Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-07-07
Misteuanp,
Rrfoy.1a Schools,


tendent, is largely due the credit Of its
present prosperous and satisfactory con-
dition. AT one of the meetings OF the
National Prison Reform Congress, recent
ly held in St. Louis. DR.. Howe was one
OF The principal speakers. and the snbiec.
under discussion was relormatory institu-
tioDs for boys. The Ohio School is one
of the first institutions Of the kind in this
country and those in Michigan, Ohio aud
several other States are modelled on the
Ohio plan.
A leading feature in this system, and
in respect to which it is very uuliSo The
Maine Reform School, is the great fee
dom allowed the boys. and the beneficial
results arising from this kind of treatment
were stated by Howe When the plans
for the institution were drawn, 10 was
expected that place Of confinement
would be needed and a SINAI, stone lock-
up was provided for and bUit.
Bat Tor years a.,cr The Farm WAS in
successful operation, 20 ,hc srca; surprise
Of many, this lcckuP remained entirely
useless, never having had single
occupant. and finally it was devoted to
ether purposes. Or. Howe aud his as.
sociatcs commenced thc management OF
this Institution fully impressed with The
truth OF the saying, that "the w0.,I Is
governed too much.~ Tue Plan which
they adopted was 90 govern lhc institution
as lightly rs possible, consistent with
good order and efficiency. Dr. Howe
said The whole secret OF the wonderful
success which had marked the progress
of the Farm was ".il,ie government" and
"none merely for tue SAKE Of govern
ment.~
The Farm buildings arc surrounded by
10 pyison.iikc walls aud none have ever
been found necessary. foy thc boys seldom
attempt to escape, and in most instances
when one has Iuu away. he has returned
on his own accord. OF the large number
now in attendance. there axe ou'y ioav
who cannot DC trusted 20 yisi; Lancaster,
town situated seven miles away. In
the whole history Of the Institution. coz
poral punishment has rarely been found
necessary or re sol;cdto. The governing
power IS the law of kindness. In his
treatment when be enters the Farm ias;i
tuition, the past life Of the boy IS taken
into account. lie is treated as a boy OF
good heart and one that can De trusted
until the CONTRARY is proved 5y mislecJs
after he enters, aud his confidence ha,
rarely ben misplaced. TIE boy Is gen
orally surprised ;a.: instead o., being Dis
,yus;el, suspected and surrounded by
close res friction he finds uniform kindness
and almos, absolute freedom. The good
eject Of this treatment. in most instances,
is at Gree mouitcs. in Gle depor,mcu; OK
the boys. Mos, OF Tie boys who a!e sent
10 this and similar Institutions baysGcYey
experienced The eajoymca,s of nome, aaj
kind treatment. and in properly conducted
Institution, for The i,-, ,imo ia ;leig lives,
they gain a knowledge %. what i zeal
home is.
Or. Howe expressed the belief tha. II a
wall were erected around ,ac buildings
many Of the boys would q, once run
away, The sigh, Of Tho wall suggests the
idea Of Imprisonment, which their treat
ment had mover done. The farm IS large.
the discipline so easy and the boys axe
surrounded by so many homolile com.
forts tia, they have no wish 90 20 away.
The statements Of Or. Howe were fully,
couoborated by the Superintendent Of
other similar institutions modelled on Tie
same plan, and the testimony was Of
such character as 70 leave few j, any
doubts in the minds Of these who heard
that the Ohio plan is the true one.
This plan has not been adopted. 80 any
very great extent, in The management. Of
our own institution, and herein probably
is the cause Of its failure 70 accomplish
what was expected Of it. Established as
an experiment over twenty years ago, it
has not yet come 90 Do regarded as one OF
the permanen. institutions Of the State
It has ever been too much Ike "a prison
or q place Of punishment, aul TOO little
like refoymatory institution. The plan
Of the building. the high wall surrounding
the playground. the cells into which the
boys ere turned and boiled g, night, are
al suggestive OF restraint and corine.
ment, and so far we have had any knowl-
edge ofthe general treatmcu, OF the boys,
it has correspondent with the plan and
construction OF the buildings They have
been treated too much rs outlaws who
are there TO suffer punishment faI tsc:y
misdeeds aud are not TO be tgus;cd.-
Under this system it IS 10 wonder that
the school has not succeeded better and
that doubts still liugor in the minds Of
many, OF the pyOpric.y Of providing tor
its support.
4 sum OF money was appropriated b.
the last Legislature to be expended in
making changes in the internal arrange
ments Of the Reform School buildings
We DO not know what the character Of
the proposed changes may be, bu; VIC
certainly hope they ere to be in acc0r-
dance with the ideas expressed by DR..
Howe and so July concurred in by others
on the same occasion, and If such changes