lot of adolescent homosexuality is simply sexuality temporarily diverted into the only available channel. Lastly, the quality of sexual relationships between boys at my school seems to me to have been no less genuine than that of those I have observed since then. In particular, some boys who fell in love were capable of the most touching and rewarding emotions in their inevitably hopeless passions.

My conclusions are these:

1. Most serious homosexual activity in boarding schools is a second-best and would not occur if girls were present, either at home or (even more so) at school.

2. Homosexual experience need not be harmful unless it is more emotional and permanent than is usually the case; on the other hand it might tip the scales in border-line cases and certainly often causes distress to boys when they subsequently try to change the direction of their sexual feelings.

Homosexual experience of an emotional and sincere form can be beneficial in the sense that it may act as a tolerable substitute for normal adolescent behaviour, just as a girl's crushes can lead easily to normal love-affairs; in intelligent or sensitive people, it can sometimes enrich the minds and memories of those involved.

4. But whatever the reasons and excuses for homosexuality in boarding schools, and whatever good there may be in it, it is in general a degrading and conspiratorial business which would be better done away with; as things are, however, it is unavoidable and will not be eliminated by either punishment or sympathy.

5. There is no substitute for girls.

mailachine REVIEW

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CALLING SHOTS

(Continued from Page 10) and he was found dead. Officers said he took his own life. He had been reported missing from his Detroit home last 'Thursday.

Wiles defense counsel in the local case had indicated he intended to appeal the conviction to the Michigan Supreme Court. The defense contended police entrapment had been used in the case against Wiles.

SEX HOSPITAL DIRECTOR WEATHERS CRITICAL STORM

Dr. Robert S. Rood, medical director and superintendent of Califomia's Atascadero State Hospital, the institution 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles near the coast where some 1400 individuals adjudged as "sexual psychopaths" are treated, weathered the fire of criticism forged at him in March and has retained his post.

Because of the publicity following the walk-out of a few patients, most of whom were returned promptly to the hospital, and because of the criticism by a judge and a few citizens—including several old ladies-of the small town of Atascadero nearby, Dr. Rood was charged with being lax at the hospital, and permitting "dangerous sex psychopaths and felons" to roam the countryside at various times, and in some cases, not to return. Then as the seething criticism mounted, an unfortunate incident occurred within the hospital-an attendant was killed by a patient.

Patients in Atascadero State Hospital are the state's sex offenders who

have been committed by courts after a trial and conviction, but before a sentence to a penal institution. In the hospital these persons are enrolled in various group therapy and psychoanalysis procedures, most inclusive of which is the patient-operated "Emotional Security Program."

That the program works is proven in California by a fine record of rehabilitation and adjustment (with the impetus for it coming from the patient himself; the hospital seems to hold the forward view that it cannot make anyone do anything) for hundreds-even thousands-of offenders who have been released and who have shown a remarkably low rate of recidivism.

That some policies of security were in need of revision and strengthening was also evident before the criticism was voiced. Dr. Rood had already been working on that problem.

For his calm demeanor when under fire, and for his cool and wise words to his patients during the storm, Dr. Rood's message in the March issue of the NEW OUTLOOK, patient newspaper produced in an occupational therapy printshop, are worthy of note. Here is what he said:

"Reflecting on recent criticisms of our operation, I wish to emphasize that the strong feature of our program is the positive attitude we bave to-

ward patients and their ability to im prove. As you know, bere, there is no suggestion that any patient is abused or rejected as a person. Thus we avoid the attitude that bas ruined many hospitals for the criminal insane as well as penal institutions. It is our