THE FALLON SCHOOL.

The large Fallon School, on the south side of Chicago, has many classrooms for normal children and has also reserved on the first floor for the exclusive use of crippled children four classrooms and a play room, a kitchen, dining room, and toilet rooms. Four grade teachers give their entire time to the crippled children. In 1915-16, the enrollment was 89, and the average attendance was about 84. In November, 1917, there were 94 children registered, and the average attendance was 90.

All expenses in these classes are met by the city. The teachers receive a bonus of $200. Motor busses are used to transport the children. Hot lunches are provided at noon, and milk or cocoa to drink in the morning. Desks and seats adjustable as to height are provided.

Physical supervision.-A nurse from the Municipal Tuberculosis Sanitarium is in constant daily attendance, dressing sinuses, taking temperatures, etc. A doctor from the same institution comes daily to inspect the children. A special teacher of corrective gymnastics is employed, who gives daily exercises with very beneficial results. A masseur gives massage two days each week to children whose parents grant permission for such treatment. One of the teachers in this school has used songs and rhythmic motion, with music as an accompaniment, in order to make the children more spontaneous in their activity, and has secured excellent results in stretching and strengthening muscles by means of dancing.

Organization. The school sessions last from 9 until 2 during the winter, and summer sessions have been held from 9 until 12 in the morning. Many of the children go to a private camp in summer. The curriculum is similar to that in other public-school classes, except for the increased emphasis upon handwork. All the ordinary processes with paper, raffia, reed, and cloth are taught.

PHILADELPHIA.

The city of Philadelphia has set apart seven special rooms for crippled children in three of the large public schools in different parts of the city. Seven teachers are employed for these classes. Another teacher, paid by the city, is assigned for work with crippled children at the Orthopedic Hospital. The average number of children enrolled for the year 1915-16 was 140 and the average attendance was 126.1 From 20 to 25 children are usually enrolled with each teacher, and an average attendance of about 18 per teacher is maintained.

Two of the three school buildings in which special classes for cripples are located are less well adapted for this work than any newer school

1 For the school year 1916-17, there were eight classes for crippled children, with an average enrollment of 162 and an average attendance of 142.

buildings would be. The three classrooms at one of the schools and two classrooms at the other have each but two windows in one direction. At the Binney annex of the McCall School, where there are three classes, the rooms are so dark that the gas lights are often kept burning at midday. The fundamental needs of fresh air and sunshine can not be met in such rooms. The equipment provided is in every other respect adequate. There are special adjustable seats in all the schoolrooms, and wheel chairs in which the children sometimes rest. Kitchens, dining rooms, and separate toilet rooms for the cripples are provided. All the classrooms for cripples are on the first floor and have no threshholds.

Transportation. The children are transported to and from school in horse-drawn busses contracted for by the city. They are heated in cold weather. Each bus starts its trip at 7.30 and reaches the school between 8.45 and 9 o'clock. Each bus has an attendant, usually a man, in addition to the driver. One of the busses running to the Meade School has a woman attendant. When the children are too heavy for her, the driver carries them into the school.

Lunches. At each of the three schools a matron is employed by the city to assist in looking after the physical needs of the children, and especially to serve their noonday meal and midmorning lunch. The children who can afford it are allowed to make some payment for their meals, but most of the cost is met by subscriptions from philanthropic agencies and interested individuals. Just before Thanksgiving each year contributions of cereals and other food supplies for the benefit of these cripples' classes are taken up in the various schools in each neighborhood where the classes for cripples are located.

Physical supervision. The orthopedic supervision is entirely through the hospitals of Philadelphia. The teachers cooperate with visiting nurses from the hospitals. The school nurse has general supervision of the cripples, as of other children, and a matron is provided in each school where there are cripples, to superintend the serving of their lunches and to act as attendant when needed.

Curriculum. The school work is based upon that of the regular elementary grades, with the addition of a large amount of handwork. The smaller children work with paper, reed, and beads. At the Meade School eight children are doing good work in rug weaving on the one loom which has been thus far provided. Two looms could probably be kept busy. The older children in this school have also made creditable hammocks.

Segregation.-At the McCall School, one of the three rooms assigned to cripples is given to children of the first and second grades who are mentally normal. Another room has children from the third grade up who are of good mentality. The third room has only child

ren of the lower grades and includes those who are mentally dull or actually defective. The teacher of this class has been specially trained for the instruction of mentally retarded pupils.

At the Meade School, each of the two classrooms for cripples has some beginners, but most of the children in one of the rooms are included in the first three grades.

In the second room some children are doing fifth-grade work. About 8 or 9 of the 45 children in these two classes are somewhat retarded mentally. If the number of classes for cripples should increase at this school, these children would be placed in a separate class as they are at the McCall School.

CLEVELAND.

Building and equipment.-In Cleveland, classes for crippled children are conducted in a one-story wooden building located in a large yard at the rear of the Wilson School, one of the best public schools in the city. The building set aside for cripples has classrooms, dining room and kitchen, and surgical dressing room. Desks and seats are adjustable as to height; one central pivot supports both a desk and a seat. Small chairs are used in the kindergarten.

