The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20
he is an institution inmate and the officers

| he is an institution inmate and the officers
are looked upon as brutes.
Is 1t any wonder that people who have 80
littlo knowledge OF incorriRible boys and
girls. and who are prejudiced against the
| officials OF an institution should 80 readily
believe the charges OF abuse2
The managers Of juvenile reformatories
and kindred institutions are selected from
the best sort OF citizens, and 1t is to be as
sumed that they in turn select the best
qualified people they can find to put in
immediate charge OF such institutions. 1t
Is fair, also, to presume that most OF the
people thus selected will cndeavor to per-
form their duties TO the best OF their ability.
But IL must be borne IN mind that they are
taxed to their utmost to control the incor-
rigibles, and when defled by them feel them
selves compelled to gain control or suffer
defeat. Any effort to gain control can easily
be charged to cruelty
That severe measures are sometimes BE-
sorted to cannot be doubted. Former
methods OF discipline proceeded upon the
principle that every act OF disobedience
should be visited with corporal punish
mcnt. This method tended to severity and
even to abuse, although not 80 intended.
Public protests against such methods have
led to the adjustment OF corporal punish
ment in many institutions The wisdom OF
this course may be questioned, and yet it
has seemed necessary In order to check
abuses Of the old method.
II the old method was wrong what is the
right method2 1t is the method that will
confer the greatest benefit upon the boy or
girl. and at the same time maintain proper
discipline Severity will secure discipline,
but it tends to harden the child. That
which benefits the child will benefit the
discipline Severity meets bad boy on his
own ground. He expects 1t and he is pre-
pared for it. Firmness combined with true
kindness, not foolish sentiment, will reach
most cases. How to treat the exceptional
cases Is tho difficult problem. DR.. SAMUEL
JOHNSON laid down the principle, children
being not reasonable must be governed by
fear" He referred to the exceptional cases.
the incorrlgibles.
We are inclined to think there ore some
cases. very few perhaps, that can be cured
in that way better than in any other.
Misfortunes OF ono kind and another have
befallen most Of the children who find their
way into institutions. As a result they
have fallen into evil ways which in turn
have caused them to be i'll treated on every
hand, until they have learned to distrust
everybody. For this reason 1t Is exceed
ingly difficult to gain their confidence.
What they need Is sympathy and friend
ship; not sickly sympathy, nor friendship
that terminates with the first sign OF bad
conduct, but that interest In their welfare
that seeks to benefit and elevate them.
II the officers and employees Of institu-
tions were governed by such spirit they
would gain the confidence and good will Of
the majority Of inmates secure obedience,
and avert tho charge Of cruelty. Not that
they could invariably avert such charges,
for as long as there is an incorrigible boy
who defes all authority and a sentimental
list who sympathizes with him and yell
low journal to raise the cry charges Of
cruelty are likely to arise.
We have the incorrigible children to con-
troll and elevate, and we have the officers.
teachers and employees who are endeavor-
ing to perform this most difficult task We
should not add to the burden Of tho latter
by misguided sympathy with the former.
Nor should we overlook the fact, we'll
known to all philanthropists, that thou
sands Of hayward children have been saved
from a life Of crime because Of the training
and instruction received In our reforma-
tory institutions.