school. Reported to have reached the fifth grade, but it is doubtful if she could do the work of that grade very well. Says she is married to a sailor and that he is the father of her child. The alleged husband is said to be in another part of the world. Whether married or not, this woman has become a burden because of her too feeble capacity for becoming self-supporting by ordinary competition. Is physically strong and could contribute much toward her own welfare and that of her child if she were placed in a training school or special home. B. D. Age 16-1. Mental age 10-7. I. Q. .66. High-grade moron. Said to have reached the seventh grade in school, but is unable to pass tests with which many fourth-grade children have no difficulty. Many of her responses show such inferior comprehension that one wonders how she could have been promoted in school so far beyond her actual ability. The lack of clinical psychologists in the schools and the still too common system of automatic promotions are among the chief reasons for so many misfits. B. D. 's intellectual inferiority to average girls of her age is indicated by the following quotations from the test record. The absurdity of the bicycle rider: "He was foolish to fall off"; The fable of Hercules and the wagoner teaches us "How to fix your wagon when it broke down." The word quake means "to make a noise"; bewail means "to beware"; conscientious means "don't cost anything." The following is extracted exactly as written from a letter written by B. D. : You will half to excuse this writing for I am in a hurry its near time to go back on duty and I want to finish before I do. I will close hoping to hear from you real soon will close hoping to hear from you real soon with Love and Kisses from your loving friend P. S. When you see are write to are Miss __tell them I said to write. 62 i-TATK HOARD OF CHAKITIKS AXD CORRECTIONS. While this girl would pass for normal in almost any community, there is little probability that she could manage her affairs with the ordinary prudence which social normality demands. Nothing should stand in the way of placing her under better supervision than her parents can give. S. G. Age 21. Mental age 10-8. I. Q. .67. High-grade moron. School progress, inferior (grade reached, not known). Matron's esti- mate of intelligence, very dull. Passed no tests beyond year XII, although the testing was carried through to the adult years, as with all adult subjects. Has a way of appearing tired and indifferent and consequently many untrained persons might overlook her mental deficiency. The experience leading up to her pregnancy might easily be expected of a high-grade feeble-minded girl. "Picked up" on the street by a man whose name she has never known, she was taken to a moving picture theater and drugged on the way home. She was found the next morning in a public park. The man has not been seen or heard from since and his identity will probably never be revealed. The affair could never have happened had this girl been placed in a training school, where she would have been useful and happy. S. D. Age 14-5. Mental age 10-6. I. Q. .73. High-grade moron. Has been attending the ungraded room of the public school. The case of this girl is similar to those just described. Too nearly normal in appearance to be suspected of being feeble-minded, her inability to get. along has caused misfortune. She is not likely to develop intel- lectually beyond the mental age of 12 years and if left unsupervised must face the dangers which await all feeble-minded adults who attempt to "float" in the general population. Borderline Cases. Where intelligence tests are given to a group containing both normal and feeble-minded persons, there is usually a number of cases which fall between these two groups. It can not be too strongly emphasized that the feeble-minded do not constitute a separate and distinct class. No sharp line of demarcation can be drawn whicli would separate the feeble-minded from the more intelli- gent. This is due to the continuous variation of intelligence from the lower to the higher levels. For this reason it is important to know j(/.s7 lio ic intelligent a subject is; not merely whether or not he is feeble-minded. Thus, the primary aim of intelligence testing is not to discover who is feeble-minded, but to measure the intelligence of each member of the group which is being studied. Estimating the proportion of feeble-minded persons in a tested group always presents a difficult problem. Wherever the upper line of feeble-mindedness is drawn there are always a few who test barely at or beyond this limit. Should these be considered feeble-minded. SURVEYS IX MKNTAL DK\ IATION. 