The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-12-01
THE STATE REFORM SCHOOL.
From the Evening Wisconsin

OpSlS OF the Annual Report O. the Board |
Of Managers of the State Reform School, |
from which we learn the facts contained |
| in this article.
There were 1853 boys and IS girls in
the school at the commencement of tn,
year. One hundred and fourteen boys
have been received during the year; two
who were out on tickets have return |
ed eighteen have escaped eleven boys
and three girls are out on leave; two
boys have Deer discharged during the
year The inmates arc divided into what
is called families, for government and for
social intercourse each family occupiesa
separate house and has its guardian, who
is responsible for all the members of his
household. The houses occupied as fami-
y buildings were designed to accommo-
date thirty six persons, but most of them
now contain forty or more. The Superin |
tendent and the Board of Managers, there.
fore, recommend that another family |
building be constructed as soon as possible. |
They ask for an appropriation of $4,000 to
purchase the forty acres Of land lying be-
tween the two portions of the school farm,
which, perhaps, was left in that position
| to be sold,
he new buildings which have been
erected during the past year, and for
which an appropriation of $4,000 was
made, have cost Ell 600, and the Legisla-
ture is now asked to make good this def.
cheney. The disbursements during the
year have been $50. 1O3O4. The income
from the shops, $1,47092 The stock ON
hand and what has been sold on credit
amounts to $1,000. Loss Of willow from
fire, $500. The managers ask for an ap-
preparation of $50, 900 for 1871, to enable
and to pay the current expenses of the
school.
The productive capacity of the school,
which makes such moderate showing
in the account, is due, In great degree,
to the fact that the average Of the boys in
the school is but fraction over thirteen
years. We could hardly look for pro
ductive labor in children so young under
any circumstances whatever. Another
reason Of this moderate showing is, that
while similar institutions mother States
estimate the value Of all work done by
the children fefsthemselves in every ca
| pacity there has been no such estimate
made at tbs Waukesha school.
! The children are engaged nine hours
| day; four hours ofwhich are devoted to
the school room, and five hours to the
work shops during the summer months
which order is reversed during the winter
, months. The children are taught such
!; branches as constitute a fair English edu-
cation. They are employed on the farm,
in the garden, shoe shop tailor shop,
basket factory. broom factory, laundry,
kitchen, and other occupations about the
school. -t,.,i5si
u The birthplace and parentage Of these
children is rather suggestive, at least to
} those who believe that our criminal class
: is recruited SO extensively from foreign
4 ers. One hundred and sixty three were
born in Wisconsin, 90 in New York, %,
} birthplace unknown; the remaining "
come from 90 different srates and foreign
countries. The parentage is given as fol
lows: Americans SO, Irish 50, Germans
As, English 35, colored 18, French 9.
8 Scotch, Norwegian and Prussian each 3,
) Bohemian 2, Welsh, Holland, Canadian
and Danish, each, unknown. 26.
The general ks of the Superin-
: teudent are so concise, and embodying as
they evidently do, his opinions of what
Reform School should be, thereby max
| ing them of general interest, we give
them entire: at
} cover one-haf of the scholars are or
Iphans or haif-orphans; from twenty or
80 per ct. of those whose parents are living
are one or both of them Incorporate the
fathers Of over ten per cent. OF the whole
number have abandoned their families.
while some who have had comfortable
homes have strayed away from whole
J some restraints, and under the influence
of vicious companions have become incor-
rigible. there are many who started in
life under the dark cloud of public
odium, which is certain to be the inheri-
lance of disreputable, criminal or pau
per parentage.
i Nearly all have grown up without par
been destitute of clothes suffering with
hunger pinched with cold; 40 KIM
heart to sympathize with and admonish
them. they have become hardened, reck-
less. and in some instances abandoned.
Being themselves the subjects of ridicule
and abuse, they have judged all mankind
their enemies. TIE power of kindness
few of them have ever felt. While their
better and kindlier faculties have sum-
bered or become enfeebled, their selfish
ana cOm0atlVe powers nave been quick
ened and strengthened. They have loved
no one, feared no one obeyed no one.
They are victims of the great American
erlme, namely, aoant Of family goveraa-
naent
They have been exposed to corrupt
associations, surrounded by bad exam.
piles, with few elevating influences they
have lost self respect, become lawless and
fallen into crime. Many come to us low