Statistics.-The number of crippled children enrolled during the year 1915-16 was 127, including 17 in the kindergarten; the aver age monthly enrollment was 95.7 and the average daily attendance 87.5. There are six teachers, with an average of about 22 pupils per teacher. The school is financed entirely by the board of education. A principal and six other teachers, including a kindergartner, are employed. They do not receive extra pay for teaching crippled children. Hot lunches are furnished without cost to the children.

Transportation and lunches.-Horse-drawn busses are supplied by the city for the transportation of the children. Each bus has a driver and a guard or attendant, who assists the children who need help.

Physical supervision.-The school nurse inspects the children and visits their homes. For actual orthopedic care most of the children go to the dispensary at Lakeside Hospital. An orthopedic visiting nurse, employed by both this hospital and Rainbow Cottage, s country convalescent hospital, visits the homes of many pupils at this school, although she does not come to the school itself.

Sessions and curriculum.-Sessions are from 9.30 to 3. The work in this school, to quote from a letter from the assistant superintendent of schools of Cleveland

is about the same as we are doing in other schools: Reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, sewing, drawing, molding simple objects, kindergarten work, music, and gymnastics. Our aim is to make these children feel that they are doing what children ordinarily do, and living the natural life.

The handwork includes sewing instruction to a point where the girls are able to make dresses for themselves, basketry, some weaying, and the making of simple toys and pottery.

A census of all cripples in Cleveland has been made recently with a view to discovering in what occupations they can best earn their living.

DETROIT.

The city of Detroit employs two teachers for special classes for crippled children, held in rooms on a lower floor of the Clinton School. The building was remodeled in 1910 in order to provide special rest rooms and lavatories, a kitchen and a dining room for the crippled children. The board of education has recently purchased a site for a separate building for the crippled children.

The total number of different children enrolled for 1915-16 was 76, with 67 as the highest number on the roll at one time during the year. There are three teachers, and the number of pupils per teacher is not often more than 23. Each teacher of crippled children is paid $200 a year more than a teacher doing similar work with children who are not crippled.

Transportation and lunches.-Transportation is furnished by the city. Carriages were used at first, but in 1914-15 a new system was adopted. Since that time the children have been taken to and from school in the police patrols. The report of the superintendent of schools of Detroit for 1914-15 (p. 134) states that, "The children enjoy a much faster and safer trip." The patrolmen serve as attendants, and the superintendent says in the same report that they "have been untiring in their efforts to make the trip as comfortable and pleasant as possible." Free hot lunches are served at noon and crackers and milk in the middle of the morning.

Medical supervision.-An orthopedic surgeon, appointed by the board of health, examines all children applying for admission to the classes for cripples, and visits the school at intervals to examine the pupils and perform small operations. The school nurse gives massage and electric treatments. The Detroit Association for the Aid of Sick and Crippled Children supplies crutches and braces to all pupils in need of such help.

Sessions.-The hours of the sessions are identical with those in other public school classes in the spring and fall; but from November until April, the classes for cripples begin an hour later in the morning, so that the children need not leave their homes so early in cold weather.

Curriculum. The curriculum has a surprisingly close resemblance to that for perfectly sound children. There is more attention paid to handwork, to which all of the children give at least half an hour every day. In addition to the usual hand processes with paper and

ren of the lower grades and includes those who are mentally dull or actually defective. The teacher of this class has been specially trained for the instruction of mentally retarded pupils.

At the Meade School, each of the two classrooms for cripples has some beginners, but most of the children in one of the rooms are included in the first three grades.

In the second room some children are doing fifth-grade work. About 8 or 9 of the 45 children in these two classes are somewhat retarded mentally. If the number of classes for cripples should increase at this school, these children would be placed in a separate class as they are at the McCall School.

CLEVELAND.

Building and equipment.-In Cleveland, classes for crippled children are conducted in a one-story wooden building located in a large yard at the rear of the Wilson School, one of the best public schools in the city. The building set aside for cripples has classrooms, dining room and kitchen, and surgical dressing room. Desks and seats are adjustable as to height; one central pivot supports both a desk and a seat. Small chairs are used in the kindergarten.

Statistics. The number of crippled children enrolled during the year 1915-16 was 127, including 17 in the kindergarten; the average monthly enrollment was 95.7 and the average daily attendance 87.5. There are six teachers, with an average of about 22 pupils per teacher. The school is financed entirely by the board of educa tion. A principal and six other teachers, including a kindergartner, are employed. They do not receive extra pay for teaching crippled children. Hot lunches are furnished without cost to the children.

Transportation and lunches.-Horse-drawn busses are supplied by the city for the transportation of the children. Each bus has a driver and a guard or attendant, who assists the children who need help.

Physical supervision.-The school nurse inspects the children and visits their homes. For actual orthopedic care most of the children go to the dispensary at Lakeside Hospital. An orthopedic visiting nurse, employed by both this hospital and Rainbow Cottage, a country convalescent hospital, visits the homes of many pupils st this school, although she does not come to the school itself.

Sessions and curriculum.-Sessions are from 9.30 to 3. The work in this school, to quote from a letter from the assistant superintendent of schools of Cleveland

is about the same as we are doing in other schools: Reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, geography, history, sewing, drawing, molding simple objects, kindergarten work, music, and gymnastics. Our aim is to make these children feel that they are doing what children ordinarily do, and living the natural life.