Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-11-19

Tennessee Reform, sehooI.

1 keAHGSSCc EStOEIU SCHOOL.
We understand that memorials are
| being signed in all parts of Tennessee,
asking the Legislature to establish q
reform school, or schools iu the state
for destitute, depraved and condemned
children, aud to make such changes
in the existing lave, with reference TO
these children, as may be necessary.
We feel confident that this is s.
movement in which all parties and
creeds can unite. The hope Of our
country lies in its children, and any
plan will bs heartily endorsed that
seems likely to make useful and happy
men and women of those who would
otherwise, in all probability, have
ended their days in prison., i'll the aims
house, or on the gallows.
Thinking that our readers will be
interested in the working OF such
schools in other states, We give few
items CLEANED from recent account of
the Philadelphia reform school. This
school was established over fifty years
ego and has cared fer more than
fourteen thousand boys and girle.
There are at least six hundred children
every year within its walls. The
buildings are all of brick and are
situated in a large park, surrounded
by high stone wall. The money for
the support of the school is supplied
by the state of Pennsylvania, the city
of Philadelphia, private donations
and the earnings of the children
themselves, which last year amounted
to $4,000.
The children make shoes, bottom
chairs, knit stockings weave wire,
make brushes, toy witches,
match boxes, baskets, and wicker
work. They have nine hours
for sleep, six or eeven hours for work,
three hours for school, and the rest of
the time for meals and play. The in
mates of this houee of refuge are COM
miitsd by magif trats for various
terms, on complaints made and proved
by public officer, parents, friends and
others, charging the children with
mendicancy, vagrsncy, incOrrigible
badness" larceny, etc.
On arriving at the reform school the
child is taken to bath, made thorough
ly clean and dressed ia clean suit Of
clothing. The first thing it learns is
to obey promptly the rules Of the
house. The rooms are clean and airy,
and the food is nutritious and wholes
some, but not dainty. There is large
pool Of water under the boys building
and they battle every day in summer
and once week in winter. The girls
have private bath rooms. All the
work Of the house ia done by the girls,
and they also learn to knit, sew by
hand and machine, making clothing,
etc. Two bakers and three boys make
all the bread. The children work
like beavers in the workshops, as
they get little extra pay for all done
beyond their task, or have more time
for themselves. The studies IN the
school are nauch the same as in the
public schools. There ia fine chapel
in the institution, with piano and
organ. The children sing well, as
they are taught music daily. Some
good man breaches or talks to them
every Sunday, and they have a
splendid Sunday school taught by
teachers from the city churches.
The boys are all drilled, elect
their own officers, and are
instructed by an army officer.
They have a brass band of thirty
pieces. The instruments cost twelve
hundred dollars, and were given to
them by kind friends. We may here
mention that Mr.. Ferederick Kohne
has bequeathed one hundred thousand
dollars to this reform school.
Everything is done in this school to
encourage the children to good con-
duct. They are classed according to
merit, and class one wears silver
eAO CiaSS Vi LAS q
gold badge. The very bad children
are not allowed to associate with the
very good. Various entertainments
are given to the children from time to
time, by the friends of the school, and
the children, in turn, give recitations,
tableaux and music in the chapel.
On leaving the institution new
suit of clothes ig presented and the
visiting agent sees what sort of homes
the children return to and provides,
as far as possible, work for those who
have no employment, and homes for
euch as have none.
We commend the project for re-
form school in Tenn e5see to all our Cit
liens, trusting that they will not only
sign the memorial to the legislature
but also do all in their power TO insure
the establishment OF this much needed
insfitutioD