Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-08
The State Reform School.

lNf MllA'i ~ NNl ifNlNAhN VI NNlh'hANrf NV ] u
In any way committed to the interests Of that ,
place or Of the superintendent Of the school. q
Neither is this written at the suggestion with
the knowledge Of any interested party
But in the first place, as a citizen and taxpayer q
Of Vermont, freely confess 10 desire to see Its
funds wisely appropriated and placed where they I
will In every sense do the most good. Prevention
is not only less troublesome aud difficult but less
expensive than cure. II T. conceded that the :
homes Of Vermont, rs Of any state, are at the I
fountain-head Of It's moral purity and peace.
They are the stronghold Of prevention. Were all
these what they should be, very little in the way
Of cure would be needed. hut not all so-caed
homes are truly such, while in the larger com
muni,ics even Of Vermont, are children who have
not u nominal apology for u home,
The Reform School, so called which, under It's
present management, might WELL II not better ON
every account, be styled the Industrial School
stands next in the matter Of prevention to the
homes Of our state. As such, II well ordered, II
is a saving of expense to the state just as we'll
ordered home in which everything needfm is
carefully and properly done for TIE highest inter
es,s Of the children, although Mt considerable
present outlay is a real saving Of future expense
to the parents and, indeed, 10 the chdren-in |
other words, to the home Institutions
When YOU visited the Reform School gentle |
men, you were Of course pleased with what you
saw. Bnt you did moi see the best The writer,
during short stay at yergennes, took occasion
to visit the school several times and thus could
note some things which in your rather hurried
and formal visit you could not observe things OF
really greater value in the forming of correct
estimate Of the school, than even the excellent
exhibition which engaged your attention.
In these casual unannounced visits the writer
was coureousy and promptly shown into every
department aud through all the rooms lie saw
the boys and girls with their respective officers, at
the varied work assigned for the hours when he
was present
lie wishes TO bear this voluntary and hearty
testimony TO the scrupuous cleanliness aud neat
ness every where observable, also 10 the kindness
vet quiet frnncss Of all the officers he met, and
To the choerfulnc.s, contentment, courtesy and
ready obedience Of the scholars so far as he could
observe them
While every thing was conducted on the priuc-
rles Of rigid system and thorough discipline, yet
50 admirably, naturally and kindly were things
managed. that the idea Of place Of punishment
did not suggest itself; only that OF q cooperative
home school
g This was particularly noticeable In the inter
n course of scholars and teachers The elements OF
q mutual confidence aud respect were very largely
I peryading Beside this, the high moral and re-
hgious tone prominently Characteristic OF the
l. present officers Of the school il note worthy
. feature Of It's management
IT 'Nobleness, honor sel-respcct, uuthi1lness
IS purity, courtesy and piety seem to be very natur
ally and steadily inculcaied, and their oIposites
as naturally and steadily frowned upon, The
, helps to this condition Of things beside direc
example and repeated prccept, are the reading
% and study Of the Bible, prayer and sacred song
le The daily evening service just before bedtime
it them as the scholars pass to their pleasant, a'rl
hi sleeping room, the privilege Of carrying any liiu
ne ailment or trouble Of body mind to Mrs Fair
a bank--who is proving true Christian mother q
~ many homeless boy-aud aiterwad as, at
Is given signal all kneel each by biz bedside, am
uutedly, A. the voice Of one, solemnly whispe
the familiar prayer Of our childhood" Now Ia
me down 10 sleep" These things, gentlemen
reveal the inner and deeper foundation-wor
W upon character, steadily, although quietly, goin
We on in this school Of which you are the appoInte
~ guardians Aud this daily influence is supple
T"- mented and strengthened by the Sabbath-sohoo
/ hi nine - tltNhs ftlNi AAflh = A'1N hiNAAiN-s -
conducted by Mr. fairbanl,, an earnest chrisia
n' and model superintendent Of a model school wit
the cheerful cooperation and personal service
the Christian men and deyout "women, not
''S few" from the churches Of VeTsennes
VI The scholars also regularly attended the mon
ing service at the different churches, accomranit
'0' by an officer Of the school It would be a cred
ur To any body of boys aud girls OF for that matte
~ oil I..,a Nil
NE attentive and as receptive listeners as are the
lie Mr. Fairbank told the writer that it remar
'f' able how much OF the sermons they would !
member and give, on their return from meetin
4" In the light Of these facts gentlemen simply
DS taxpayers, it is respectfully submitted, wheth
'S il is not the part Of financial wisdom and pr
VI" dence, that money be expended byus judiciousi
'"' yet with the wise lberality Of true economy, al
'nS not with penny wisdom and pound foolishnes
for the making Of all necessary provision for q
'ne most successful mauagemento OF this school Al
is it reasonable 70 infer that such present OF
lay, which, at the most can be but a nominal a
dtional burden BUS will go far toward, at leai
'u gradual decrease OF the really burdensome !
cause Improbable and in sense, needless G
penscs incident To our criminal prosecution
VIII it not be, in some sort, the present ounce
W." prevention, saving the future pound Of cure
In the second place, confess To a deep inter'
o' in the boys and girls for whom the school Is d
n signed. Gentlemen, they are somebody's ell
:, dren, and they possess bodies and souls capal
Of growth and noble development and they al
~ by-and-by, TO be men and women and moreo'
-, TO be citizens This school is TO all intents a
a,,' purposes their only opportunity to be anythir
W., and as now conducted, II properly sustained by
~, 10 whom it belongs, it furnishes, as We have sec
- a really favorable opportunity for them to ma
very much, II not the most Of themselves, social
intellectually and even morally that they could
- any circumstances. This consideration has Il
,a~ much weight in prompting the communication
= which your attention is respectfully yet earnes
80 asked. The writer is only one OF those whom y
- represent, having with you common inter
w.. in whatever concerns the welfare Of our sta
49, and also, he is persuaded, having no less inter
~, in all that concerns the well-beng Of our felo'
~ especially II for any reason they are unfayoral
, situated
,, When boys or girls are sent to our Refo
=, School, they are kindly met and are made to f.
as they distinctly told, that they are recei'
or, there to improve and to make the most and b
:, 49, Of themselves; and that everything will be dc
',1 on the part of the officers Of the school to ?
mote this end. Their honor, seli-respegt and
sire for improvement are at once appealed to
-. -" right and healthy ambition Is aroused condde
''''s is placed in them unless they prove unworthy
''' IT. merit is duly and wisely recognized, and
w merit is distinctly and promptly noticed
creating and maintaining Of a pure and ma
public sentiment is the constant aim Of all C
VIZ" ,'1 cerned. And the writer was informed that
wv point is reached TO a very gratifying extent
As already intimated, far as his obserat
10y went-and he had several opportunities to
W serve, as he mingled with the boys on their pl
ground, at their work and in the Sabbath-scf
Wv nothing appeared in word or act at all inc
Nv sistent with right sentiment, while he saw m
N'' that was highly commendable. The writer kn'
""s little about the necessarily incidental friction
casioned by the removing the school 10 Nergen
50, and the purchasing Of the estate at that pls
and it is of no particular Importance to any
"l. now. Some one has rather quantity given
''"' explanation of all such friction in the sayi
p"'' "There is great deal Of human nature in N
:, kind" The school must be somewhere, gen
men; and where could it have found more
Il. ~