The Great Ryder-Howe Scandal of 1890

9/25/2020

OVERVIEW: In 1890, two weeks before two students, Ryder and Howe, were set to graduate, a series of events unfolded that got them expelled from what was then called Bridgewater State Normal School. Included here and on the syllabus are a series of letters between faculty, the then president of the school (Boyden--called Principal Boyden at the time), community members who fought on behalf of the two young women, and a letter from one of the women themselves to a faculty member who voted for their expulsion. Also, included here are excerpts from images from the original letters as well.

Read through the letters and take a peak at these letters in all their 1890 glory. You may struggle a little with the language--because people spoke and wrote very differently then--but I think you'll get the gist of it.

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In your Reader's Notes, try to identify ways that this situation, while seemingly feeling like something that would never happen today, feels familiar. What would be the 2020 version of this kind of scandal at BSU? Can you imagine anything like this happening on our campus today? And how would it go down? What does it say about how things have changed or not changed in terms of how the role and place of women in our society?

Remember, you have 250-300 words. You can do this. If you are struggling to get to 250 words, there are a lot of ideas for how to get to that number (which is really not a lot) in the Reader's Notes,assignment page.

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14 Comments

Laura Schnitzer

9/27/2020 07:04:31 pm

The Great Howe Ryder Scandal of 1890 is about two female students that went to Bridgewater State Normal School and “violated the schools regulations.” One student was named Mary Wyman Howe born in Shrewsbury, MA in 1870. Before going to Bridgewater she attended her town of Shrewsbury High School. The other student was named Helen Freeman Ryder born in Provincetown MA in 1869. She also attended her town of Provincetown High School before going to Bridgewater. They both enrolled in February 1888. These two students Mary Wyman Howe and Helen Freeman Ryder were both alleged for breaking the school's rules. They were called out by one of their female classmates. She went to the schools administration to talk to Principal Boyden about Mary Wyman Howe and Helen Freeman Ryder. She told him that “these two women, early in their course, had violated school regulations by going for a Sunday walk with two young men who were not students of the school.” This occurred one week before both students were expected to graduate from the two year program at Bridgewater State Normal School. Now in 2020 I could not imagine a scandal like this would happen on campus. If there were to be a scandal on campus it could involve cheating, lying, and being dishonest. The way it would be taken care of is by federal investigation and statement hearings. That was true in 1890 as well they had statement hearings and took federal investigation of The Great Howe Ryder Scandal case. After reading this article I found it interesting how the different the scandals would be now compared to 1890.

Kyle McCrea

9/28/2020 06:32:55 am

The Great Howe Ryder Scandal of 1890 involved two females who attended Bridgewater State Normal School. The two females whos names are, Mary Wyman Howe and Helen Freeman Ryder. These two women broke code when they went for Sunday walk with two men who did not attend Bridgewater State. All of this happened before the two women were just about to graduate from the two year program at Bridgewater State. In 2020, this would not be a scandal on campus, well maybe with Covid and all of the social distancing. If someone was to get caught breaking the social distancing rules, then they would be kicked off campus and that would be a large scandal. I don't think this scandal would be dealt with by federal investigation but it would be met with the force of the campus police and the Dean of Admissions.

Tk Okla

9/28/2020 06:40:32 am

In the document two girls who were about to graduate from Bridgewater were removed because they went on a walk with boys that did not attend the school on a Sunday. The punishment of removing them just before graduation was strongly harsh. I don’t believe that something as small as that should be resulted in such strong punishment. If it were to happen today I feel like the girl would be kicked out of the school because she murdered the boy she went on a walk with or she sexually harassed him in some sort. but , simply going on a walk with the other gender shouldn’t be such a big deal. During those days I believe they took such acts so seriously because they didn’t want girls to get pregnant at the time or be in any sexual relation with the other gender. There weren’t even a lot of males at the “normal school” to begin with, and even if there were they were probably separated. I also believe that they were so quick to suspend them because the school had a name they had to maintain and they probably felt like if they didn’t act on it , it would tarnish the image of the school. Today women are treated way differently than they were back then. If this was a rule today I feel like the male is more likely to get in trouble than the female due to the fact that the male is usually seen as more harmful or “bigger” than the female.