63 or not feeble-minded? If, for example, we assume that persons bavin- an I. Q. of less than .75 are feeble-minded, what shall we my of those testing at .75. .76 and .77? There is certainly little difference intel- lectually between two children of the same age testing .74 and .75, respectively. The same difficulty occurs whether we draw our dividin- line at .80, .70, .60 or any other single I. Q. We can, however, place the I. Q. limit tentatively at a point so low as to be reasonably sure that all persons testing below that point are feeble-minded within the usual meaning of the term. We can also make use of supplementary information to determine how closely the test results agree with what is known of the subject's social reactions. Then, by using the psychological and social data together, we may make a reasonably safe diagnosis. Persons who can not be classified as feeble-minded by .the use of these combined criteria and yet who are so low in both the intellectual and social scale as to make them dangerously near the limits we have set, may be considered borderline cases. It is evident that many of these borderline cases are of too low intelligence for us to expect them to manage themselves and their affairs much better than those we have called feeble-minded. Some of them will never be entirely self- supporting unless placed in an institution ; some of them may eke out a living without becoming especially undesirable at large; and a few, perhaps, may find a place in the social order through which they may pass for normal. The success of the borderline case is so dependent upon emotional and volitional factors that children of this grade of intelligence should be carefully studied and given especial attention with regard to their early interests and ability. Some examples of borderline intelligence follow: H. P. Boy. Age 14-3. Mental age 10-9. I. Q. .79. Has reached the sixth grade in school, two years below the grade reached by most children of his age. Teachers report him to be slow, dull and stupid. His sister, who is in the same institution, is average- normal I. Q. .93. He will probably develop the level of intelligence common to average children 13 years of age, but not much beyond. He has already shown certain tendencies toward delinquency which make it imperative that he be placed in a parental school or at least under closer supervision than the orphanage can give. C. T. Girl. Age 12-10. Mental age 10-1. I. Q. .78. Has reached the fifth grade in school, and hence is not seriously retarded. I'lilik.- the boy just described, she has developed no tendencies toward delinquency, is agreeable and trustworthy in every way and takes much interest in housework. She should be able when -rown i. manage herself with reasonable prudence and if employed by kind and 64 STATE BOARD OP CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. sympathetic persons could compete successfully with average working girls. It should be remembered that she is of low intelligence and that her temperamental qualities are an important factor in her conduct and success. B. H. An expectant mother. Age 19-8. Mental age 12-1. I. Q. .75. Reported to have reached the eighth grade in school, but the report has not been verified. Pier father is a successful ranchman and both parents are interested in their daughter, but have failed to recognize her weaknesses. The father of her expected is an indolent clerk who married and then deserted her. She is slow and obviously dull. It is not difficult to see how she could be easily led astray. It is planned that this girl shall be taken by her parents and kept under their supervision. Upon the quality of this guidance her success largely depends. We can not escape the conviction that it would be better for all concerned if she were placed in a special training school where her low intelligence could be utilized to better advantage. She can hardly be considered feeble-minded and yet it is reasonably certain that her intelligence will never be superior to that of most ordinary children 13 years of age. Here is a case which emphasizes the need for further study of borderline intelligence, and how persons of this age can be most efficiently provided for. Dull-normal Cases. It was formerly thought satisfactory to apply the term borderline to all persons who could not be classified as either feeble-minded or normal. It was supposed to represent the "doubtful" cases, so classified in the belief that further study would show them to belong to either the defective or the non-defective group. More recently it has become common to divide these indeterminate cases into two groups, retaining the term borderline to designate those who are very near the upper limits of feeble-mindedness and the term dull- normal to designate those who more nearly approach average-normal intelligence. Such terms as "backward," "dull" and "retarded" are sometimes used to describe this near-normal group. Persons of dull-normal intelligence are not feeble-minded, nor do they often fall near enough that group to be considered borderline cases. Yet they are seriously enough retarded to make it necessary that they be differentiated from those who are fully equal to average persons of the same age. To what extent this mental retardation is due to external factors, such as physical defects, malnutrition, poor training, etc., and how much is due to actual inferiority in natural mental equipment are problems which clinical psychologists are attempting to solve. Recent researches with intelligence tests lead to the belief that external factors are not of such serious consequence in intellectual retardation as they were formerly supposed to be. We have found no evidence among the STKYKYS IX MKXTAL DEVIATION. 