Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-03

nc o12II u cll1ffO1 OF iac cl3i%
Public School, at Coldsater. has made
is report on the Nellie Grifin case, IN
pursuance Of TIE request 70 DO 50 made
by the Governor. The board, IN lis
report, states that thorough inyesiiga-
Ioa has been made of the fScss q the
case. AID the report would have been
Submitted sooner bat for desire 10
await the elimination OF tbs work OF
The leg lslatlvs committees appointed 10
investigate the matter. lie commit
tees having compared their l2boTs ana
submitted their reports, one fasoring
and one opposing the dismissal OF Sup
efintendenI Neskirk, TIE board now
make It's report. Ii should be under
stood that tue board. IN recommending
the retention OF superintendent New.
XIX, has paid Difference TO the uDanl-
NOUS request of the county agents of
TIE State, whose acquaintance with the
neeos OF the institution, acquired by
long personal experience, entities tnem
10 A respectful hearing notwlthstand-
ing the mad ciamorlngs OF the short
sighted men who crltcise aud con
denim before knowing the true facts.
The report states first, that IL Is the
unanimous and unqualified opinion of
the board that superintendent New
kirk did not wilfully or Intentionally
Violate any rule or regulation Of the
school, bat, on the contrary, acted IN
perfect good faith. The Michigan
state Public School is the pioneer of its
kind. More than that, II IS the parent
OF all the legislation OF tins State, that
has for its OBJECT the Detterlng OF the
condition OF dependent and neglected
children.
Never Before Censured.
From It's board of control. that legis-
latlon original and unique, having no
precedent anywhere in the world, has
emanatec. The law for the treatment
OF dependent children IN the university
hospital, the law excluding children
from the county poor honscs, the law
preventing the immigration OF depend
ent children into the state, the law tor
the prevention OF cruelty Ia children;
all OF these laws superior 10 those In
force IN any other country--these and
others OF kindred nature have been
placed upon our statute books. Never
before has the work of the school been
censured, or even questioned. On the
other hand, the work has hcen compli-
mented at home and abroad, the school
receiving testimonials of the strongest
character from our centennial expo
sition IN 1876, and a gold medal from
the late Paris exposition. The present
board represents in its members twelve
years and more of servsGe. Thc exper-
fence that comes with acquaintance
with the affairs and needs of the school
has assisted in forming the methods
and pans which are now III vogue.
"ThOse methods used by present en-
ployes," continues tie report, "enable
the State 10 care Tor and teach 200 chill
dren at the school and watch over | 200
more In the homes 1T an expense OF
S45 800 year, sum far less for each
child than is expended for a like pur-
pose by any other state in the Union.
How Nellie Was Taken.
1.-THE system is the sole creation of the
boards OF control in charge since 1871.
1t has been applied by the competent
and faithful employees OF the board Sc
lection, and until today its results, as
We believe, met the cordial approbitiOn
of the people of the entire State. Every
thing was working in harmony at the
school; our corps of teachers, cottage
managers, employees and executive OFF,
GERS giving entire satisfaction, when,
like sudden storm sweeping over the
land, We are startled by n sad calamity.
One of the dear little girls of the school
Is foully murdered by man who had
but few hours before taken her from
the school under u contract of inden-
ture-a man who, as far as We can
learn, had never before committed q
crime. and who stood among his friends
| and neigbbors above roproach. He APP
| peared at the school under an assumed
nsme, but his manner and speech were
such that ail who saw him were much
impressed with his honesty as a man.
Application was made by the superin-
tendcnt to the county agent at Jackson,
near where the man claimed TO reside,
| to investigate the home, and If all were
! satisfactory, to report that fact before
the next day noon; but if no unfavor-
| able report was received at the school
| at that time. the child would be allowed
to go with her guardian. No report
came and the child was placed in the
| care Of her guardian, with the above
result. We all can now see the mis-
take, but who could have anticipated
SO fearful an ending"
Newktrks PoAition.
The superintendent has long had the
fullest confidence of the board of con-
troll and We believe of everybody in and
out OF the school who has had any
| business or social connection with him.
His heart and soul have been IN the
work from his very installation in the
school. What now, under all these
circumstances, is best for the school?
The board recognizes that there is a
divided public opinion, finds itself
obliged to work upon its own best judg-
mcnt and in thus doing. assumes all
responsibility to the public for the well
| fare of the children and the success Of
the institution. Regarding the accept
ance of the resignation of Mr.. Newklrk
as superintendent of the school, which
has been formally rendered 70 US, we
desire to say, that We are not unmind-
! full of the very serious results that have
arsen in the casc OF Nellie Griffin for a
| technical violation OF the law and the
| regulation of this board. None de-
| plore the result more than ourselves.
| We hesitate not to say that Mr.. New.
kirk committed grave error in allow