The Jersey City news., 1899-08-07
BREAD AND WATER WRONG
9. w. Harrison, of Verona
Home, Tells How He
Furnishes Boys and
Girls.
Especial to The Jersey city News..l

Especial to 1.-THE Jersey City News"]
NEWARK, Aug. T. 1899.-No dungeons
or dark cells are to be found in the City
Home at Verona, under the care of G. NJ.
Harrison, such means of punishment
having been abolished long ago. There
are no shackles or strait jackets placed on
refractory girls to bring them to a proper
frame Of mind or to promote and foster
their moral well-being. Mr.. Harrison does
not find it necessary to employ any of
these agencies, and he has girls and boys,
both Of the most trying ages, to manage
and control
He was asked why so many boys were
seen running about, apparently in as free
condition as il at private homes, and
he replied that the boys We're trusted, z
and he found that they did not abuse
their liberty, and were allowed to roam
in the grounds and in what he called
the brook Iot'
but what punishment do you inhict %
he was asked.
We have been trying to work away
from all forms of punishment" was the
answer, land we abolished the cells when
came here. 1t took me three, years to
do it, but l think and have found that
such modes of punishment are menace
to good morals.
If one should construct ever so fine
an institution and run 1t on the highest
plane of treatment, and then put in three
or four cells it's good record would be at
once reduced
What do you think of bread-and- water
treatment?'
Oh said he, emphatically, ..that has
little to justify it. Whatever tends to
create resentment or anger in the hearts
Of the boys or girls is bad, bad for the
institution and bad for the inmates"
WIsfI, then, Mr.. Harrison, what do you
uss as punishment"
In severe cases, when one boy abuses
another, cuts him with knife or hits
him or throws stones at him.. [ use the
whip in moderation. 1t is never used ex-
cepts in those cases, and they know just
nit the act for it follows Immediately.
81 did try once he continued t'to
abolish all forms of punishment. l called
them in before me and | said Now,
boys. am going to abolish the whip and
all forms of corporal punishment and
we'll try that plan and see how 1t works.
1t didn't work. simply had chaos on
my hands for when they felt the re-
straining influence removed they did
things they never thought of doing be-
fore. So had to restore it
But l will say one thing, as a matter
of fact" and he smiled as he said it,
my discipline is not nearly so severe
as that employed at the school where |
was sent as a boy. and which was con-
Quoted by a eleggyman!"
How do you control the girls? was
the next question. you don't whip them,
do your?
s.Ah that's a different problem. With
the boys L can get them to shake hands
with each other and with me, and they
become ashamed of themselves: but the
girls and he looked serious.
Some of the worst cases of girls we
have are very unfortunate IN their moral
natures he continued. sometimes they
are exceedingly vulgar in their language,
that we call the hospital room. 1t is
large and well lighted with plenty Of
ventilation
there?'
.sDays? We never keep them over four
or five hours and they have all the at
tention they want-water and everything
needful. But | don't know when we have
been obliged to use that room. and when
contaminates the others. and / cannot al
low it. And then, besides, such room
is necessity for those who have suicidal
tendencies
The City Home has the reputation of
being model institution of its kind, and
the views of Mr.. Harrison are considered
valuable by reason of his experience, tact
and judgment.
that he liked to encourage their musical
gifts and the social side of their charae-
fers-in short. to treat them as If they
were human beings, with moral and ply
steal natures like more fortunately situ-
ated boys and girls.