Report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. [1915]

70 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
REPORT OF SPECIAL CLASSES
FRANK CODY, ASSISTANT SUPEHINTE1NDENT, DETROIT, 'MICHIGAN.
At the beginning of the spring term in nineteen hundred and three,
a room was opened in the Russell School for what were then called backward children. An especially strong teacher was put in charge, after
having visited and observed similar classes in Springfield and Boston,
Mass. It was then thought that with the special attention thus afforded,
these "backward" children would soon be able to return to their regular
classes, prepared to do regular school work.

BOYS' PREVOCATIONAL CLASS.

We now know most of these then called backward children are really
feebleminded and are forever unable to compete with normal children
in regular grade work.
From this beginning in the Russell School, other rooms were opened
in various schools until in June, 1910, nine sich special rooms had been
established without any special supervision.
In September, 1910, the work was put under the supervision of the
General Supervisor and thoroughly organized. A special medical inspector was appointed by the Board of Health and some attempt was
made to use the Binet tests. But it was not until a year later that all
children admitted to special classes were examined by the Binet scale.
In September, 1911, a Binet examiner was allowed part time to make
the examinations which was followed by the physical examination before
assigning to a special class.