New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-09
CHILDRkNs YORK IN REF0RMA TORIES.

TO the Edttoror rhe tribune.
SIR; In your excellent editorial on the sub
ject Of children's work I'm reformaores In LIE ,
OF April 9, you quote with approval from MI Epraee
II ali these reform schools for boys and girls should
introduce labor that would be OF some practical Denes
ter; II the boys were educated In thePrhthe
agricultural pursuits, II they educated az ch'Rou
tiers. nasons or In other legitimate trade
grow up leave the institution they have then m N
dusral business trade by which they can earn the
support.
Now Mr. Gerry and the people who insist upon gS TINS
would only tell how Ia 10 be done In view 0 the pecu
liar circumstances OF the case, instead OF repeating oes
and again that ought to be you'd
the managers OF Reform Schools in particular ana %
ETY. In general very great service NO one o. the,
attempts TO do this Not one in a Thousand OF t,e
surround every reform school and nseparabe from
IT before setting to work to lay down the law LOT
ments the reform Of delinquent children Let us
look ut the facts reform school IA recep ior
fore be put under wholesome restraint Their ages at
admission range from eight to sixteen years ana tne
Young TO nut at trades are generally removed before
about the proper time for the beginning OF on apPre
ceshp. The schools not designed to retain tnein
until they OF full They go out as soon aef INC
authorities decide they 20 safely as application "a
and of course the intelligent lods who would 90
best at trades the first selected The officers cannot
SHALL follow after leaving them All they can do Is 10
1t far possible TINT the lads are placed III
few mechanics or tradcsmen apply To the schoos I0r
boys Most OF them go on farms or as %oIK
most shops, and " spot" the employer VINO DrOugnt
''cOnvot" lad TO cOntaminate his ourneymen Ihen
the number OF trades that be carried success uy
in prisons s really very limited The space aO ted 70
such institutions is generally ONLY moderate number Of
acres and even If a rcformaores were literally pro-
vided with land one in NcwJersey, which has almost
500 acres a moderatesizcd class of carpenter" or
masons" would In few years time cover 1t with per-
lions ore ronn5 ont by teeislaures with an economy
ID n 0nplicAtiOn and
material and instructors The problem that s ever pres
the mind of every conscientious manager OF suc
school is how he shall make the most and the best oL
OF the meaQo supply OF material that is furnished him
His lads idle vicious deprayed and degraded nor
aud physically He must find work for them OF some
kind and he has around him all army OF critics certain
TO detect the weaknesses OF his work and not 70 see It's
successes The average taxpayer insists that tne oc
is maintaining an institution ia which "yOung scound-
rcls who ought to be in state prison are Petted ana
treated like gcntlemens sons The average legislator OF
reform Schools" with effort to limit the causes wnlch
make them necessary. The average mechanic, ana me
labor reforners in general insist that the otae py
teaching its bad boys trades and employing them III me
cnanical labor is creating an unjust and Injurious com
petition with free labor And the phlantnropist COM
plains that they not given an industrial training
which ia absolutely impossible as things now are -.
Having given the subject good deal OF careru srudy,
have to the conclusion that the best employment
for the lads at such schools is that which Wll lndnco
habits fOrder regularity and industry, without inur.
ing their health So long their labor Is reasonably
productive 1t matters but little az otis character or
They are there children are sent 10 free schools
not much to acquire knowledge OF special subjects
to learn how to learn. The habits OF observation ana
application once gained make ther acquisition y! teHs
nca knowledge OF kind simple and and the iad
who has been taught TO work with steadiness ana pr-
pose to put his mind and HIS heart in his labor has
splendid foundation to build upon-better than most OF
our col eyes and high schools have laid generally That
with a fair acquaintance with rudimentary EnghSn
branches most Of our reform schOos-all OF them IN
fact which arc worthy OF the name-are capable or con
ferng Anything further than this is scarcely to De at
tempted until the way TO II is made palmer and the
outcIy against convict competition, which Is the prnc
nal obstacle at present to all thorough reform OF our
penal system, has ceased.
where the bows ne the reform school have been employed
in considerable numbers and with good success in wash
ing and aundrying shirts under the supervision OF the
officers OF the school only 10 contractor being admitted,
grave complaint has lately been made OF their inuri-
ous competition with free labor" and the legislators VINO
tnt each dollar of appropriations for the support of the
school grudgngly they paid It themselves, urge
that the lads be taught carpentry etc, etc very
truly yours a 9. MEfR'Ch.
Kingston, v. j., May 30, 1882.