65 cases in this study that our dull-normal group has been so affected. But whatever may be its causes, dull-normal intelligence is too impor- tant to be overlooked. Following are some illustrative cases : S. H. Boy. Age 10-6. Mental age 9-6. I. Q. .90. Jewish. Has reached third grade in school and is said to be doing well, although retarded one school year. Conduct, good. From a family of about average intelligence. A brother, an inmate of the same institution, is average-normal (I. Q. .98). It is probable that S. H. will be able to find a satisfactory place in the world, and, while not likely to become a leader (toward w r hich his brother has already shown tendencies) there are many occupations in which his inferiority would not be a serious handicap. He will probably develop to what has been called the "low adult" level. He could profit greatly from vocational training. H. E. An. unwed mother. Age 20. Mental age 14-6. I. Q/.91. Common school education. Was working as a domestic in the home of a man of some prominence. While her employer's wife and children were away, illicit relations began between the two. Her child was born in the institution. The true story of the case was not known for some time, the girl at first refusing to reveal the identity of the child's father. This was H. E. 's first and only offense, if it may be called an offense. The child has been placed for adoption and the young mother will return to her parents. There is nothing in the history of the case to indicate that her slightly inferior intelligence was much of a factor in the unfortunate experience. She will pass for absolutely average- normal in any community although she is low and not quick to grasp directions. She doubtless has weaknesses which intelligence tests do not indicate. What other factors are operative in cases of this kind and how they may best be overcome are among the important problems for juvenile research. Average-normal and Superior Cases. Little need be said here con- cerning the intelligence of persons who closely resemble the great mass of the population. Dr. Terman finds 60 per cent of the children in the public schools to belong to this average-normal, the largest of the intelli- gence groups. It is within this classification that we should expect any ordinary child or adult to come. Every standardized test is so adjusted that the average child of a given age (or the average adult, if it be an adult test) will perform it satisfactorily, provided it is given under standardized conditions. The application of a graded scale of tests (the Binet-Simon Scale contains 90 tests) makes- the comparison still more accurate by allowing for individual differences among persons of about the same general level of intelligence. It is significant that while in any ordinary public school probably 60 per cent of the children are of average-normal intelligence, and con- 66 STATE BOARD OP CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. ly have I. Q.'s of approximately 3.00, wherever the tests are applied to a group of persons niofe or less dependent upon public or private charity the proportion of average-normals is found to be much less. This suggests at once a relation between intellectual capacity and the ability to make an independent, honest living, and to abide by the commonly accepted rules of society. We would therefore expect to find a large proportion of persons of low intelligence among dependents, delinquents and other groups which represent social inadaptability. At the same time, however, we are faced with an important problem presented by the small group of intellectually normal individuals among these social variants. It is not difficult to understand why a feeble- minded girl, such as those described in this study, should become the victims of circumstances, and thus be found among the unwed mothers. Neither is it surprising to those familiar with f eeble-mindedness that seven of the twelve cases reported should be found in the feeble-minded and borderline groups. But that young women whose intelligence is equal cr superior to that of ordinary persons of the same age should be found with them and with apparently similar histories, demands that our search for causes shall extend to other fields. As may be seen in the following cases, age, weakened will power and excitability seem to have played important parts. S. M. Age 12-0. Mental age 11-8. I. Q. .97. Average-normal. Not a mother, but held at the institution for observation because of sex experiences during the few years previous. An older sister, who was pregnant, was removed to a-special hospital because of a venereal disease by reason of which she could not be admitted to the maternity home. S. M. is a small, attractive girl and her sex delinquency was undoubt- edly due, in a large measure, to the childish confidence which she placed in older persons. We can not expect even a normal child of ten years she was that age when her experiences began to have much clear understanding of moral problems. Given an unsupervised child, an older immoral sister and three immoral men, the probabilities are not difficult to forecast. S. M. has reached the sixth grade in school and is making normal progress. The intelligence of her older sister was not determined. M. 1). Age 17-6. Mental age 15-10. I. Q. .99. A high school student. A calm, nonexcitable girl who shows every indication of normal intelligence. While living with her mother and attending school her conduct had been excellent, so far as we are able to determine. At her mother's suggestion she took work as a salesgirl in a depart- ment store and roomed with her cousin, also a salesgirl. These two girls began to keep questionable company and being under no practical restraint, held small drinking parties in their room. The third young SURVEYS IX MENTAL DEVIATION. 