Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-11-03
The Reform School.

The publication of the reports of the off
GERS of the reform school places the legisla-
ture in possession of the details of the man
agement of this institution during the last
biennial term. 1t appears that at the date
of this report there were one hundred and
three boys and nineteen girls, inmates of the
school. OF this number six boys are wholly
supported by the towns sending them, leav-
ing ninety-seven actually supported by the
state. The net earnings for the past two
years were S6,276.3l. The total expense of
the school for the two years is 39,3Si.25,
from which should be deducted the savings
and income from other sources, amounting
to Sl3,647.11; leaving net expense to the
state for the two years, 25,737.14. The
number of committals during the two years
was forty-five boys and seven girls. Larceny
seems to be the offence for which the great
majority are committed, and during mi
nority the term of commitment. The aver
age age of those committed is about thirteen
years, so that if the inmates serve out the
full term of commitment they will remain
in the institution, on the average, eight years
each. The report covers large amount Of
other details not of general interest. We
had looked to this report for confirmation of
the hopes of the pioneers of this school, as
well as the claims of its present supporters,
as to the beneficial results, compared with
the outlay, which the state is deriving from
this institution. We see very little in the
statistics or in the exhibit of general results,
or claims of results, put forth by the officers
that materially weakens the force of ex-
Governor Proctor's views relative to this
school, as expressed in his valedictory mes
sage. There is a gratifying fullness of de-
tails in Superintendent Fairbanks report as
to the management and operation of the
school, but detailed account of the num-
Der of articles the boys have washed and
ironed during the past two years and other
inconclusive statistical information does not
form an adequate basis on which to ground
an opinion as to whether the school is salts
factorily fulfilling its reformatory mission.
The public has grave misgivings on this
point. The superintendent says the mem
bers who have gone out from the school
"are making their mark as young men and
women of promise, sustaining characters re-
fecting honor upon the school and thus
upon the state, and worthy of imitation by
many who have been more highly favored
with Christian homes and golden opportuni-
ties" While we have no occasion or dispo-
sition to dispute this broad statement, we
regret the conspicuous absence of positive
evidence in this report by which the people
could verify this roseate, but unsupported,
statement of the superintendent. 1t is on
this very point that the public desires infor-
nation. The people do not care for glitter
ing generalties, but they want an exhibit of
the practical results, the fruits, of system
OF reformation Of juvenile offenders which
the state has been trying for fourteen years,
and on which it is annually expanding
large sum of money. In furtherance of this
doubtful system of reformation the state is
importuned to incur still greater expense
in the way of costly additions to its build
ings. Now, it would have simplified matters
very much had the trustees or superintend-
ent given the fullest possible details as to
the present actual status of the five hundred
graduates of this institution, most of
whom, it is claimed, are making their
mark as young men and women of promise
and rejecting honor on the school and the
state" Had some of the time and expense
spent in gathering up the unimportant details
of the laundry been devoted to gathering
statistics affecting their welfare after the
boys and girls 60 out from the school, how
many have become honest and thrifty citi-
zens, how many are Indifferent, and how
many have back slidden, the legislature
would have something tangible by which to
guide its action on the question Of the fu-
ture policy of the state toward this institu.
ton. Had the total cost of reforming" 800
incipient criminals also been given, data Of
the most complete and satisfactory kind
would have been presented for speedy and
decisive action on the above question. We
find from the reports of state officers that
the total cost OF this institution in the four
teen years Of its existence has been In round
numbers s34O,O00-an average of s24, 800
each year, or an average of $3.50 for each
juvenile who has been put through this re-
formatory system Now, the people want to
know II results commensurate with this i'm.
mense outlay can be shown. In one sense il
may be said that if one lad has been saved by
this school it has paid. but for so large and
expensive q machine the people will look fo,