In Italy the class imbecili morali is recognised. No exact figures are available as to the number of defectives. A general law on the protection of children was in preparation in 1926. There are only eight institutions set aside for the mentally defective ; accom modation, 761 persons. Madame Montessori's educational meth ods (q.v.) were based on the experience gained among defective children in Rome.
Another educational pioneer Dr. Ovide Decroly of Brussels similarly first interested himself in the study of defectives and later adapted his methods in use in his special school in Brussels to the teaching of normal children. His methods have been adopted in many of the elementary schools in Brussels. Belgium has a remarkable institution, the colony at Gheel, whose origin goes back to the 6th century, when a shrine was built to St. Dymphna, a martyred Irish saint. The principle of the Colony of some 20,000 inhabitants caring for 2,000 aliens is freedom and home-life in the families of the citizens. Other similar colonies have been founded in the country.
The institutional care of the feebleminded in Holland is almost entirely in private hands, but special schools exist in the towns.
The Scandinavian countries have a good system of special schools and several institutions, and considerable attention has been given to the training of defectives.
It is estimated that there are in Denmark between 6,000 and 7,000 mentally defective persons in a population of 3,500,00o but there are no exact statistics. There are f our large institutions, accommodating about 3,45o persons, and private homes taking 35o patients. Special schools are not compulsory but they are established in most of the large towns such as Copenhagen, which has a school for 700. A Marriage act is on the statute book which prohibits marriage with a mentally deficient person.
Developments in Austria have been considerable since the War. There are special schools and classes for 2,794 children and 20 institutions for the care and instruction of 1,498 mentally defective and epileptic children.
Germany has a fine special school system, with schools in about 600 different places. There are in all about 3,500 classes in these schools, with accommodation for 67,000 children. Most of the special school children have had two years' trial in the elementary school, and those who are not able at the age of six to profit by the elementary school can attend a V orklasse before being drafted into the special or normal schools. In Mannheim since the begin ning of the century and later in Charlottenburg, Frankfurt-on Main and other towns, a system of so-called Forderklassen has been established for the backward child whose mental difficulties may be due to exterior or physical causes and not to mental defect. In other towns there are classes for those who in later years of school life remain backward.
The Institut J. J. Rousseau in Geneva has been of inestimable value in the scientific study of the child. The founder Prof. Ed. Claparede has proceeded on the principle that the abnormal and normal child should be studied at the same time, and the institute has now become a laboratory for the study of the child in all his manifestations. In 1928 preparatory classes were established for children who cannot keep up with the lowest class. There are also "work-classes" which have more manual work even than the special schools. The employment schemes in institutions are admirably organised. The Basle institution was opened in 1916 for the paid employment of defectives and a work and welfare home for girls, with similar aims was opened in 1924 at Komtz, near Berne.
Each institution has a school department for all those who are able to profit by school attendance. The curriculum comprises little or none of the academic studies, reading, writing, and count ing, but is predominantly manual and industrial work. The older inmates work on the farm, in the shops, kitchens, dining rooms, etc., insofar as their mental condition permits. Practically all the work of the institution is done by them—under supervision. The ideal of the institution is to make the children happy. This is accomplished by giving them occupation that is pleasant and agree able. The children are committed to these institutions by the County Court and their maintenance is provided for by the State or in some instances, by the counties.
Property valuation of the State institutions in 1923 was : real estate $35,407,762.01; personal property, $6,078,330.14. This is a total of $1,226.71 per patient. The real estate comprised 44,465 ac. or 1.31 ac. per patient. Of . this approximately one third was under cultivation.
In addition to State institutions, there are 66 private institu tions, usually licensed by the State, but managed for profit. Some of them give most excellent and expert training. Others are little more than custodial. Besides these, many public school systems provide special classes for defective children. These children live in their own homes, go to school as do other children, and devote their time to learning manual work and trades. (H. H. Go.) MENTAL HYGIENE : see PSYCHOTHERAPY, etc.