67 man with whom M. D. was associated is the father of her child. He offered to marry her, but she refused. She is little concerned about her future and has no explanation to offer except her weakness for temporary pleasures. That some persons of normal intelligence are so feebly inhibited with reference to certain traits furnishes one of the most interesting and important problems in the study of social conduct. Feeble inhibition may be due to heredity in such a large measure that the proper control of matings would eliminate much of this undesirable element. C. G. Age 21. Tests to average level. I. Q. 1.00. Left school after completing the eighth grade and became a clerk in a cigar store. A worthless man thirty years of age is the father of her child. He left the city after learning of her plight and refused to marry her. She expects to place the child for adoption and return to her position. M. H. Age 17-4. Tests to superior adult level. I. Q. 1.12. In third year of high school. Highly nervous. Quick and brilliant in responses. School progress excellent. Matron of the home thinks she is the brightest girl they have had for some time. Her father is dead and her mother is employed as a waitress. No history of her conduct is available. Following are some representative samples of orphan children of average-normal and superior intelligence. Usually the school progress and quality of work accord closely with the intelligence test findings. Boy. Age 13-9. Mental age 13-9. I. Q. 1.00. Grade 8. Work good. Girl. Age 9-3. Mental age 9-4. I. Q. 1.01. Grade 3. Excellent. Girl. Age 11-4. Mental age 11-10. I. Q. 1.05. Grade 6. Bright Boy. Age 12-7. Mental age 13-10. I. Q. 1.10. Grade 6. Work good. Boy. Age 13-5. Mental age 15-8. I. Q. 1.18. Grade 8. Excellent. In these cases it is just as important to know the level of intelligence as in retarded and feeble-minded cases. Discipline, school promotions and vocational guidance can be more wisely adapted to individual needs if we know this general level upon which the child's future success largely depends. Sex differences. Much has been said about the relative intelligence of men and women, and many hypotheses and theories have been advanced concerning the alleged superiority of one over the other. 68 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. TABLE IV. Sea- Differcm-i-* in I nt< IIili22 9 D 7 10 14fi SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. We may say, then, that the average child in these institutions has spent the first eight years of his life in some other environment than that of the orphanage. A few have been in other institutions before entering that in which they are now located, but the number of these is so small that our suppositions with reference to the average child is not greatly affected. The success of the orphanage lies in the continuance of the good and the correction of the evil that has developed during these eight preinstitutional years. A study of the home conditions reveals in most cases certain undesirable elements. These conditions are due chiefly to hereditary factors, some of which have been illustrated in this report by concrete examples. Desertion, separation, divorce, disease and immorality among members of the family are not uncommon. Poverty is less common than we had expected to find, but is sometimes a factor. Very few instances are found where children have been taken to orphanages because of conditions of extreme poverty. The institu- tions should be equipped for determining the early influences surrounding the children. There is reason to believe that many cases could be more efficiently dealt with if these conditions were sought out and their relative importance understood. Parental Conditions. In the study of children in institutions for orphans much interest surrounds the parental conditions associated with taking the children out of their original homes and placing them as public or charitable charges. The conditions with reference to whether parents are living or dead are shown in Table VIII. Four conditions are possible: (a) both parents dead; (6) father living, mother dead; (c) father dead, mother living; (d) both living. The striking fe.ature of the table is the small proportion of whole orphans only 7 per cent of the total 144 reported cases. In 93 per cent of the cases, at least one parent is living and in 40.9 per cent, both parents are living. Of course, there are many cases in which one or both parents may have been absent from the family because of divorce, desertion, separation, insanity, criminality, etc., in which cases the dependency of the children is easily accounted for. TABLE VIII. Intelligence and Parental Conditions Orphan Group. Father j 1 Borderline Dull-normal- > Superior f ! | r | 1 ! 1 A D D 5 4 1 10 7.0 B L D 2 8 5 12 4 31 21.5 o D L 1 3 9 26 5 44 30.6 D L L 3 18 30 8 59 40.9 8 14 32 72 18 144 100.0 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. Iii cases in which only one parent is living the proportion of widowed mothers (30.6 per cent) is significantly greater than that of BOMI where the father is left with the care of the children (21.5 per cent). It would appear from these figures that the death of the father is of more serious consequence in dependency than the death of the mother. This is a problem for juvenile research which might yield highly important results. The distribution of these parental condition groups according to the intelligence of the children (Table VIII) shows no striking differences. It is interesting that more than half of the feeble-minded children are whole orphans, and that half of the whole orphan group are feeble- minded. A large number of cases might not reveal such group differences. V. Physical and