The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-03-06
STATE REFORM SCHOOL.

The Third Annual Report of the Trustees of this
institution is before us. 1t is an important docu-
ment. The Reportof the Superintendent, included
therein, gives in detail the statistics of the School,
There have been 3Sl boys in the School since it
was opened. AT the date of the Report, 80 We're
still there Of course, 24 have been discharged,
OF whom are apprenticed to various trades Nine
were remanded as improper subjects, being either
above the legal age dotic. The sentence of two
had expired, and two were delivered up fer change
of sentence.
Ofthe 334 admissions, I0l were from Suffolk 60
from Essex, 50 from Middlesex, 81 from Bristol "a
from Worcester, 10 from Norfolk, from Berkshire,
3 from Hampshire, 2 each from Hampden aud Ply
mouth, and from Franklin. Only 36 came from
the five western counties. The greatest proportion
of commitments was from the manufacturing districts
and from the large towns and cities. Few were
from the agricultural parts the State.
OF the above, IS were committed by Justices of
peace of different towns, 10 by the Boston Police
Court, 80 by the Boston Municipal Court, So by the
Court of Common Pleas, and the rest by the Justices
and Police Courts of Lowell, Salem, New Bedford
Lawrence, Newburyport, Lynn and Worcester.
The offences for which the 334 boys were COM
mitted were, larcency Il9; stubbornness IL va
grancy, %; idleness, 20; shop-breaking, II; ma
licous mischief, 10; pilfering Z, intent to steal, s.
house-breaking, A; running away, 81 arson, assault
aIulhellneSS anu circulating obscene DOCKS edCD.
| Ofthe sentences, PAT were for the period of mi
norlty, p foEthree years, 10 for two Is for one
for five, for six, until 20 years DID, and the rest
for different periods.
! There were AZ natives of Ireland, of England
Scotland and France, and IL of Canada, Nova SEQ
tia and New Brunswick. Of 260 born in the United
States, in the States of Massachusetts. New Hamp-
shire, Vermont Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
I Pennsylvania and New York, SO were of Irish, 3 of
English, and one of German parentage.
The average age Of the 334 about II "a
years; SO being fifteen, 50 fourteen, 46 twelve, SO
eleven, 33 thirteen, 81 ten, II nine 10 eight
enteen, sixteen and seven, nineteen, and un-
known. OF the 80 now in the School, los are in
the shoe shop, So in the sewing shop A In out door
employments and farming, 20 in the Laundry 10 in
the Kitchen, and the rest engaged in scrubbing
and cleaning house and miscellaneous occupations.
The discipline of the School is good and the
health of the boys therefore excellent All are re-
CURED to battle their entire persons once week in
winter, and oitener in summer, At the date of the
report not one of the whole number was unable to
attend regularly to his labor and school duties
There is small library, which has been furnish
ed through the benevolence of individuals Several
newspapers have been sent weekly. The boys read
them with interest. The religious services consist
) ofmorning and evening prayers, and two regular
services and Sunday School on Sundays Much
, - A'itASStSAs
School. The congregations in the vicinity furnish
about twenty teachers.
The school has been in operation but little more
than year, and yet it is full. This is mortiGing
fact, but a more Notifying one is that additional
accommodations are wanted for the many BOYS that
ought TO be reformed. The Trustees say it will be
for the Legislature to decide what further steps shall
be token to provide for the many fit subjects for such
an institution, which still abound About one-third
of the bows are ccm nited on charge of stubborn
ness. The Trustees state that under this charge,
which is ofvery com rehensive application, large
class of those committed are very Young and that
their sentences to the School is of doubtful expedi
ency.
The expenditures of the past year have been S29,
99l. The ordinary annual expense for each boy is
about Sf34 The estimated expense for the current
year is 1922, 500. Tie probable earnings ofthe boys
is put at $s3,l08.
We conclude with the following extract from the
Superintendent report:
! ''We depend mach more upon appeals to reason,
and pointing out the consequences of life of vice
: than upon any punishment Much more can usual
y be gained by kiadness and appeals 10 conscience,
than by any other Boys of this class gener-
ally have but little se-respect, therefore great effort
Is made TO lead the n to respect themselves Totbs
end we permit boy TO go to the village,-to labor
on any part ofthe farm unattended, &c, upon his
pledge OF returning promptly, and observing the req
natlons oil the inst tuition. Many have been permit
ted to do so,Aand not instance of breach ofrust
In tins respect has occurred which argues strongly in
favor OF our system. Thus treated they do not re-
gard themselves in the confinement ola prison
they become interested in affairs, and speak of
our farm our cattle, &c, though they were in
terested IN their proper management, which could
not be the case if they considered themselves watch
ed in every movement.
We have sent ont parties of boys to labor on differ
ent parts Of the farm, placing Of their number as
monitor to direct in their work, and have realized
much assistance in the labor of our farm, by this
plan. We daily send boys to the village, to mill
and to towns around US, on business. Some ofthose
who were sent here for larceny, have been trusted
to pay and collect bills.
Most of the caring ofour supplies have been done
by the boys, taking the entire charge of two horse
team. Though our confidence has been generously
bestowed, it has ever been rewarded by their faith
iulness We grant them many privileges for good
eonduct--such as excursion our beautiful pond
IN boat, in summer, and sliding, coastng, and skat
ing IN withdrawing them TO spend few hours
IN our parlor, occasionally taking tea with us, or ac
companyng us TO ride" Cambridge Chronicle
An imperial ukase, ofthe 18th inst, announced
the birth ola son of the Grand Duchess Maria AeyE
androwna, wife TO the heir-apparent of the Russian