THE UNFIT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 99, 23 October 1913, Page 4

THE UNFIT

A BURDEN ON SOCIETY "The Unfit, an Educational Pro' blem," was handled in an interesting paper by Miss P. Myers, 8.A., before the Philosophical Society laefc night. The speaker, who touched upon many phases of the question, said that the inefficient were a burden on society. This unfit ness might be due to inherent weakness, malnutrition, accident, or to imperfect development, but the result was in every case the same — the inability of the unfortunates to look after themselves without inflicting hardship on the community. In order to attack the problem, provision would have to be made for those who had not been looked after *rom birth, and who had already found their way into the State schools. If physical defects were found to be the cause, medical treatment would probably meet the case. The others should be tested mentally, and if found to bo deficient should be placed in a special class, under a carefully-selected teacher. In time such children might become normal, or at the least would be able to be taught some means of earning a livelihood. ENVIRONMENT. As to the cause, Miss Myers said that evidence proved conclusively that •an unhealthy or unsuitable environment was largely responsible for the production of defectives. The social environment, under modern conditions, was made by the collective body of the people. Therefore, all, individually and collectively, wore responsible, and they must either improve the conditions or be prepared for the consequences. Itwas merely retribution. The cure for this evil was suggested by Dr. Montessori's methods of dealing with the social problem. No one who had given any thought to the subject would venture to assert that education alone would solve the problem, but when we had successfully wrestled with this factor, we ahovild probably be in a position to grapple with the more difficult and infinitely greater one— heredity Few, however, would deny that if, instead <<T allowing the weaklings to fall by the^ wayside, "we suffered them as little children to tome unto m," and endeavoured to discover their needs by hearkening back to the baby prayer, "What God made me, that may I be," much of which was bedraggled into human garbage would be transformed into fully-developed men or women, the noblest works of God. In congratulating Miesi Myers for her valuable contribution to the transactions of the society, Mr. G. Hogben said that to educate the mothers would go a lonic way towards solving tho problem.