Health Conditions. It has not been within the province of this survey to make any detailed study of physical and health conditions except in so far as these conditions are related to the intellectual and social development. It should be mentioned, however, that the physical condition of the children, in the vast majority of cases, is noticeable for its excellence. Medical attention has been generously given in all institutions visited and close health supervision is provided. A summary of the condi- tions, recorded incidentally, is shown in Table IX. Most institutions have ample play space, and in all cases the playground is popular with the children. Fresh air, cleanliness and good food were found. Children are being taught the principles of cleanliness in a way which would furnish an object lesson to many parents who are bringing up their own children. This sort of intelligent administration goes far toward the making of useful, efficient and happy citizens. TABLE IX. PJi>/xi<-iition of Orphan Children Who Have Attended School. | w H r P --i r 1 a X 3 D | P* ! I ! 1 | i ! 5 \ 1 5 6 5 10 2 17 7 _ 7 6 1 14 8 1 1 ? 4 g 9 . 1 3 | 4 > 15 10 . ._ ? 5 7 ^ 17 11 7 7 7 | 19 12 2 <> 3 4 I 2 17 13 ._ _. 1 1 1 3 5 H 14 1 1 1 ^ 3 | 14 15 16 1 1 7 17 1 1 18 _ jq 20 Totals _____ _- 5 9 iff, 1? ?0 ?3 18 1?- 9 10 9 14'' Age-grade Distribution. The present ages and school grades of the 142 children attending school are shown in Table X. The number of children for each age and grade is given. The row of black figures running diagonally down the table represents the number of each age and grade who are making normal progress; that is, who are in the grade reached by most children of that age. Children represented by figures above or to the right of the diagonal column are accelerated: these have made progress relatively more rapid than that of ordinary- children. Figures below and to the left of the diagonal column are retarded, or below the grade in which they should be, according to normal averages. Omitting the 14 children included in the ungraded and kindergarten groups, we find of the remaining 128 cases, 43 are accelerated, 40 are making normal progress and 45 are retarded. This is a reasonably normal distribution and does not differ greatly from what would be found in almost any school system. An important fact is that 7 of the children, or about 5 per cent of the total number, are retarded three years or more. This agrees closely with the proportion of feeble- minded found. Not all of the retarded children are feeble- minded, however, nor are all of the feeble-minded children retarded. The progress by intelligence groups may be seen in Table XT. Thnv is yet much to be done by the public schools by way of abolishing automatic promotions and grading children according to stages in STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. actual development. The introduction of ungraded rooms has done much toward reaching the needs of the individual child, and the continuance of these rooms should be encouraged. Feeble-minded children, of course, who make up the bulk of ungraded pupils should be eliminated entirely from the public schools and placed in special institutions. TABLE XI. Progress of Orphan Children in School Grades ~by Social Intelligence Groups. Betar fled AcceK rated 4 8 i 2 l Normal +1 +2 Total Superior 3 4 7 4 18 Average-normal 2 8 23 26 1 60 Dull-normal 3 8 12 3 1 27 Borderline 3 7 4 1 1 16 Feeble-minded 1 2 2 2 7 Totals 1 5 14 25 40 36 7 128 VII. The Problem of Social Conduct. Institutions and Morals. To what extent any institution can replace the home to the best interests and development of the child has been the subject of much discussion. Perhaps those who see the far- reaching influences of the best institutions and their advantages over the average home, tend to overlook some of the benefits of home life which can never be duplicated by institution methods. On the other hand, those who place superior confidence in the home overlook many of the facts surrounding the previous home life of most institution children. In the light of what has been learned concerning the influ- ence of heredity and environmental conditions, it is not difficult to see that a well-equipped, sanitary institution, providing three whole- some meals each day, and minus the daily contact with quarrelsome, immoral or abusive parents, is a much better place for children than some homes could ever become. That home should be a place of love, cooperation and devotion is a strange revelation to many children. Moreover, to assume that every home can become an ideal place for children is to entirely overlook important and unchanging facts. The institution is not bound by the conditions which determine, to so large an extent, the quality of the home. There is no divorce, unhappy separation, feeble-mindedness, insanity, drunkenness or criminality among the persons exercising parental supervision. If they are incompetent or become abusive their undesirable presence may be eliminated. The institution (under state supervision) does not become poverty stricken and is not dependent upon employment SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. .79 for its income. There is no doubt that whatever shortcomings some institutions may have (especially some of those of several years ago, now for the most part improved or eliminated) they are superior to the homes from which many of their children come. Some institutions might render an excellent service by setting an example