The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1937-11-18
DR.. Morse
Retired From
State Duties
Former Home School Super
intendent Has Given so
Years Service
INSTITUTED NEW ERA
AS Head of Hudson, N. Y.
Training School, Abolish
ished Primitive Evils

A recent article written by Anne
Petersen in the New York Times
announces the resignation of DR..
Fannie French Morse as head Of
the State Training School for Girls
at Hudson, N. Y. Mrs. Morse was
head of the Sank Centre Home
Sshool for Girls for many years.
and following her resignation here
went to Hudson. The article in
part follows:
Nearly half century of work
with girls in State institutions will
end for DR.. Fannie French Morse
when she retires next week as SUI
perintendent of the State Training
School for Girls at Hudson. More
than 10000 delinquents have been
under her care during that time
but her interest and faith in the
inherent possibilities of even the
most wayward child has not only
remained unshattered. but has con-
stantly increased.
"The years, the vast and varied
child groups I have studied have
only served to deepen this convic-
tion," she said. that the child is
victim of forces from within or
without itself. Whichever it is, the
child possesses a distinct personal
ity, which must have expression
and receive direction"
Among the numerous tributes to
her approaching retirement DR..
Morse received last week one out
or sill s,h IN
scribed, ITO our dear friend from
the girls of Steward Hail." This is
the name of the school within the
grounds conducted for the girls
education.
DR.. Morse's administration at
Hudson opened in 1928 with a bon
fire of restraining sheets, strait
jackets and prison-made shoes. To-
day it is not unusual for one of the
500 wards committed there by the
Children's Court to make a STIR
ring appeal to DR.. Morse on behalf
of a sister or a friend in the hope
that she may be allowed to join
her. Over the campus, as the girls
call the 125-acre estate, are scat
tered twenty red brick cottages
with blue shutters and white lattice
trim. The guardhouse is now a
teachers residence. The metal
guards on the windows have been
torn away, and there are no other
evidences of the old regime of re-
preston. Not only has the institu-
ton been materially transformed
during DR.. Morse time, but her
administration has set an example
which has worked essential
changes in welfare work.
DR.. Morse will make her future
home in Winter Park, Fla. Her
successor has not yet been chosen
by the Board of Social Welfare.
Hudson is unlike most other in
stitutions because of the attitude Of
mind which we have toward the
girl who comes to it." she explain
ed. 1--WE believe her to be a victim
of circumstances, socially disadvan-
tagged, but full of social potentiali-
ties. Her security and that of So
ciety lie in her rehabilitation. and
her need has proved to be educa-
ton rather than penal custodial
SdiO' <AAu olIlCc BIG Has COUlC IIOIII
the community and must eventual
ly go back to it, we try to give her
training in life through life-situa-
tions and highly socialized pro-
gram"
From this training the girls re-
ceive every opportunity to grow in
social as well as mental stature.
They are allowed IN chOose their
housemates, their vocations, their
studies, and to practice them at the
school until they prove competent,
and occasionally outside when they
are proficient. Those who have be-
come good saleswomen may sell on
special sales days in Hudson, and
mattresses serve at some Of the
local dinners.
In the schools shop which DR..
Morse herself designed, with its
Continued On Page 10. Col. ~