Fast Facts

Here are some interesting tidbits that summarize information found elsewhere on this site. Also listed below are a few additional facts that have not been previously mentioned. 

 

·          The Training School’s Psychological Research Laboratory, founded in 1906, was the first facility in America specifically dedicated to the study of mental deficiency.

 

·          Dr. Goddard is credited with coining the term “moron.”

 

·          In a study conducted at Ellis Island, Dr. Goddard found nearly 80% of immigrants to be feeble-minded.

 

·          The Kallikak Family, an influential book written by Dr. Goddard in 1912, described a scientific study of heredity and feeblemindedness conducted at the Training School. However, it has since been recognized that the book was mostly fiction and used flawed scientific theory. (See Goddard and Eugenics to learn more)

 

·          The Army Intelligence tests used during World War I were devised at The Training School.

 

·          The Vineland Social Maturity Scale, which measures a child’s ability to adapt to his or her surroundings, was adopted for by the US Government for military use in 1941. This scale was developed at the Psychological Research Laboratory. 

 

·          The Training School changed its name 4 times. Its original name was “The New Jersey Home for the Education and Care of Feebleminded Children”(1888). It was then changed to “The New Jersey Training School” (1893), then to “The Training School at Vineland” (1911), then to “The American Institute for Mental Studies” (1965). Finally, the historic name “The Training School at Vineland” was restored in 1988.

 

·          The Binet IQ test (originally written in French) was first translated into English at The Training School. The translation of this test into English transformed the once unheard of test into a national standard. In addition, this translation triggered the mental testing movement in the United States and around the world.

 

·          The Training Center’s research staff acted as an advisor to the Chilean government on special education in 1929.