Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-02-20

ANNUAL REPoRT OF THE INDUSTRIAL
ScEooL.-The Superintendent of the Cleve-
land Industrial School and children's Aid
Society and Home, Robert Waterton, has is
sued his sixth annual report From the re-
port we copy the following:
'' TO the Honorable the Mayor and The Common
Council Of Cleveland
" GENTLEMEN 1t has become my duty to
present to your honorable body my Sixth An
nual Report of the industrial School, togeth-
er with the Report Of the Children's Aid So
ciety and Home for Needy Children.
" Our labors have been crowned with sue
cess beyond our expectations, considering the
difficulties with which we have been obliged
to contend. We can say, however, as we
have always said, that a kind Providence
hath ever remembered us and has been our
guide and support. Our School has made
good progress in education and moral and
industrial habits. The spirit of the war has
had some demoraiizing influence, but kind
ness and sympathy have gained the ascen-
dancy, and loyalty to our Union has been de-
cidedIy manifested, even among this class Of
children.
at might seem egotistic on our part to
speak as favorable as we could Of this three
fold Institution, but if we refer you to the
hberalty of cur citizens in donating to its
support, you will observe that it is not light
ly esteemed. We have received several let
ters from friends in the country who sympa-
thiae with as as muck as ever, but their Ia
bors and donations are diyected, at present
more especially towards our soldiers. We
may here state that your favors and the lib
erHlity Of citizens add responsibility on your
humble servant.
We look back six years and see boys and
girls running atlarge in the street in greater
number than at the present time, and scarce
week passed but our city papers reported
boys in our police prison, convicted Of petty
larceny. Your predecessors then in Council
saw the evil. The Superintendent Of Public
Schools said that to gather in this class Of
children was problem he had studied for
two years, and when the School was suggest
cd by ex-Mayor Castle and Hon. ]. A. Foot,
he said at once, the problem was solved
Since its Organization over three hundred
have found good homes through its instru-
mentality, and great number have derived
much benefit from its influence. We are glad
to know that each succeeding Trustee in
Council has possessed the element Of benevo-
lenee, and directed attention 10 the rising
generation, ss we'll as other business Of i'm
portance in the city.
T" Education and industry secure wealth
and happiness. This we endeavor to incul-
cate, both in school and workshop. The
scholars receive the benefit of their labor by
being clothed, and boys in the brush shop
are likely to develop their tastes and eapaci-
ties in such a manner as to suggest to us the
circumstances under which 70 place them
most favorable to their future development
and hsppiness.
Z" We nave received seveuty-hve children
into the Home, and the state Of some at first
seemed little removed from the brute crea-
ton. The 6rst treatment of such cases is to
strip, wash, rub and destroy, then clothe
afresh, feed and encourage, which produces q
wonderful change. We have found homes
for sixty-three and nearly all Of them re-
main where they were first sent and on our
visiting them since, We are informed BY those
having them in charge, that they were jew
els, though at drst covered with dross. A
good home, and kind, judicious treatment
have almost invariably won affection and re-
spect in return. True, few have been re-
turned to rs unmanageable; yet We think
they willnot be lost to society, but by perse-
vering efert and proper training may become
good boys and eventually useful citizens
Children are not responsible for their nativi-
ty or the influence that surrounds theil
childhood, and your kindness will be re-
warded by causing those children to be
plueked as brands from the burning. Many
Of our first scholars are now on the battls
6eld, and more have been slain while fight
ing for the Union"