to certain fathers and mothers who are expecting to retain their children. It should be explained that not all the children in orphan homes are placed there because of parental death or incompetency, or for other reasons which would necessarily bring about a state of absolute dependency. A study of the figures in Table VIII leads to the discovery that most of the children included in this survey have been placed in institutions ~by their parents. Most of these parents are honest, deserving, hard-working people who, in the opinion of the institution officials, are in no way shifting their responsibilities, and who pay a substantial amount toward the maintenance of their children. Inasmuch as the institution is called upon to provide for the pre- adolescent home training of children, its moral influence at this important period of development is a matter of grave importance. It is not at all surprising that certain institutions have been blamed for the development of wayward tendencies in their charges, for it is during this period that delinquency often begins to assert itself. The causes of delinquency are so little understood at the present time that it would be well to disregard any sweeping assumptions. Cer- tainly nothing has been observed in the institutions studied by us which would justify the conclusion that they are in any way more productive of waywardness than is the average public school. In fact, the observations have led toward the belief that all of these four insti- tutions have in some cases actually prevented what might under other conditions have developed into dangerously unsocial conduct. Potential Delinquency. These institutions, then, are in effect, pre- ventives of delinquency in that they receive a certain proportion of children who without their care might easily go astray. In this way they serve a useful purpose, in addition to that for which they are intended, and one which should logically be taken over by the state. In every children's home and in every public school there are a few children who show evidence of what may be considered potential delin- quency. A potential delinquent is a child whose behavior and the con- ditions surrounding him are so much like the former behavior and sur- rounding conditions of children who have since become delinquent that preventive measures are an urgent need. Comparative studies of the early history and surroundings of hundreds of boys committed to Whit- tier State School have led to the belief that many of these boys could 80 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. have been directed more wisely had their social tendencies been better understood. Nearly all boys who become wards of the juvenile court at the age of 13 or 14 were repeating at a much earlier age the history of other delinquents. When we know more of the causes of delinquency it will not be at all difficult to differentiate the potentially delinquent children from those who are likely to become socially normal. But even at the present time principals and teachers can select the most incorrigible cases, and it is only to the best interests of these children and the school in general that they be separately instructed and the causes of their condition studied. Following are some illustrative cases of potentially delinquent children found in the children 's institutions included in this survey : 1. Boy. Age 14. Of borderline intelligence. Slow, dull, irrespon- sive and stupid in school, and a habitual thief around the institution and at school. Is greatly retarded and not interested in school work. Teachers do not realize that he is almost sure to become delinquent if some special form of guidance and supervision is not soon provided. 2. Girl. Age 7. Dull-normal. Good in school. Is from a family of foreigners whose morals are not yet adjusted to American standards. Has shown a strong tendency to steal. Should not be difficult to cor- rect at this age, but care should be taken to avoid the formation of more vicious habits. Hardly a case for a special institution, however. 3. Boy. Age 6. Average-normal. Just started to school and is doing well. Lies, fights and shows other strongly unsocial tendencies. Mother is virtually a prostitute, and has deserted her children. 4. Boy. Age 13. Of superior intelligence. I. Q. 1.15. Highly con- ceited. School work is too easy for him and consequently has much time for play and annoying other children. Has repeatedly stolen money and tells obvious lies with a characteristic face of innocence. Inasmuch as his home conditions are not desirable, it would be to his advantage if he were to spend a few years in a well-equipped parental school. Such highly intelligent children are too valuable to be allowed to become social derelicts. 5. A Mexican girl. Age 14. Average-normal. Has made normal progress in school. Parents are undesirable and her ten years of asso- ciation with them, and their low standards, contributed little to her social balance. Shows strong tendencies toward immorality and should not leave the institution without a guarantee of proper supervision. 