Allyson Spencer

9/28/2020 06:46:24 am

The Great Howe Ryder Scandal of 1890 is about two young women that attended Bridgewater State Normal School. The two women were, Mary Wyman Howe and Helen Freeman Ryder. A week before graduation, another student went to administration and said that the young women had violated school regulations early on in their courses. The two girls had gone on a “Sunday walk with two young men” that did not attend Bridgewater State Normal School. This resulted in the girls being expelled and unable to graduate. They were expelled just one week before graduation. There would not be a scandal like this in 2020. The 2020 version of this scandal would be if someone was being very disrespectful or threatening the safety of others around them. If someone was being disrespectful and hateful while representing BSU they will be expelled or denied from the university. It has been made very clear that this behavior is not acceptable. The role and place of women has definitely changed. It would not be considered a scandal if two young women went on a walk with two young men. Comparing from now to 1890 it is very interesting to see the difference in scandals and to also read the letters that they wrote in response to the scandal.

Colm McDonough

9/28/2020 06:51:51 am

Mary Wyman Howe was from Shrewsbury Ma, and attended Shrewsbury High School. Hellen Freeman Ryder came from Provincetown Ma, and attended Provincetown Highschool one year prior to Mary. Both ended up enrolling at BSU in February 1888. However a week before they were to graduate in January 1890, another female student informed the school that they had violated school regulation early in their Course. This violation was going on a Sunday walk with two youngmen who were not students or the school. These two women were never reinstated to the school. Now I believe that they should not have been denied the right to graduate. Because walking on campus does not seem like a big deal. But if it was against the rules, which it was mentioned it is, then maybe they should have been charged with a fine or a punishment. I am a little confused but this whole reading. It seemed that some of the other students did not like Howe or Ryder. So it would make sense that they would want them gone. Comparing this to today's events, I do not think this would have been a big deal. Maybe they get fined and can not walk the stage for their diploma. But during Corona, it makes a little bit more sense to be harsher on these punishments. Women were treated very differently back then too. So maybe this had something to do with the scanda. I guess this is a good demonstration of why you should always follow the rules.

Emily Bachman

9/28/2020 07:27:22 am

The great Howe Ryder Scandal of 1890 was about two young women who were students of Bridgewater State University. The scandal was about these two women by the names of Mary Wyman Howe and Helen Freeman Ryder that were walking around on campus with two unknown boys who did not go to Bridgewater. These two students were seniors that were just about to graduate and one woman had gone and told the administration that they should not be given their diplomas that next week at graduation. There was a whole trial to see whether it was the right choice to expel the two students. What was decided was that they were going to be expelled and that nobody would be able to associate them with these two students after being gone. Helen and Mary were both wanting to get a mother investigation to get their names cleared but clearly it did not happen. The statement that was concerning the case of the two girls was clearly written by the Principal of the school. In the statement it says, "The conduct of Misses Ryder and Howe was brought to my noticeably a young lady of the graduating class informing one of my lady assistants that several members of the class, ,after consideration of the matter, had come to the conclusion from what they had see and heard of the conduct". In my opinion, it was kind of stupid to expel them for a “crime” like that. Who knows who they could have been? They could have been family for crying out loud. The girl had no right to call them out for doing that.

