Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-11-23
The Reform School.

.Ncssrs. Editors Of the Free Press:
In the remarks of your Montpelier
correspondent, on the bill to govern and conduct
the Vermont Reform School, he speaks OF the
section that provides that parents, under certain
circumstances, may commit their children to the
Institution, as making it kind Of boarding
school, fear that remark will make a wrong
impression. It is only intended to apply in
certain cases,-take a case \ man whose
business took him from his home almost the
whole Of his time, bad one son,-his wife and
and the mother Of his son was an Invalid from
the birth Of the child, and confined to her go-U,
and the most Of the time to her bed for twelve
years. The boy for the want perhaps Of proper
care, fell into had habits. The father vas de-
sirous Of sending him to the Reform School;
but the law Of the State Was such that he could
not be received unless sentenced by a court. He
was taken before magistrate and sentenced to
the Reform School, and the State now has his
entire expenses to pay; but could he have been
sent without the disgrace Of this commitment,
the flthec would have cheeIfully pad his ex-
penses.
Take another case in another State. y man
Of wealth and position died, leaving young
wife and an only son. She was amiable and
beautiful and Of delicate health and entirely
unacquainted With the duties Of properly train
ing children. The lad at an early period man
ifested a disposition to he untruthful, and 10
take things which we're not his own. He son
learned to smoke and drink beer. lie was sent
to public school, but was expelled FOR bad
conduct He was sent into the country to phi
yate school, but ran away and came home, ami
rapidly pursued his downward course. His
mother applied to the Reform School. but as the
law then stood he could not be received unless
sentenced by some Court for some crime. The
authorities having great Inspect to the mem
ory Of his father and the feelings % his mother
ard large circle Of friends. allowed him to
continue IN bis course, until 10 a ID, Of rage AMI
halfint91ieation he put FIRE 30 d grocery near
Us l-NNAtt Aht4+-+.e --i+ 'H.A wen 7-f--.-+
other buildings were consumed lie was then
sentenced 20 the Reform Scbt5l; Tut could the
mother have been allowed 20 place him there
when che desired SIZE g'fHg would have
paid the entire expenses and mil. the
State most generous donation tesiies.
It is only 90 meet cases ike those uoa Indicated
that the provision referred 20 hes been made
The school is not a boarding. -s.l1o'. but place
or the reformation OF lads actually guilty Of
crime punishable by the laws Of this State. II
you viii examine the section carefully yen viii
see that a parent must prove 90 the satisfaction
ofthe Judge Of Probate Court, and also TO the
satisfaction Of the Superintendent, that the boy
Is already 10 .nt 5sef fr he Reform Scbccl
then if the parent choose he may bins,lf place
tie hoy in the school by complying with certain
cluiiu0us
Occasionally cases viii occur where IL viii he
the hest for al concerned that boy be placed
in the Reform School; sri vben tie parent
would prefer to pla,e bln there himself and pay
the entire expense, rather than have his son
convicted for crime in the criminal courts AMI
supported at public charge, why should any ci-
uzsu Of the State SUBJECT
Yours truly, L.ADUyN