New Britain herald., 1930-03-27

 like institutions for brutality before being employed here. One of the men concealed this fact and present. cd misleading credentials.
 Staff Too Old
 Others of the staff, the board found, the men who have spent years in this and other similar institutions, are either of such advanced age, dull mentality, coarsened fibre or them- selves so thoroughly institutionalized, as to be temperamentally incapable of the type of leadership and under standing demanded to successfully develop good and repress bad quail ties," one of the chief purposes of the school under the law.
 After quoting the law under which the school was founded and which specified that 1t was not to be penal institution, rather one where boys with poor home environment might be guided away from crime and made into useful citizens, the board declares:
 'The purpose of the institution is to train boys to take their place in society," as useful citizens who will perform their obligations to the community without conflict with it's laws. The ideal stated in the bylaws is high. It demands inspired lead ership, high type of enthusiasm and intelligent personnel; men whose vision and habit is not that of the prison guard, but more that of the scoutmaster, the friend and leader of the boys. capable of commanding their respect and loyalty. According to these standards the institution has failed"
 poral punishment which it is per mitted to employ flor some high misdemeanor or repeated offense, and in severe punishment. only in the presence of the uperintcndent or that of his assistant" the board declares that it is couched in such general language that each super visor has set mp his own standard and proceeded against his own temper and temperament. This, it | finds has led to manifest injustice, 1 intempcrance and excess, tending strongly to defeat the purposes to be served by such an institution.
 Rule Violated
 | Further it finds the rule pertain ing to the inflicting of corporal pun ishment according to statements by | inmates and the admission of super visors and other officers clearly cs- | tablish that this rule has been re- pcatedly violated and that instances of tyranny and ill-temper were abundantly established and dcmon- stratcd the unfit character of many of the officers.
 As to corporal punishment the board declares that Eff boys can be educated and kept in order any where, without beatings of any nature, the, same thing can be, and should be, done in Connecticut. Corporal punishment serves no con- structive purpose. It is justiiable only to reduce rebellion. It should be abandoned as soon as the results of an intelligent and affirmative pro- gram have made it unnecessary"
 There is a forbiddns and depress- ing atmosphere about the institution which savers more of an old time prison than q school for boys, the report says, adding that although the rule states that there shall be no more restraint than shall be necessary to develop good and re- press bad qualities, it was impress. cd that the restraint actually excr- cised has been both oppressive and depressing.
 In further comment upon Super intcndent Boyd the board said that it must be said that many, if not most of the matters brought to light were revelations to him. An honorable and humane man who has meant well and dealt justly with matters brought to his atten- ton, it said, his failure was that of omission rather than commission; that he was ignorant of what it was his duty to know.
 The trustees are described in the report as respectable gentlemen, who serve without compensation, meet with reasonable frequency, and were unaware of conditions as the board