Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-11-14
RUTLAND HERALD.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7 1887.
Vermont reform school.

School, for II gives assurance 'hat 1t Is
now flrmly established as n State insa'
tuition, aud has been eminently succ, SO.
fol In the special work Assigned to II,
for which great credit Is due TO the ear,
hestntss and devotion TO his work, and
the kind and genial il aueuce sxerted by
It's faithful upeIintendent, Rev, Aaron
G. Pease, whose Influence has done much
TO improve the minds and hearts Of the
pupils.
The institution was established by the
Lesislaturesor 1865, under the supervis.
ion OF three commissioners appointed
by the Governor, Rev, A, G, Pease, Rev.
L. A. Dunn and Lewis Pratt, who, after
visiting reiormatory institutions 10
several States, by an act Of the LegisN-
ture empowering them to locate and
establish the school, made examination
of various places and hnally decided
upon Waterbury as the best point, They
purchased land and erected buildings
suitable for tAe purpose. The farm con.
sists OF 1873 acres, which have cost the
State slO,42l IS The report does not
show the cost OF the buildings the
expenses are given-the current expenses
lor the year we're 1854 08 the net
earnings $3.50 o.; leaving q balance
against the Institution Of S2,554 sc, 10
which should be added 1894 81, making
A total ofS2 $40 90, which ia the actual
sum paid by the State for the current
support of the Institution during the
year. The expenses Of the Institution
viii be materially diminished when the
buildings ami workshops are all IRE
pared and in order.
At the session of 1886, the Legislature
made some important changes in the law
creating the school, and The trustees
were made elective by the General
Assembly. Hon. Charles Reed was
elected, together with Messrs. Dunn and
Pratt, and Mr. Pease remaining superin-
tendent by the appointment OF the
board. The trustees at once divided the
work OF the school into separate depart
ments, specially defining the duties of
the Superintendent and his assistant,
and that Of the farmer and other persons
connected with the institution, and It is
believed each in their sphere have per
formed their duties promptly and well.
The general regulations provide that in
the winter months the boys rise at
o'clock, breakfast at IL O'Clock; in
school from Ito 8 a. m. work from Q
to Il, noon; dinner and play from u TO
l p. M; work form ! to 5, supper at
in school from to 712 O'Clock. At
I IL prayers, after which they rotirO for
the night. Ia the summer, these are
varied somewhat according to the
season. On the Sabbath, they attend
church or such religious exercises IS are
provided 1T The institution.
The whole number OF boys WHO have
been in the Institution, during the past
year, is 80. The daily average. - the
number at the time OF making the report
was SO. The amount Of net earnings in
the shops ny the boys, from Oct, 18Th
1866 to Sept lst, 1867, was $3.50 81,
which the trustees say considering the
fact that most OF the boys we're rom the
smaller classes, aud all at work on
business wholly new to them, is quite
la~ca 40 cs,,,13 IA y
We have been thus dehuite that our
readers Nigh: have a glance at the |
workings OF the Reform School, and
Judge for themselves OF its Importance
and utility, as some without fullknow-
edge of all facts, have been disposed to
create an opinion against the school and
critlcise its management. 1t is to be |
regretted that some Of the press have |
shown disposition to take up the Goat
ing rumors and express opinions deroga.
tory to the school. We only ask of
those who are disposed to crtiCise, that
they will make visit to the State Re-
form School, examine it's buildings, look |
in upon its school room filed with
bright boys and the faithful teacher, and
witness the operations Of the workshops
for themselves, before they pass judg-
ment upon it or the manner in which
the officers perform their duties. We
venture the assertion, that if the editors
0! the State, after the meeting at Mont
pelier, on the 9Th inst, would make an
excursion to Waterbury, there would be
unanimous expression in its favor and
the press would send forth one united
Voice in its behalf. Let every person, in
whatever section of the State he may
reside who is disposed to oppose the in
sttutOn and it's object, visit the school
and see for themselves aud they will be-
come friends of the institution and fully
approve its workings. 1t Is rumored
that Mr.. Pease is physically unable to
I'LL the position OF Superintendent. This
is not the fact. He is physically able to
perform all it's duties, and eXerts a
who,es ONE and excellent influence over