STATE BOYS REBELLION - Essay Example

The boys on the basis of their rebellion face ruthless chastisement along with incarceration. Freddy Boyce was a small boy who was sent to Fernald state school after the death of his mother when e was only 8. The boy was given a small IQ test and basing on this test, he was diagnosed with small mental retardation. He with other boys with same problem were denied education and other facilities. They were being sexually assaulted, abused and often quoted by staff members as incapable. The book” THE STATE BOY REBELLION” explains the bad environment and the humiliation faced by the Freddy with other boys.

These boys were called “Retards” and this was very painful word for boys. It shows that they were being treated improperly. Such boys needed especial attention but even their attendant McGinn told the boys about their mental state and importance amongst the other boys. These boys were considered useless (Smith 413). State boys got awareness about civil rights through media. State boys started protesting for the deserved rights. They ran away and were brought back and then again released. Using kids for psychological experiments should be a crime.

In late 90’s, boys were revealed the fact of inhuman treatment at the Fernald. They charged the government and finally won a settlement (Smith 414). A small IQ test should not be the deciding factor of future of anybody. Boys with normal or sub intelligence must be protected instead of labelling them with different words (Smith 414). 2. -Do you think the Fernald School experience of the STATE BOYS a misapplication of science born of a sincere desire to do good? Fernald School was not at all build to raise crime rate.

The government guarded boys having less opportunities and neglect in their real homes. Fernald was not the only institution of this class. There were 270000 normal or mildly boys institutionalized in1967 in US. The number reduced to 47000 in 2002 due to deinstitutionalization (Fost 2006). Institutes like Fernald were never the main concern of the government. It has been learnt through the history that the real home of a children is a big abusive place in America. Instead of feeling more safe and secure, they are being abused in their own homes (Fost 2006).

Most of the home abuses cannot be recognized due to less access of human right agencies. It is difficult to device a method to get prompt child abuse report from any of the home in America. Only the alarming cases come through media (Fost 2006). These state sponsored schools were not kept under strict check that’s why the incidents like radioactive food occur. Now, such incidents cannot happen in any institute, as proper protection is now available. It is not possible to conduct such radiation experience in the future (Fost 2006).

The Fernald School is near its end and going to be shut down. These schools and other schools like this one are really a source of motivating the retarded or normal people who otherwise do not have any share in the society. These sorts of school are safe heavens for needing people. Unfortunately, due to number of problems these schools were closed in many parts in America (Fost 2006). Now we see the bringing up of retarded children in normal school in more conducive learning environment. Now the retarded are given more focused and quality education in a more polite way without facing criticism and abuses.

That is why it si important to shut down Fernald like