6. Boy. Age 11. Borderline. Dull in school work, and but feebly applies himself. Is an "all-around" bad boy. A continual annoyance. Difficult to mange, will not obey and refuses to work. Is more than "mischevious" and to excuse his pranks by applying such a term to them is a policy of doubtful value. His mother is dead and his father SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 81 is a worthless immoral man who is wholly incompetent to exercise satis- factory parental control even if he were desirous of doing so. This boy could profit greatly from the individual attention which would be given him in a parental trade school. The foregoing examples will serve to indicate the gravity of the problem, which it is to be hoped will receive a larger share of attention in the future. To these cases might be added certain incidents from the earlier life of some of the unwed mothers. The orphanages receive but a small proportion of these potentially delinquent children. Their presence in an orphanage is objectionable for the same reason that it is objectionable in the public school. The fact that the orphanages provide twenty-four-hour supervision is to their advantage, and the mere fact that they have been removed from their homes in some cases, is beneficial. A state parental school special- izing in the early guidance of potentially delinquent children would be a distinct advantage to all children 's institutions in the state, and would go far toward eliminating juvenile delinquency and crime. VIII. Summary. 1. This survey report is made by the Department of Research of "Whittier State School to the California State Board of Charities and Corrections. It includes the results of intelligence tests, with supple- mentary data, of 150 children and 12 unwed mothers, all of whom are in private institutions under state supervision. 2. The orphanage children test slightly lower, on the average, than do many school children, age for age. The average Intelligence Quotient of the institution children is .94, that of unselected children being 1.00. The average I. Q. of the unwed mothers is .77, which indicates marked inferiority to average adults. 3. In the orphanage group, 9 children, or 6 per cent of the total, are definitely feeble-minded. Of the 12 unwed mothers, 5 are feeble-minded. All of these feeble-minded persons are so inferior to the general popula- tion, with reference to their use of mental operations as to render them incapable of managing themselves and their affairs with ordinary prudence. They will always remain children, mentally, and for their own protection and for the protection of society they should be placed in permanent custodial care. 4. Using the proportion of feeble-minded children in these four orphanages (6 per cent) as a basis (which is believed to be safely con- servative), we may estimate that there are no fewer than 319 feeble- minded children in the 61 orphanages under the supervision of the State Board of Charities and Corrections. It would be advantageous to all if one or two children's institutions were to specialize in the care 82 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. and training of the feeble-minded, and thus provide a place of transfer for all mentally defective orphans. 5. In addition to the feeble-minded cases there is a still larger pro- portion of borderline and inferior-normal cases in both the orphanage and unwed mother groups. Many of these cases require supervision, but not necessarily custodial care, to insure their social stability. 6. The average-normal and superior intelligence groups are repre- sented among both the orphans and unwed mothers. The children and young women of these higher levels will probably take their places in society and become successful, depending upon temperamental and volitional factors. 7. Studies of the family history of representative cases indicate the relation of heredity to the problem of dependency. Hereditary traits, including feeble-mindedness, insanity, epilepsy, excitability, etc., play important parts in bringing children to institutions. The making of ample provision for the feeble-minded will in itself go far toward the elimination of some of the most undesirable forms of dependency. 8. Supplementary information on home and neighborhood conditions shows their close relation to dependency and illegitimacy. Hereditary transmission of weakened traits often gives rise to unfavorable environment. 9. The physical and health conditions among the children and unwed mothers are noticeably good. Medical supervision has been generously provided in most cases. The detailed observation of these conditions, however, was not within the province of this survey. 10. The school progress of the orphanage children has not been greatly inferior to that of ordinary children of the same age. A close relation is always found between the amount of school retardation and the proportion of feeble-minded and borderline cases. 11. The number, of children in the orphanage who may be considered potentially delinquent emphasizes the need for a general parental school. Early and special attention must be given to such children if they are to successfully combat the temptations which lead to delinquency, and become useful, independent citizens. The Mental Examination of Seventy-five Children at the "Y" Home. General Conclusions. By GRACE M. FERNALD, M.D. During the summer of 1917 mental examination was made of 75, out of a total of 85, of the children at the "Y" Home. All of these children have been placed in this home because of death of parents, family poverty, or of other conditions which have broken up the home. SURVEYS IN MENTAL DEVIATION. 83 Our study of the family histories is incomplete because of lack of time. The report on 45 of the 75 cases shows the following family conditions : TABLE I.* Parents separated __ 8 cases or' 17.7 per cent Mother dead 14 ^s^ or 31 5 per cent Father dead 12 cas es or 26.6 per cent Parents unknown _. 