Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-01-14
The Vermont Reform School.

The Trustees of the Reform SchcC
have issued a statement ia reply to th
u charges brought against the institution
: 1t is very long and the following extract
cover the leading points:
EVERY boy in the school is obliged t
!, wash bis entire body every Saturday even
. ing. This is faithfully attended to.
| Experience has shown that a majofit,
! of the new corners bring into the schoo
lice. 1t has been ths practice of III,
Superintendent to give every boy a flu
comb in addition to the pocket-comb Whici
they all carry, but after a while he dis,
covered that many Of them were convert
ed frem articles OF Necessity to articles o
adornment. such as rings, charms, etc.
AMI many were also lost aud destroyed
To guard against this waste and to The
end that the boys heads might be more
carefully attended to, he gave each teach.
err a supply Of fine combs. from which any
boy might ut any time borrow, and it was
also the duty of the teacher to see that
those boys whose native pride was not
sufficient to lead them voluntarily to keeI,
clean, should comb each others hair twice
each weak, on Wednesdays aud Saturdays.
Out OF one hundred and forty-two boys
in the Institution to-day, only tWo were
found who had any traces Of lice about
their heads, although diligent search and
inquiry was made among them, when they
were standing in line for that purpose.
These two we've among the small boys.
We to-day questioned the whole school
III regard TO the treatment they received,
invited them to make know any injustice
done them, any act of cruelty practiced
upon them, or any neglect on the pant Of.
any officer toward them, without %receiv.
ing 10 respose a single complaint. Mr..
Slade then selected from among the boys
thirteen Of their number, all of whom
were personally unknown to him, aud TAX
ing them to the Office, away from the
presence and influence Of any officer.
questioned them closely TO the internal
workings Of the institution, assured them
they need have no fear, as they would not
be held responsible to any officer for any
they might make against them.
Every one testified to the uniform kind
Of Mr.. aud Mrs. Falrbank. that their
were good and warn. their food
in quantity and quality, and
heir beds in every way comfortable that
hey had no lice, and there was nc excuse
or having them OR being filthy, with the
ABILITIES they have for keeping clean +;
hat they we're regularly washed as be-
ore described, aud had clean shirts and
tockings every Saturday night. No one
Il them complained Of any unjust punish
lent. Some of them mentioned having
zen punished, but told the circumstance !
t the case and made no claim but what
was well deserved, or that it mad been !
unreasonable or severe" ,
Tie Trustees then review the case Of !
hoy johnson, They say that when '
G came to the institution lie had epilep. u
&c fits, that he was placed uuder medical ="
'eatmeut With such success that he had |
@ attacks after july 9th that he was "
OF punished for whispering; that he was .
thoroughly washed the Saturday previous 7
, his leaving the school that tie was so 7
e%stitute of ambition that he would not Il
ash his hands or comb his head unless Z
1mpelled TO do so, aud in the shop would u
o as little work as possible !; that he =
pasted to the boys that he would make }
hot fer the institution, when he 90, Z
lere (Woodstock). get pardoued himself, y
I'D get the rest Of them pardoned also - .
nd the Trustees think that his person may d
ave become befouled efter he left the u
The Trustees think that %cleanli, u
ass has been well attended, to as in 8 years Il
"a boys have been cared for. out of g
hlch only three have died of disease. :,
conclusion. the Trustees invite tn. u
public to visit the institution and u
vestigate for themselves :