Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-01-30
The state Reform School.


recent visit to the State Reform School
at Nergennes, confirms our former impress
sion of the excellent work done in that insti-
tuition. The school now numbers 1O3 boys
and 20 girls-a total of 1913. We found ev-
erything as neat and clean rs wax" Thor
ough order and discipline are secured, with
very slight apparent constraint. The boys
and girls looked healthy, well cared for and
cheerful their exercises in reading, geogra-
ply and arithmetic were exceedingly credita-
BILE ; ana the whole appearance and conduct
of the scholars showed that they are under
wholesome and eleyating influences and
that the institution is school rather than q
prison.
The success Of the experiment if it was
such, of the girls department is especially
gratifying They occupy separate build
ing, with ample and convenient rooms and
accommodations have their own grove and
playground and have no communication
with the boys except that all meet in the
chapel for prayers, and in the Sunday school
Under the careful watch Of the superintend-
ent, matron ard teachers, no i'll results what
ever have followed the establishment of the
girls school in the same grounds; while
some beneficial results are noticed The
girls are instructed in sewing and housework
as well as in their studies. They make their
own clothes and the common clothes of the
boys, knit all the socks for both schools
with q knitting machine) and do the wash
ing and ironing of their own department.
The cases of many of these girls when they
were received into the schools, were extreme
ly discouraging but all have shown very
marked improvement in character and hab-
its. Some who were terribly vicious, dirty
aud diseased, have become not only clearly
and correct in their persons and outward de-
portment-as all are compelled to be-but
obedient. industrious and Trustworthy. Six
girls have been sent out to places in good
families, and all of them, so far as is known,
are living correct lives. One has married a
respectable young man and is settled com
fortably in life with every prospect of being
decent and worthy member of society.
Others are in good homes and doing well.
The rescue of these girls from vicious sur
roundiugs and the saving of them from lives
that bid fair to be worse than death, is a
work beyond all price.
OF the boys, We believe that about fifty
have been bound out to places, during the
past year, after they had established in the
school characters which made it safe to send
them out There are no high fences or bar
red enclosures; but the attempts to escape
have been very few. Cases of corporal pun
ishnent (nhicted only by the superintend-
emit are rare and the boys are governed
largely by moral incentives. They do the
work of the farm-which, however, being Of
but 100 acres, affords occupations for only a
small portion of their time-and at other
times, outside of school and play hours, are
employed in seating chairs with cane 1t
would seem TO be desirable that instruction
in other useful trades should be added but it
is probably hardly practicable under existing
arrangements.
The charge Of such an institution of course
requires especial qualifications of tempera-
ment and versatile capacity. To such quail
fications Superintendent Fairbank and his
estimable wife, the mntron of the school, add
long experience. They are wholly devoted
TO the school, and have the respect, obed-
ence and often affection Of the boys and girls
They seem to be well seconded by their as
sstants, aud are doing q work, the value of
which to the State cannot be estimated in
dollars and cents.
Farther on in the article above quoted from
the Free Press the editor says that the boys
quarters are too small, their dormitory, in
which 100 boys, with two teachers and a
Waterman must sleep, measuring only 4O1GO
feet The hospital is also too small, being
only large enough for three beds At the
last session of the legislature an expenditure
of $40, 900 for an addition to the buildings
was authorized to be made at the discretion
Of the Governor and trustees of the school
The trustees have recommended the expend-
iture of the appropriation, and Gov. Proctor
is urged to concur, SO that the work of en-
largement can begin.