5 cases or 11.1 per cent Poverty at home 14 cas es or 31.5 per cent Foreign parents _ 21 cases or 46.6 per cent Parents' record good 2 cases or 4.4 per cent Mother immoral 1 cas e or 2.2 per cent Malnutrition.- 4 cases or 8 .8 per cent Father in prison 2 cases or 4.4 per cent Child abandoned 4 cases or 8.8 per cent In most cases the children spoke English more readily than. .any. other language. In any case in which the language factor might have counted against the child> the child was tested in the language which was spoken by her parents. All the initial mental tests were made by Miss Lucile Phillips, a senior at Vassar College ; Miss Edythe Bryant, a senior at the Univer- sity of California, or by Miss Maud Whitlock and Miss Margaret Sul- livan, teachers in the Los Angeles City schools. Special psychological and educational tests were made by the writer in all cases of children who were graded as below normal in mentality. The mental age of each child was obtained by the Stanford Revision and Binet-Simon (1911 Revision) Scale. The results obtained by the Stanford Revision were as follows : TABLE II. Intelligence quota above 100 per cent 10 Intelligence quota, 85-100 per cent - 32 Intelligence quota, 75-85 per cent 16 Intelligence quota under 75 per cent 13 Tests incomplete 4 Our final grading, based on the results of all of the tests would be as follows: TABLE III. Superior intelligence 2 2.7 per cent Normal 40 53.3 per cent Borderline 12 16.0 per cent) 33.3 Moron 13 17.3 per cents defective Retarded but not defective___ 4 5.3 per cent Mentality doubtful 4 5.3 per cent Total _ 75 *In interpreting Table I it should be noted that several conditions are frequently found in one home so that the same case would be included under several heads. For example, death of the father and poverty usually go together. Each percentage given simply refers to the number of cases per hundred in which a given condition is found. 84 STATE BOARD OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. The most striking thing about the results is the large number of mental defectives. It is obvious that these children should receive some special instruction leading up to some form of mechanical occupation. The following table shows the school grade of the children of the various mental levels. In all cases the report of the school was verified by educational tests. There was very little difference in the grading of the children as the result of the educational tests and the school grade in which they were placed. In interpreting our results it is necessary to take into account the fact that many of these children have been in the Home only a short time and that they have come from environments which are not conducive to regular attendance. TABLE IV. I Scl 1001 8. Adva need 1 Beta rded 1 Mental classification f 1 f F r age for grade. 1 I 3 years 1 ! i i Superior 2 1 1 o o o o Normal 40 1 o 13 10 4 3 o 9 Retarded, but not defective Borderline 4 12 I 1 1 5 3 2 o 13 o o 5 4 1 Doubtful mentality - 4 o o 4 Q School grades not known, 2 cases. Total, 75 cases. Table IV shows that the children are very defective from the stand- point of education. Over half of the children of normal mentality are retarded at least a year in school.. Over a fifth of the children of normal mentality are retarded two or more years. This means that one of the first things to be done for these children is to make up this deficit in education. The task is particularly difficult because many of these children show a timidity and lack of initiative which makes it necessary to use special methods to awaken normal activity. The educational lack is more marked in the defective than in the normal children as would be expected. Table IV shows the extent to which these children are retarded in terms of school grade, but the educational tests show a certain amount of formal training with very little practical ability and very little training in any line of work for which children of their mentality are fitted. For example, many of them read without being able to tell anything about what they read. SURVEYS IN MENTAL. DEVIATION. All of these defective children who have been in the home for any lengtn of time are much better in their ability to read than in arithmetic, showing that the formal side of their education has been good, but that they lack the mental capacity required for arithmetical work. It is evidently a waste of time to attempt any further formal educa- tion with the children of deficient mentality, as the children have reached the limit of their capacity in that direction and yet no systematic arrangement is made for their education along industrial lines. It might be noted here that this particular home does not differ greatly from our public school system in this respect. TABLE V. Average age Average mental age Average school grade Number of cases 13-3J 106 5 2 124 11-1 5 g 11-5 10-1 4 9 10-5 _ 8-8 3 11 94 7-6 2 6 8-2 . . 6-5 li 8 7-2 ._ .. 6-10 1 10 6-5 . _ _. 6-2 1 8 5-1 _ . 5-5 8 4 44 1 Data incomplete* 4 Total 75 STATE BOAED OF CHARITIES AND CORRECTIONS. CHART I. Showing the average mental and school retardation of children. Represents average chronological ages. Represents average mental ages. Represents average school ages. /3yrs. IZyrs l/yrs /Oyr? \ \ \ \ \ S \ x' \ \ \ 9yrs. 8 yrs \ \\ \ \ \ \ \ 7 7yrs 6 yrs 5 yrs. 4 yrs. \ x V V ^^>v <^" x x \ \ ^ c \" x \ \ ^ 2 Cases 8 Cases 9C*se3 //Ctses 6c*scs dCdses /Oc*s