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MIDDLEBURY CAMPUS, MIDDLEBURY, VT., OCTOBER 3, 1934msMember nal Collegiate i Associationrtim in nnrtmt mu wit urn 8B mwww w»»» wtit »nr»wi wir «..» »■■«! »»■■» »»■■* ^ ,JIJ' ”1 jHere and Thereby Isabel H. DaisiesMiddlebury, Vermont,s M. Chaffee,193 ?Women'i Editorel H. Davies,193(5M. Wilkinson,193 6y A. Williams,193 6izabeth Coley,193?issociatc Manager’36No. 2JJUIAMIU »lltA *‘1“ *“tl *||a ***** 11111 ***** ******giate institution 'eek. Visiting of I st of the student o be at their best! it is a most unbest way out ofJ creates a situa-ne time, few can itrolled in some bury. If rushing shmen would be teir eagerness to with no know-e railroaded into • collegiate lives.Miss Elin Anderson of the Eugenics Survey of Vermont addressed the Mid-dlebury League of Women Voters at the first fall meeting held last Friday in the community house. Her talk dealt with the social factors of community life.“The question of eliminating the socially unfit by sterilization is a two-edged sword/’ said Miss Anderson, “but by means of birth control we may hope to gain the same result, with less protest.”“In America it is very difficult to disseminate the necessary information.” she continued, “not only because there has been a certain taboo but because we have few clinics organized for this purpose. Howe* er, where birth control has existed legally, as in Holland and Sweeden, it has been found to have a high eugenic value.”The speaker said that because many people of all social classes realize the importance of limiting the number of children, maternity welfare stations should be set up in both rural and metropolitan districts, and the facts be made available to all these who.desire them.“The eugenic dilemma occurs not only in poor families but in every class,” said Miss Anderson, “and the tendency is to ignore the environmental influences that give breadth of opportunities, facilitate the ebb and flow of human worth, and change with succeeding generations.“Regression of good stock is accompanied by the rise of less able gvouos and birth control, if not sterilization, must be exerted to keep down the proport on of those lacking in desirable qualities. In considering marriage we recognize the need for similar economic, social, and eugenic backgrounds, but what about hereditary traits?”, asked the speaker. “If one family is an hereditary carrier of mental deficiency, marriage into another may increase the chances for abnormality in their children. Yet we can net speakobjectively about breeding a great race by artificial selection, for the problem Is a very personal one and few of us would be willing to subject ourselves to a vigorous examination of our own heredity. Even if marriage is restricted, we can not hope to eliminate all undesirables.”“One factor which has hitherto been o-erlooked is environment, said the speaker, explaining that it is responsible for as many taints and stresses as heredity. “By making the environment suitable we can give people an opportunity to show their intrinsic worth and to develop such qualities of mind and character as will give them a rich appreciation of our civilization.”Miss Anderson then mentioned the possibilities of creating a state planning board to work in conjunction with the Vermont committee on community l'fs and with the aid of federal subsidies. One of its duties would be to provide state-wide health insurance similar to the plan already in operation in Brat-tleboro. Here a system has been perfected whereby every family pays an annual fee of $3. and .50 cents for every child under ten years of age. In return th-y are entitled to receive medical attention at half cost for all sickness expenses up to $300.The department of public welfare should be strengthened to provide central cooperation rather than local independence and authority concern'ng lelief grants,” added the speaker. “Codifying the laws of social conditions is almost immediately necessary, she said, “for new we find them jumbled with fish and game regulations.”“It should be the concern of every community to make itself an ideal community,” remarked Miss Anderson in conclusion. “Through a program of adult education in neighborhood sections we can be assured of the willing cooperation among different types of people. In this way we will build a nation that appreciates the richness of living.”
Newspaper Details
Middlebury Campus
Middlebury, Vermont, US
Wed, Oct 03, 1934
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert C.
USA 24 Mar 2024
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