Alexis Maldonado

9/28/2020 07:39:52 am

The Great Ryder-Howe Scandal of 1890 is a scandal that involves 2 women named Mary Wyman Howe from Shrewsbury, MA and Hellen Freeman Ryder from Provincetown, MA. This scandal took place January 1890 at Bridgewater State University a week prior from graduation from a 2-year program. These 2 ladies supposedly violated school regulations by going for a Sunday walk with 2 young man who were not from the school. An unnamed student initiated the complaint and furthermore said that the entire class agreed to the fact that these 2 ladies should not be given diplomas. Principal Albert G. Boyden and the staff agreed to expel the students for continuously violating the rules. The evidence that Principal Albert had was the opinions of fellow students, faculty and administration, and the community. In 2020 this is something that could never happen because there are measures to solve situations like these nowadays as well as rules that are in place to prevent things like that from happening. I can’t really say what I think today’s version of this scandal would be because I could not imagine that happening in 2020. Many things have changed in terms of how women are in our society now. Before women didn’t really have much of say or couldn’t do many things without their husbands’ approval. Women didn’t have any rights and overall, they were looked as “less.” Fast forward to 2020 and women have power and the ability to speak freely. They have rights that they didn’t before and they play a crucial role in our society today.

Grace Reardon

9/28/2020 07:41:05 am

The Great Howe Ryder Scandal of 1890 was about two young girls going on a sunday walk with two boys who didn't attend the school. The administration found out because a student told on them and said they did not deserve to graduate. Many community members, including a Reverend, stood up for the girls saying they deserved to graduate. The 2020 version of this would be sneaking people into the dorms. We are not allowed to have any guests in our dorms, not even students who live in other halls. Bridgewater has been taking this pandemic very seriously and the consequences for breaking these rules are to the fullest extent. People in my hall have already been told to leave because they were sneaking multiple people in. This scandal reminds me of the girls being kicked out, because they were sneaking boys into the dorm. Both involved girls and guys, which usually ends in an uncomfortable situation. ANother instance that has happened was a girl posted a very racist post, including blackface, and it was immediately reported to the administration. Students did not want her in our school, so the administration did a full investigation and decided she was no longer going to be a student here. Our school definitely changed in the aspect of being more understanding and fair to the person being accused. Today Bridgewater would not just kick someone out, they always do a fair investigation on the matter and come to a decision. Things have changed because a woman going on a walk with a male student we think nothing about it, because nothing is wrong with it.

Leona Cotton

9/28/2020 07:47:38 am

In The Great Ryder-Howe Scandal of 1890, the 2 female students Ryder and Howe were walking on campus with 2 other men that were not from the school. Them walking around on campus with the 2 men got them expelled. The guidelines back then were very much strict and how people should say, over the top. Thinking of the present I wouldn’t believe BSU would expel students for that reason at all. I feel as though now BSU would expel students for a real reason. For example, harassment isn’t allowed or tolerated on or off campus. I feel, well hoping that situation the students that were involved will get expelled immediately. Now In 2020 I feel a “Scandal” would be if a student refuses to wear a mask because they don't like it or it feels uncomfortable. The student would be asked to leave if they don't wear it and then most likely ask them to leave if not so. In 1890, it seems as though anything you do that wasn't looking good to the eyes of the head people of the school you could get expelled. You were more likely to get expelled than to actually graduate. Clear to say, women had it worse than men back then around that time. If there were 2 men from the campus and 2 women who weren’t, I believe there would have been no punishment. Women were treated unfairly and misunderstood by the eyes of everyone. In today's society or campus I believe women have somewhat equal opportunities more than in 1890 of course.

miah poindexter

9/28/2020 08:00:27 am

Mary Wyman and Helen Freeman were the two students of what was the Bridgewater State Normal School that were involved in the 1890 Great Howe Ryder Scandal. They broke the school code one Sunday by going for a walk with two men who did not attend the school. In doing this it caused them to be expelled from the school. They were removed from the school right before graduation which as seen as very unfair to some people. I don’t think that it was not fair at all and if something like this was to happen today at Bridgewater State University it would of played out way differently. We are now in a different era and things of that simplicity are not considered breaking the school code. We now have dorms where there are boys and girls in the same building. You don’t really have rules as to who and when you can associate yourself with someone. Things have changed tremendously from 1890 to 2020. Back in the day’s women were not treated as equal as men and they were seen as lesser value or not as important. Now women have accomplished more and are looked at higher and with more respect. Women don’t have to follow certain rules that men don’t have to follow anymore. If something like that was to play out now like it did in the 1890 teachers would have been in more trouble and it would not have been able to be accomplished. I feel that the situation was taken to far but in those days the punishment seemed pretty accurate.

