The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1861-02-27
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NR EnIroE :-Whr1 Rsf,rmitory Education
~as in It's infancy. before much thought had been
bestowed unou this important subject, all juve-
nile dclinquculs we're indscsiminste'y sentenced
[ 20 tie hefsrmatoiy for definite period that
sentence usGallv being short, not often exceeding
twelve months such sentence not differing Il ors
the Ordinary manner by which older offenders
were consigned to the Prison Long experience
! ia the management Of these schools has reveal
ed the necessity Of making the term of the de-
! liuquents detention TO depend upon his own con-
due: thus placing before the mind of the pupil
| the strongest motive for moral improvement
These Institutions, has often been said, in the
I progress Of these articles have been established
for the reformation OF the maynard. In great
number Of cases these dclinqucnts, after having
been Inside Of the Reiormatory from twelve TO
eighteen months show signs Of reformation suf
ficent 10 warrant their discharge.
A perpiexing question presents itself to
the managers of such schools question which
has not as vet been satisfactorily solved. viz:
What disposition shall be made OF those lads
retormatory appliances, who appear sufficiently
fortified by the power o. TRUTH to 90 forth to the
world to combat with the powers of darkuess-
Ii will be the object OF the writer in this article
20 consider this all important question, question
vital in its relations 10 the boys own good aud
the successful working of the Re.0rmatorv-
Every observing mind cannot but sec that the
mission of these institutions OF reform is two
fold the eradication of evil habits and the plant
ing OF the seeds of true morality in the soul
When these t~o objects appear to be accomplish
ed, then the mission Of the reformatorv ceas-
es; then the boy is prepared to 60 out, pro.
vided proper provision can be made for his going
Bat still the question recurs, where shall he 90
Shall he he sent home. Sad az the fact ia. vet
fact, that many OF these children have no home
To them one part Of the world has no superior
attractions over another Deprived of their
parents in their infancy, they have been wander
ers until sent to the Refoimatory. Their STAY in
any place has rvot been sufficiently long, and
place by the sacred name of home The early
recoilecions of this homeless class is not associ-
a;ed with Moss covered Buckets" with brooks
and ponds, with water wheels and tiny shipping
craft with bibles and prayers, with fathers
council ard mothers love; no, the child has
none of these tender associations to call back TO
mind the DAYS Of childish giee and innocent
miFth
Another class largely represented in the Refor- |
matory s the half orphan. A mother or father |
has died, and the surviving parent has entered |
into a second marriage-thus introducing new |
and often times jisruptive elemen, Of family /
and peace. The child s harshly treat
ed by the new Incumbent who has come to take |
the place OF the missing parent, and he fees from
home as an enemy to his happiness. Home,
with such. has lost its sscredness-ifs conserva-
i've power II will do 10 good to send a boy
back to a home ike this, even though he possess
4 hopeful character; the same agency which
caused his delinquency once, NAV DO i, again
Then again, some Of these lads, yea, many, have
bad homes-homes where crime, drunkenness,
ora~ling and fighting prevail-homes where the
Ticious, the abandoned and low.bred congregate
Send boy back to such home, and how long