New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-02
LETTERS FROM TIE PEOPLE.
REFORM SCHOOL METHODS.

REFORM SCHOOL METHODS.
THE WAYS or Mr.. sQUEERs, As SEEN IN THE MAS
sACHUsETTs INsTIrUuON-How GOV. ANDREW RE-
FORMED ia RELAPSE THAT FOLLOWED
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: In your Saturdays issue you have
paragraph respecting recent development al inc
Massachusetts State Reform School at Marlborough,
which brings into diScraceul notice the management %
that institution. As these developments are the loEc
consequences of past transactions it be worth We
TO recount little OF past history at this time Inc lhsn
tuition in question originally established through lhe
influence OF phianhrOpists who had conceived the dea
that juvenile criminals might DE reclaimed bv Jndcious
process of training and education. In 1sGO john ~
Andrew became convinced that in the management OF
the institution the ideas its projectors not carried
ont and he appointed ms superintendent Mr. Joseph ~
Allen, a gentleman well known for his educational aDhy
and his humanitarian sentiments.
When Mr. Allen assumed char &c OF the institution he
found not a reform school, but penal institution where
the leading idea was that the inmates were reprohatcs
and that puni,lmc alwaysin order The lash was
the principal means relied upon to convert these juvenile
dclnducnts into upright citizens The new supeflh-
endent effected change IN the condition o! AZ
fairs He abolished the lash and degrading punishnentS
He rewarded good conduct 10y substantial marks o. trust
the confidence Of his pupils by course in which
Kindness courtesy, and frmncss were combined. In
very short period a complete revolution was effected in
the moral atmosphere of the institution. The sullcn
compliance offspring Of fear, gave place To cheerful
obedience, and the gloomy air of me prison was re-
placed by the kindly atmosphere OF home. Under me
old ~ zine the inmates seemed possessed on Wlld ldca
n, 0Ig AT all times and took advantage of every Ocra-
siou Ia crafty it under the only trouble arose
from puls running back 20 tho institution when placed
IN families where they were not well treated
Bnt Mr. Allen committed two unpariOhahle mistakes.
He abolished the lash and c formal prayers with which
the days of torture were nshcrcd IN lie showed ms re-
i1on by his work. and converted The golden rule into
nInrrica lyin2. Here intidc!iiy for you! new
Governor upon whom tho mantle or Gov. Andrew ana
not fan aDuontch President or the Board man III
tu syHuathy the old IL, thods OF CONTROL ana, IN con-
sequence, Mr.. Allen TesigHcd 49,
IravrIs and the whip were bOth rclnStatci. BguNy
was fed and I-Uiccd exceedingly over tits victory
of vital religion The humaniAng influences one by one
disapOcarrd and 1T last al the vices born OF oppression
and dpsiY rcignrd supreme. IN raising the val from
This scene OF wrctccdHrss and woe after so many years
W., ace n dead c!nld-lune to Gcaih by official brutality
and Ignorance others fa.uting from scOurgiugs rOn
which death would he happy release, ami others sun
drenchrd with water and bruised, black ana blue lc-
tou has riycn The horrors of Mr. Squccrss DOthC-
bovs Hall ana Mr. HOWe'> model jail, but fiction pals
before tho casy realities here disclosed That the gro
tcsnue should not he wanting 10 complete the horrible.
PRAYERS have not neimittcd, and attendance at chapel
has been regular and-cOmpulsory.
There is danger perhaps or too great admiration iOr
fine old commonwealth 81 Massachusetts, her ujtrics
ana her culture and there be providence IN the
fact that occasionally The old impulse which lea
The Puutaus to hang Qudkcra ana witches should crop
orr in tLrr descendants. TAis faint the blood Is 50
eX oients Of the Puritan spirit at The present day VIII
excuse and defend the barbInty when 10 DlOt upon
humanity and "a disgrace TO civilization j.
Neic- iOTk, April /, 1917.