Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-13
OCTOBER 13, 1880.


be failure; nature and experience are against
II. In the Westboro school In Massachusetts,
there were nearly four hundred boys at one time
1t was enlarged to make room for six hundred
and fifty, and as the trustees thought In 1876
was likely TO be kept full; but 1t contained last
winter only one hundred and thrty-eght The
addition Of 1876, built for two hundred,
lodges about thirty, and it was contemplated at
the time Of the last report to close it entirely. The
reasons OF this falling off have been partly the
great expense and partly the fact that other
methods have been found more eficacous for re-
form. In Massachusetts now there are larger
number of children for whom places are found In
families than are in the three state schools.
Those in families are treated as wards of the
state, and are visited and their condition
ported.
1t is matter of sharp dispute among the best
students of reformatory methods, and was de-.
bated at the last meeting of the National Confer
ence Of Charities at Cleveland whether the con-
gregate system, as 1t is called to which our re-
form school belongs, is not failure. 1t wonld
be very unwise to invest more money in build
ngs until this question of whether we are on the
right track or not Is settled. However that may
be, feel of this that it is for the welfare Of
the state, throwing out the question Of expense
entirely, and considering merely the preparation
Of the boys for future citizenship, to so reduce
the number that the present buildings will be
ample
The plan of binding out till of age do not con-
slider the best one, but finding good place for
the boy for a year or more and then II he does
well leaving him some voice in the choice Of the
place, and in fixing the price for his labor, but
still under the care and control of the state au-
thorlties; combination Of the binding out and
probation systems with as much of the latter as
the case will admit of. The reform school should
be mere stepping-stone to the family. That is
| the proper place for childhood and youth, and II
| through misfortune they lose this healthy inhu-
ence, the state will do them the best service by
restoring it as quickly as possible. In our agri-
cultural state, where good places are readily
found, am sure this policy will some time be
adopted to a much greater extent than hereto
| fore. Boys cannot be fitted for the work of life
within four walls or congregated in an institu-
ton OF this kind but only by actual contact with
the world, under the best influences can throw
around them, Mr. and Mrs Farbank are faithful
and devoted officers; it would be difficult to fill
their places. wish to say everything possible in
regard to their faithful discharge Of duty as they
understand it, They have great enthusiasm in
| their work, but this very enthusiasm possibly
leads the superintendent to overrate the benefit
his institution confers upon its inmates From
his standpoint few boys would not be improved
by a course in his school, and the longer the
better. Every man in charge of u great institu-
ton of this kind likes to see it flourish is nat
uraly glad to have large number under his
charge, and, of course, If they are there for
long term they learn more, and can make better
exhibition of the advantages they have received.
In saying this say nothing more of Mr., Fair
bank than what could be said of almost any man
in his position who had that great faith and en-
thus;asm in his work necessary to success
1t does not with most boys promote manliness
and strength of character. 1t is an unnatural and
entirely artificial relation. We know that keep
ing boy secluded from the ordinary relations
and influences of life, even from its temptations,
is not often the best way. They 60 out into the
world with their physical strength and passion
fully developed but entirely unused to the world
They have lost their pride and feel that there is
a badge of degradation upon them, and are weak
to resist temptation. and many OF them fall
readily into crime. Twelve have been in the state
prison, and nineteen or twenty in the house of
correction during the last two years; and there
is room for argument, at least, that term in one
of these in situations is more reformatory in effect
than too long confinement in the school,
The method of arbitrary marking too, while to
some extent necessary, when carried to extreme,
tends to develop deceit and hypocrisy. The hon
est, manly boy, but with boys love OF life and
play, cannot reach the required standard 50 read
humbly and hypocrtically adapt himself to the
requirements. This may be " fiat blasphemy
against the system but it is my earnest convic-
! ton from a careful study of it Ms whole, from
, what have seen at the separate semi-annual ex-
aminations of the inmates now required by the
statute and at other visits, and from the best ex
, animation have been able to give to individual
cases.
Acting upon these views have recently pardoned
RENTED the fines OF several boys These had, in
my judgment, fully satisfied all just requirements
of the law Doubtless have erred in individual
! cases 1t would have been better il they had
! been worked off by the superint endent and trus-
tees to good places and in the ordinary course OF
management. But these officers honestly differed
a'whoe of the boys and the state would be served
by releasing them, and having examined the
, cases several times-whch my successor could
! not do at present-there was no other course for
me to pursue. do not believe greater proper
ton of these will find their way to prison than of
= those discharged under ordinary methods. What
ever the result, the responsibility rests entirely
l with me.
An appropriation was made four years since for
more sleeping room by raising the root OF the
! gun house. There was nothing DONE but the APP
rtaft nanI for g.th aa
law allowed That might now be done and fur
nsh all the necessary sleeping room, and is the
better method if anything is done. 1t would be
better to have two sleeping apartments with a less
: number in each than to make a new building to
I accommodate the whole, but believe with proper
!, legislation, and with an administration OF the
school on the plan have suggested, with view
to help the boys to help themselves-which is the
truest charity-by finding them employment as
rapidly as possible and places in good homes,
= that the number can be reduced below nifty and
no buildings required.
The suggestion of the trustees that more land
should be purchased, when it can be done at a
! reasonable price, meets with my approval, 1t Is
much better employment for the boys than the
Q shop work The land would be Improved by their
, labor and ought to be no loss to the state. / do
!, not believe 1t is advisable to start any system OF
q complete mandatory because the number ought
= to be reduced so low that there will be little need
: of any work of this kind, and that the larger
y part OF the inmates could be employed upon the
land The trustees suggest additional room for
" officers and guests This is, however, much more
needed at Windsor
What il to be the future policy of the state in
l. reference to the school is question OF great i'm
!, portance. The superintendent has great faith in
a his work and rare faculty of mpressing others
a with IT, 1t is magnetic and contagious, Legisla-
q tive committees are quite sure to agree with his
n views though they are not always sustained by
n the calmer Judgment of the legislature
a In 1874 bill (senate bill 9Ol appropriated
!, SO 600 TO purchase new buildings and machinery
q at Waterbury and enlarge them for the manufac-
y ture of chairs The committee reported fayora-
, bly,, and after earnest opposition and some re-
q strictive amendments 1t passed the senate The
= house committee reported in its favor but the