New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-11
REFORM SCHOOLS.

To tie Edisc, Of The ". Y. Tyibusa
SIR: In a letter published in your edition OF June
25 uLder the head of Letters from the People, on
the subject of "Reformatores and their Discipline,
the writer attempts to correct errors when nave ap
peaed in articles published under the same caption IN
some of your previous numbers; but, as aew facts VIII
show has fallen into greater errors than those he mas
attempted to correct. Quoting previous correspond
ent's remarks he says: "The Chicago Reform School
is ilustrious as having applied principle in Its
Government new to most of our American Reiorma'
"tories-he appeal to the sense Of honor ana 70 me
emulation of IFS subjects. All the world knows what
wonderful effects have been wrought at mettrsi on
the French gamins and convict boys by the free ap-
pIication of this principle. Mr.. Nichols the Super
ibtendent of the Chicbgo school, has tho credit OF
" having initiated it in America. To TINS the COZ,
r. sponden Of the 25th to take exceptions, and
remarks that The first introduction OF the grade sys
tenn in this country was made by VIM: r. Lincoln,
esq.,. at the Wes.boro Reform School, 1913 with this
to the military spirit powerful in the French ma
" on-the plan adopted by Mr.. Lincoln, to the sense
Of right and wrong strong in the American heart
i,G for sis 1--WE adopt the
grade system. This system consists OF four grades
" designated by the FUNERALS l, 9 8, Al being the
"hiehest grade. When boy enters the institution
" he is placed in the Sd grade; il his conduct Is bad,
" after edmonton, he Is degraded as punishment,
to the 4th; if good, after proper tims he is pro-
" NOTED to the ID, &c"
Let US eX6nlne tnese sthicments Dy the llgnt OF a
few facts. While we would NOT detract iOta from
the Just merits of Mr.. Nichols Of Chicago nor Of Mr..
Lincoln of the Maine State Reform School, We may
probably enable such interested in these inst
tutions to form proper estimate If unpreudiced, Of
the correctness Of such representations.
About the year 1877, the following regulations were
established in the New-York Hous efor the Reforme-
ton Of Juvenile Delnquents for its government, and
have been continued to the present time, with some
slight notifications:
boy. in shsi, two separate Siyo1: and I'll. girl.
CLASS No l-shsll include the best behaved and most
orderly boys and girls those who do not ie profsne
indecent language conversations who attend &c their
work end studies not qusrresoue and have not attempted
"CLiss No. 2-Those who best but who not
quite free from all the FOREGOING vices and practices
Class No 3Those who more immoral in conduct than
"CLlss No. 4-Those who are vicious. bad aud wicked.
Badges bearing the number Of each class shall be
the arm at all times in the day.
Nos l. shall degraded by the superin
tenden to lower class And for improvement good conduct
IN Glasses Sor they may be transferred promoted to
children in Cl... No; who behave well and or crIy
and correct in their conduct may he by the Super
nendebtn the presence Of ali the children and Of the Mas
"Thoe who have behaved well for three months in success
sion .bs form class Of honor and be allowed to badge
Of d,snssSn sne sRp5sS M :as,vo n
and a, Re can devise and allow accorded
confidence to the children perse
in good conduct Determinations reward shall be
sss 'ss;ses :: ;s'ss;s':
who would otherwise have particular incentive to operate
upon them He .h. study occupy the place Of parent To-
d,nce and affection and make them feel thu, kindness
desiIs for their welfare is the spirit Of the Institution"
The house was then located on what is now known
as Madison square at the junction Of Twenty -thrd
street and Fifih avenue, and was under the Of
Mr. Nathaniel c. Hart now deceased), who possessed
all the faculties Of appealing to the sense Of honor
that the excellent NJ. Demetz at Mettrai possesses
and as often adopted principles which appealed to the
"serse Of night and wrong" being only an appeal to
CO pscience, as ever the Rev. Mr.. Nichols of Chicago
or Mr.. Lincoln Of Maine has adopted
The colony Of Mettrai in France, about which so
much is said is entirely dssimsr to any Reformatory
in the United States; the inmates live there from
choice rather than serve out sentenc in prison.
Let those who read these regulations, adopted 1871
in the New York Refcrmatov II years before the col
ony at M.ttrai established, % years before the
Wsstboro Reform Sthool was instituted, and about
% years before the Rev Mr.. Nichols was called to
Chicago, judge whether NJ. Demetz. the Rev. Mr..
Nichols or Mr.. Lincoln int adopted measures ap-
realirg 20 the sense Ct honor 20 the sense of
right and wrong" OF those under their care.
This correspondent further states that majority OF
the boys at the State Reform School in Maine work
On the farm, and portion Of that number are en-
ployed by the Degnboripg farmers leaving the
institution Monday morning and returning Saturday
night at the close OF their weeks work. They go and
come uDacconpabisd. One has been cent 10 a town
eco miles distant with valuable property to transact
business for the Superintt pdert.
This statement being true is it no. proper TO qure
why such children shonid be detained in a Reforma-
tory Institution and q. ." percapa" expense 10 the
state OF nearly 800 annually Why not furnish such
children with suitable homes in the country through
the insrnmenslity Of such bene VIOLENT associations
% the Home for the Frieodless, Children's Aid
Society .nd the Five Points Mission School in this
CITY, which are not reformstory in their character
but procure situations for the Destitute, where thew
can provide for Themselves without expense 20 the