Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-01-02
OHIO Reform school Farm.

We clip from the Columbus Gazette the fol.
lowing very interesting ac,Ount of the Reform
School Farm, one of the best of our State In
stitutiOns, written that paper says by one of the
Boys sent to the Farm from TcledO, who is
about fifteen years old, and has regained bis
freedom by his good behavior. It is printed
without correction.
After stating that the State Reform Farm is
located five miles tom Lancaster and has a
beautiful aPPearance-rOcks, hills, and valleys
that the discipline is by kind and gentle re-
proof that corporal punishment is only the
last resort; and that among SO many bad boys
received there is once in a great while one who
cannot be managed or governed; the writer
adds:
The boys are receiv, from all the Courts of
every county, which the reader will see by
looking at the annual report. After a boy
comes there be will be dressed in the institution
clothes, and receive the four badge, which is
the lowest grade By bis good conduct he will
be promoted every month; and by his bad con-
duct he will be degraded, or keep the same
badge another month After q boy keeps the
four badge one month he will get the three, and
next the two, and next the one. After he goes
through this four badges, but you must remem
Der that he will not 60 through unless his con-
duct ig good for the old by word is, "the sly fox
gets caught some time or another" this is the
way here; the boy generally gets caught at his
tricks before he comes thus far, and punished,
by losing his badge After boy goes through
these four badges, he will be promoted to the
eagle. After he stays in the eagle three months,
or "honor badge" as they call it, he will re
ceive an honorable discharge, signed by the
Assisting Commissioner, to leave the institution
on probation. What 1 have heard of the boys,
they are all doing we'll The eagle badge, the
reader must understand has three grades;
namely, the third grade, this grade the boy gets
after the one badge. the second grade, and next
ths first grade. The reader must understand
that the boy who is in the eagle class, his con-
duct must be extraordinary. Twill now tell you
the inmates duty.
In the morning when they rise bell is rung
by the night watchman. Each elder brother
aWakens his division, or class. After dressing
the boys are lined up, (what I mean by this is,
they are in a straight line, which gives them a
handsome and straight appearance) and walk in
this line to the wash basin, or porch, where
they wash. Each boy has his own basin and
towel, for to know them apart they are number
ed. Each boy has number. After washing the
boys all line up and comb their hair; each boy is
required to have a handsome appearance. After
the bows are washed and combed, the second
bell will ring which is for breakfast All the
bows are lined up and march in their line to
breakfast, each elder brother eating with his class
After one Of the elder brothers says grace, which
is also done by the einmstes-the inmates are all
encouraged tosay grace-the victuals is passed
on one side and up the other. The rule s,no boy
shall take over one spoon full of an article at
q time The reader must understand in an
institution like this there must be rules. The
hoard is such as most people get-good,
wholesome food. Each boy has two suits Of
clothes. After breakfast the boys turn them
selves around, and after one of the elder
brothers reads a chapter in the Bible, pray
er is repeated by all the boys, and then they
march out in line and form a line in front Of
the house on the pavement. This is the way
in the summer time; l suppose in the winter
they line up in the hall Of each building, and
then march into the school room, after having
half davis school or two hours and half,
don't know which At half-past eleven the
bows get ready for dinner, the same way as
thew do at breakfast; only they have meat for
dinner, and very often soup; but they do not
read s chapter in the Bible after dinner,
neither after supper. After dinner the boys
have an hours play-time, and then each shop
.soy. goes to the shop, and each elder brother
'ss = his boys out 10 labor, some in the woods,
olnefs Oths barn, and others at the WOod-pile.
Al nte or Feast five the bell rings, and the
Doys leaVe tnSit ~ogl wash and fix themselves
for supper Alter so they have recreation,
ard by the blowing Of tl-',shistle which each
elder brother has, the boys a4Soome 10 their
places in the line, and pass .1be sebooI
room. After they get seated each be.5S;cks ont
such piece from book or psperas he 1loSes. |
and by the permission Of his elder brotAS
reads it; and in this way the time, is passed,