Yoakum, C: Care of the Feeble-Minded and Insane in Texas, Vo

Excerpt from Care of the Feeble-Minded and Insane in Texas, Vol. 16: November 5, 1914

Every state, to maintain the highest efficiency in its govern mental and social functions, must consider the nature of its citi zens. We are in the habit of dividing citizens into two classes based on their value to society or their amenableness to social custom and law, - desirable and undesirable citizens. The latter class comes in con¿ict with law and is generally considered a menace to good government. Scientific study and research today show us that this class is composed of two groups, the delinquent and criminal, or, properly speaking, the undesirable citizen, the class that has ideas and performs actions that are inimical to social health; and a second group composed of the mental and moral defectives and the defective - delinquent, the socially unfit through deprivation of desirable qualities and by inheritance of undesirable ones, from defective strains, and diseases.

The criminal code, jails, prisons, and all forms of punishment are of no avail in dealing with the second group. They are not responsible individuals and any means suitable to the reformation of the adult human in society will fail of its purpose when applied to these mental and social defectives. The development of the juvenile court, the indeterminate sentence, the parole system, etc., are evidence of society's attempt to reform, and reclaim the border line cases between the classes above described. However, without special institutions, such as parental schools and schools for feeble minded, where special training by experts can be given, none of the defectives can be reclaimed and the large majority of this class can never be self-controlled or self-sustaining even after the best' training available. They must always depend on others for care and support. The insane, while socially unfit, are also sick. The immediate social problem here, when' once understood, is rel atively simple; yet from the standpoint of society the insane be long, during the continuance of the disease, in the second class, among the socially unfit and irresponsible.

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