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Let the defective child be brought under the influences of right thinking, careful discipline and moral control during the period of plasticity and there is a real opportunity to develop and foster whatever good inclinations or latent abilities he may possess.

This plastic period is the time in which to help the child to gain control of the motor activities. If he has systematic physical exercises from the beginning -- preferably the natural sports of children, running, leaping, swimming and ball playing, combined of course with special drills and gymnastics adapted to give him the requisite motor control, much of the awkwardness which distinguishes defectives as a class may be obviated. Through the games he gains not only robust physical organism, but derives real ethical culture from the lessons of fair play, give and take, and social reinforcement which they inculcate. There is no means by which a child can more readily absorb the necessary principles of subordination, self-control and obedience than in the ranks of the ball team or similar association for the purpose of sport.

Many defects of sight, hearing, articulation and carriage are easily corrected during this period; but they offer stubborn resistance to treatment later on. Then, too, in the very early years, while the defective child is in the kindergarten, the inner activity of the feeble brain can be stimulated by many and varied devices to arouse his interest and quicken his powers of observation. The kindergarten process of unfolding and awakening the dawning intellect is of inestimable value in directing the first groping mental efforts of the defective. The discipline, though of the mildest, tends to control and modify the natural impulses while at the same time allowing full play to the activities of childhood. The training of voice, manner, habits of respect and obedience go hand in hand with the increasing mental growth through the medium of games and occupations. This being also the imitative stage of growth in every child, when he unconsciously copies the manners, language and modes of life of his neighborhood and home surroundings, it can readily be seen how imperative it is that the environment during these years should be of a quality likely to react favorably upon his later development.

That all mental work should be of short duration and varied by manual exercise is an axiom of modern educational methods for the normal child, and is doubly necessary with the restless, nervous defective. There must inevitably be a lack of creative power and spontaneity of thought and expression on his part, but in the cheerful, bright surroundings of the up-to-date schoolroom, helped by the sympathy and understanding of the experienced teacher, it is quite possible to organize and amplify to a large extent the ideas gained in the previous years and to develop successfully the individual pupil along the lines of his natural inclinations.

While there must be discipline in the school for defectives, there can be no hard and fast curriculum of work prescribed as the mind of each pupil has a different rate of growth and develops through a different avenue of mental activity.

At this point in the child's development we must take into consideration the second condition for successful work with this class, namely: The utilitarian aim in the training of the atypical being, in order that he may not continue to be an entirely useless burden on society.

While still under school instruction and learning the useful branches of manual class-work, sloyd, iron work, bench work, painting, etc., the defective should also be instructed in the elements of some congenial form of industrial employment. This must be in line with the natural bent of the individual, a matter which is not difficult to determine if the child has been under supervision for years. It is the first necessary step to be taken towards making him a self-respecting member of a colony of fellow workers. Learning a trade and feeling himself of use to others is the best way to impress him with the dignity of labor and the social interdependence of workers in all walks of life. Those in charge should be ever on the alert to discover the inclinations or desire in special directions of those in their care.

One child shows a marked interest in nature work, earth study, etc. Encourage him to persevere in these branches and later on it will be easy to initiate him into the duties of gardening and farming. Another displays a talent for color. This can be turned to practical account by teaching him house-painting, decorating, etc.

Many mental defectives have a decided musical ability, and this can be used to further the welfare of the institution by having them taught to play in a band or orchestra. This provides amusement for the other inmates and helps to promote their happiness and contentment, for music in any form is a delight to them, besides its undoubted value as an agent in calming and soothing their excitable nerves. The readiness with which the boys on Randall 's Island mastered the intricacies of instrumental music and the success which has attended the establishment of our band makes me confident that this branch of useful endeavor is one that can be made to appeal to a large percentage of the feeble-minded.