New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-02
A LONDON EDUCATOR.
MISS H. MoRTEN IS HERE EXAMINING
PRISON METHODS.
SHE coMMENDs THE SYSTEM AND COMPARES II
WITH THAT IN HER OWN cITY-A MEN,
Der OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.

| Der OF THE SCHOOL BOARD.
The Nurses Settlement, at No. $S Henry-st. mas
as a guest Miss H. Morten, who is on the schoo
| Board OF London. and is also member OF the
Press Committee for the forthcoming lnternatiofhi'
Council Of Women In that city.
She has come 10 this country on flying visit 70
| look into the system OF educational work IN the
| United States as connected with prisons ana re-
| formatories.
Before leaving London Miss Morten brought De-
fore the committee a resolution 10 introduce educa-
| tional work in the prisons, and this VIII come pc
fore the full Board to be voted upon on June IL.
At that time she will be present 10 give detaiieu
account OF her impressions Of the work as carried
on here and will make such suggestions TO the
| Board may seem advisable.
In pursuit of her object Miss Morten has visited
| the Tombs School. under the care Of WIZARD
| Parker and the Elmra Reformatory. She Will also
visit the penitentiary at Blackwelfs Island ana
possibly the prisons at Auburn. n. Y.
Mr.. Parker's work Miss Morten commends unre-
servedly both for its practically and for the hu-
name touch that marks the relationship between
Mr. Parker and his boys
LAS for Emlra," said Miss Morten TO Tribune
| representative. while admiring some of it, l am
far from giving unqualified approval The educa-
tional work is admirable. but the system Oh
doubling prisoners in cells Is very bad Indeed In
regard 10 crammed schools and prisons. the Amer
would never dream of doubling cells That Is a
fault Of nation that Is growing quickly that II
can't quite catch up with its population We're an
Older country. and have not only got up TO our
population. but are ahead of 1t. We have more
school sites than need now.
zone Of your Americans who came over with
me-" continued Miss Morten., said The only thing
America needs Is another hundred years and be-
lieve H."
Asked by The Tribune reporter how the corela-
tion OF Settlement work. prison educational WORK
and school work had come about in her busy life'
she said: "They just came together naturally IN
Settlement work becomes greatly interested IN
the boys who attend the classes and clubs FIRST
you know one is missing; he has been arrested TOT
breaking window or some other piece .of mischief
nothing malicious. He is taken 10 the prison..
and when he leaves there he is criminal win
nothing useful employ his mind or time. ne rails
in with criminals. and soon becomes one OF them
and we have lost our hold on the boy. So 1t came
about that grew interested In prison work along
educa tional lines and all came together.
What I want now is establish night schools
among the prisoners not 10 be carried by volun-
teer workers but by the state. am not great
believer In philanthropy except IN showing 'he
way and then let the state take tne Work up, ,a -
English prisons since Mrs. Frye's time MISS
MoIte1 has been the first woman mar nr IN
winter she began giving lectures TO the women IN
Norwood Scrubs. London. but she Is anxious TO
extend the work now 40 as to embrace both men
and women. ..
schools was easily carried In the commttee; the
project being so new as almost to dumfound the
members. And she hopes that the full Board VIII
Although exceedingly busy with her work at Hox-
ton Settlement and the larger eduGatlona ana t re-
finds time 10 do some writing. She was Tor Tour
years connected with Journalistic WORK being on
here on June on the Aurania.