Essiah Marcial

9/28/2020 08:33:48 am

Mary Wyman and Helen Freeman were the two students of what was the Bridgewater State Normal School that were involved in the 1890 Great Howe Ryder Scandal. They broke the school code one Sunday by going for a walk with two men who did not attend the school. this act caused them to be expelled from the school. They we're removed from school right before graduation which I believe was very unfair, I am biased because in this day and age we have boys and girls living in the same dorm, so now it Dosent matter at all. I think that as a grown women or a grown man who is going into debt paying thousands for and education it shouldn't matter who you go for a walk with I do not agree with anything here what so ever If there were 2 men from the campus and 2 women who weren’t, I believe there would have been no punishment. Women were treated unfairly and misunderstood by the eyes of everyone. In today's society or campus I believe women have somewhat equal opportunities more than in 1890 of course. Principal Albert G. Boyden and the staff agreed to expel the students for continuously violating the rules. The evidence that Principal Albert had was the opinions of fellow students, faculty and administration, and the community.

Wicahpi Chaddlesone

9/28/2020 08:53:16 am

The Great Howe Ryder Scandal of 1890 is about two women named Howe and Ryder who were expelled before graduating from a two year program at Bridgewater State College. A student who was a female had reported that these two women were seen with a man which led to them violating the school regulations. All because of a stupid sunday walk with two men that wasn’t apart of their school as students. I feel that why should they listen to one female student then look at the issues just between the two students and dean of bridgewater instead of taking one word over the other. The same female student had claimed that the entire class had agreed to not let the two women be given to diplomas for next week. This scandal had created a whole trial to decide if they made the right choice to expel the two girls by using statements from the students, stuff and the community was supposed to create evidence against the two girls. If this type of scandal in the year of the lovely 2020 would be taken to the supreme court and many protests will happen on the college campus. I feel that all different scandals happened all the time in different places and the outcome will not all be justified unlike The Great Howe Ryder Scandal but today in this age there are laws and resources to protect students in modern times. I feel that women are more protected in modern times unlike the women in 1980. We are able to voice our opinions and fight against stereotypes of women and be able to vote.

AJ Marangos

9/28/2020 09:12:58 am

One night at Bridgewater town square, 2 female students were walking with a boy who was not from the BSU campus. They ended up getting kicked out of the school because this happened in 1890. This was when BSU was called Bridgewater normal school. At this point in time BSU had only 4 boys on campus and everyone else was a female trying to earn a teaching degree. Now back in the day the rules were way different then they were now. Students were not at all allowed to have guests on campus with them. Nowadays the only thing that could get a student kicked out is stuff that are news headlines. I'm talking about sexual assault, murder, rape or any other horrific crime. The point is that you have to get into a lot of trouble to get kicked out of college in the 2020's. Right now though, with the coronavirus you can get kicked out for not keeping up with regulations. There are probably guidelines that I have no idea about at BSU right now because I decided to learn remotely at home. So I have no clue what the students have been up to on campus but I hope its been okay.

Omayra Saez

10/20/2020 10:14:05 am

Back in 1890 there was a big scandal that was called the “the grate howe Ryder” it involved two women named Mary wyman howe and Hellen freeman Ryder. This scandal ended up happing in January 1890 it was a week before graduation. what had happened was marry and Hellen went for a walk on a Sunday and they were walking with two other men on campus, but those men were not from school. The way how Bridgewater seen was as these two young ladies were violating the school’s regulations by walking with two men on campus. How the administration found out was someone told on then and the class thought it was a good idea for them not to graduate. What ended up happing was the two girls ended up getting expelled for walk with two other males I don’t think this would ever happen in 2020 because our generation would fight for what’s right.

The Great Ryder-Howe Scandal of 1890

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