Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-01-17


of rare qualifications, sound sense and
capacity to fill her position in such an in
stitution). possess more of the elements nee
essary to carry gu successfully the object
and spirit of such reiormatory institutions
than is often found combined in any de-
partmeut of instruction or reformation.
They have been connected in their present
official capacity with this institution up
wards of ten years, and have OF course be-
come acquainted with each individual
member OF the School, and have, by their
kindness and sympathy, well a by the
strict and impartial discipline, secured the
respect and esteem, to a remarkable degree,
of every scholar in School. as this test am
ply showed; aud they. as we'll as all the
officials connected with the Institution,
may well feel proud OF the results of this
visit of the Governor and the Board OF
Trustees. There are probably few institu-
tons IN the United States which could have
stood similar test and achieved like re-
suits, and We cheerfully concede them the
honor and merit which are justly their due
At the time this School was eItablis he'd
Vermont had her penal institutions for the
punishment of criminals, in the shape OF her
county j,ils and her States prison located at
Windsor. The State prison of course being
|
safe keeping and punishment of criminals
BY confinement at hard labor, and the cur
taIment Of many Of the privileges incident
| to freedom, among which are thoanDullIng OF
the marriage covenant, and loss Of the right
| of suffrage, followed at his fiual discharge
by the usual stigma OF prison convict
which attaches itself to those who have been
the subjects of penal servitude. But here
was a class of juvenile offenders, who, Tor
/
parental influences. were Just commencing
to tread the paths OF crime. The State :
prison was not fit place to send this class
as the sentence would oftentimes be out OF
| proportion to the offence committed, while
the influence OF the society OF hardened
criminals would not tend towards their
reformation: and the disgrace Of such in
carcera,Ion would have a tendency to des-
troy the seli-respect and ambition tor
good citizenship thus early In life. This
class of youthful offenders. extending up to
the age Of eighteen Years, 1t was believed
could, by judlclOus discipline, education and
religious and moral instruction. be reform
ed and made goods citizens and in 1865
| an act to establish the Vermont Reform
School was passed by the General Assembly
ot the State OF Vermont. Its purpose Is
set forth section l,t, as follows: There
shall be established Is hereinafter provided
an Institution Tor the discipline, correction,
and reformation of juvenile offenders, TO be
called the Vermont Reform School, to which
shall be committed for discipline. correction
and Instruction. such persons not exceeding
eighteen years nf 40 ~ arc b. th.a but pro
yIded thus to commit.
DR.. Aaron Il Pease, who WAS ono of the |
pioneers IN this matter, was the first super
Intendent appointed to the charge OF the |
Vermont Reform School.
In lo66 the General Assembly passed an |
act for the regulation and government
OF the school. which was at tins time |
established at Waterbury, in Washington
county. The government of the school was
vested in Board OF Trustees who were
elected IN the same manner as the States
prison directors, and held their Office for
one year, CONNIE nclng on the first day of
December. The Governor had power to fill
all vacancies, caused BY death or otherwise.
The aim and object of all legislation to-
wards this school, as will be seen, was Tor
the reformation and the religious, moral
and educational advancement OF these wards
OF the State oil which 1t had become the
legal guardian Section 8 defines how the
education OF the inmates shall be conducted
a. follows: They shall cause those COM
mitted to said School to be instructed in re-
lIgiOn. morality. and such branches of uss-
full knowledge as are adapted to their age
and capacity, and In such regular labor rs
Is best suited To their age, strength, dlspO-
sitIOn and capacity, and to secure their best
interests, amendment AMI future welfare"
The next section (section ~ provides the
manner In which the pupil may be bound
out OF "apprenticed, and adds the fol-
lowing always having due regard to
their religions. moral and educational well
fare"
Section 10th OF this act fixed the limit at
10 years for sending inmates to this School.
and section ll;h restricted the term OF
sentence to any period not less than SIX
months nor beyond the age or ma jorlty OF
such boy at the discretion OF the justice
committing him.
The right OF appeal was granted under
section Is, and those deserving penal pun
ishment. who were likely to corrupt and
demoralize other subjects of the School.
were provided for elsewhere, as follows:
Section Is-"when any boy sentenced and com ,
nitted TO sild School shall submit to the rules
and requirements estabshe for the government
and discipline OF its subjects and his department
tends u corrupt and demDralize other subjects OF
tho School, the Superintendent, by and with the ,
consent of maority Of the trustees, may endorse
the Tact ON The back oil the copy o the warrant on
which such boy was committed and thereupon such
boy shall be subject to the alternate sentence con
tsined in such copy, and any proper OIL 'er may
execute and serve the same By virtue y! such copy
with ouch endorsement thereon"
As fast ~ this reformation which is aimed
at shall take place. way is provided for
the entire discharge of the boy, by section
II, VIZ: 3
The trustees shall have pow to discharge any
boy from the School at any timo before his term Of
service Is completed. in they shall be satisfied
that such boy Is tally reformed and such discharge
shall be compe,u and full release from all penal
lies created by the sentence"
At this session also was passed an act l
providing funds for the purchase of real l
estate for the School not exceeding SIS 600.
also, S 500 for the enlargement Of the
buildings.
In 1867, an additional act for the regua- d
ton and government OF the School was
passed. Section first provided way for I
any minor under 10 years wien bound over
Tor trial in County Court, instead Of
being confined in the County Jail, could .
be placed IN the Reform School. thus re- I
moving him from bad associates and CIV {
ing him an opportunity TO reform aud be-
come II good citizen. and in case such
person should prove unworthy OF sush
and tit subject for penal pun f
section second OF the same act 1
provided Tor his removal from this nstitu- l
ton. la 1870. Section ii OF the act of 1850 g
was amended SO that lany boy, upon pro- q
per conviction. could be sent by Justice a
oil the Peace or the County Court Tor tho "
iull term OF his minority. An act was T.
alsO passed at this session apprOpriatlng b
money for the erection of u new building y
Tor the School which should be 40 ar 4
ranged rs to accommodate not less than Il
200 boys and the usual officers OF the School ,
In 1875 special session Of the Legislature \
by proclamation Of the Governor !
"a fire having destroyed the Reform School a
buIldIngs) passed an act changing the loca- .
ton of the School from Waterbury to Yer.
gennes. and apprOprlating money Tor the
purchase Of buildings and land Tor the
same Also an act to enable the Trustees
and Superintendent to remove the pupils to d
N-rgehnes ~ soon ~ the buildings were y
An act was also passed prOvIi- 5
ing for the admission Of girls to the School $
when not less than ten nor more than fit .
teen years OF age, and the several courts a
were gwen tho same power to commit girls !
~ was then IN their hand to commit boys =
IL was made the duty of the Trustees To ar
range buildings Tor the complete separa- ;
ton OF the sexes, except Tor educational [
and religious instruction and such rccrea- ,
alton a. might be allowed by them and
Five thousand dollars J
were appropriated to carry the object oi
tins bill into fleet.
Some three or four boys under ten years \
OF aye have been committed to the Reform I
School, agreeably to an act OF the special =
session Of 1875, for non-payment Of fines q
imposed Tor petit larceny.
An act was also passed at this special