Why Pennhurst State School really closed down.

This news article will explain why Pennhurst State School near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania really closed down. It did not close down due to popular belief of slavery or it being haunted.

Pennhurst State School did not only close due to popular belief of its inhumane conditions and unlawful abusive treatment towards patients. Pennsylvania Department of Mental Hygiene and the administration of Pennhurst State School were attempting to teach the mentally challenged real life skills so that they would function correctly on their own. Job skills were taught to these patients.

Pennhurst State School was shut down because the patients were used as laborers in the farm fields. Pennhurst State School used patients as unpaid laborers in their farming operations when the institution was still in operation. This led to the Pennhurst State School v. Halderman lawsuit and new Fair Labor Standards Act laws requiring patients be paid. Pennsyvlania Department of Mental Hygiene could not afford to pay its patients from their budget. So after the 1970s, farming operations ceased.

Patients were recruited to compensate for their staff shortages and inadequacies from lack of finances in the budget. So there was no job protection or no worker rights. Or any remuneration for that matter. People were used for a variety of functions in order to save the institution money. This was the state’s attempt to engage patients in constructive work and in constructive activities. Patients did pretty much slave labor.That was the sad reality.

The administration of Pennhurst State School was attempting to teach the mentally challenged things our stupid kids and many people can't do for themselves anymore.

Pennhurst State School was a concentration camp. Many activists have criticized the state failed to provide “appropriate treatment” in the “least restrictive” environment.