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GRAND JURY REPORTS
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Institution." Ample evidence had existed for several
years. The Child Welfare League of America
investigated the school in the early 1930s and found
insufficient food and clothing, overcrowded
dormitories, inadequately trained teachers, severe
punishments, few recreation opportunities, and little
vocational training.
After the state assumed control over the Cheltenham
school, the grand juries for several months focused on
long standing operational problems, many disclosed as
the State Employment Commissioner evaluated staff for
inclusion in the state merit system. Record keeping
practices were haphazard with many medical and
punishment records nonexistent. There was no resident
physician, and a practical nurse and "Dr. John", the
plumber, handled first aid. The staff imposed
harsh disciplinary measures such as flogging with
rubber hoses, solitary confinement, and bread and
water diets. In 1938 one supervisor was suspended for
hitting two boys with his fists and cracking the skull
of another one. In the latter case no one could find a
record of the assault or the alleged offense of
stealing cigars from the superintendent's office.
Riots and escapes occurred regularly.
On their visits the grand jurors toured the kitchen
facilities and usually ate a meal with the boys.
Unsatisfactory conditions were found frequently. In
1926, the school bakery was turning out heavy,
undercooked loaves of bread. Sometimes the juries were
mystified by the situations they observed. In 1929,
the "food seemed to be plentiful and wholesome but
served by barefooted boys who wore white jackets. The
combination seemed incongruous -- and what lesson was
to be gleaned from this seems an enigma." Ten years
later the boys found the food so unappetizing that
they refused to eat during the jury's visit. Ten years
after that, the jurors found a poorly equipped
kitchen, dishes being washed without
soap, open garbage containers,
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