Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-30
STATE REFORM SCHOOL

uovefnof ana Council, one BY each member
these reports agree substantially a. to facts
and accommodations. We publish the full
report of T. H. Haskell, together with the
bill of fare at the institution and the dnal
recommendations of the other two members of
the commission.
T. H. HAsKELL's REPORT.
10 the Governor and Council of Maine:
The commissioners, appointed to examine
INTO the treatment Of boys confined in the
State Reform School, have attended to that
duty, and inasmuch as they ente rtain various
opinions, have agreed to severally present
their views.
The school buildings were first visited and
examined. These were found neat and cleao
and generally we'll suited to their present
use.
The dormitory, which contains more than
one hundred single beds, all in one apartment
ard each provided with white spreads and
pillows, 10 particularly attractive and pleas
ant
The dining room, situs led in the basement.
is somewhat gloomy anh out of repair II
needs new furniture in pi-ce of the old tables
and stools, that are fixed TO the floor, to give
it an inviting and hoR,elike appearance.
The hospital. although clean and comfort
able, 10 ventilated from the d0mitory by
transom windows and is exposed to noise and
disturbance from that apartment and the
play grounds outside. 1t should be estab-
llshed in a more quiet place.
The four cells used for the confinement Of
boys, are by feet in size and have neither
q window nor do they contain any article of
furniture.
The room IN the tower used for a like
purpose, is octogonal in form and about ten
feet in diameter. 1t has one window securely
planked up, with two large auger holes
through the planking to admit light. II has
no ventilation, save by the cracks of a tight
fitting door and these holes, and like the cells
contains no article of furniture. These
places are utterly unsuited for the uses made
Of them.
The clothing of the bows i. of good quality
and sufficient. 1t is manufactured from the
cloth largely by the bows. Each boy is pro-
vided with a Sunday suit exclusively appro-
pristed TO him. All the other clothing, ex
cepting the shirts, is in common stock and
worn promiscuously. This method is faulty.
Each boy should have his own clothing aud
be taught to care for it.
The food appears to be good and whole
some, but the silence in which the boys are
required to eat, destroys all zest and relish
and seems to be enforced at the cost of much
chastisement and trouble.
The school is under the Immediate charge
Of one superintendent. whose duty calls him
to keep, govern, employ and instruct the boys
committed to lis charge. His will in these
respects is absolute and his judgment must
direct and maintain the discipline Of the
school. His position is full of responsibility.
The boys committed to the school are guilty
Of al ora1as IF and ,isdo
They are placed in his charge to be subjected
to reformatory influences, in hopes they NAV
become useful citizens and honest men. To
this end lac should be held to every endeavor
within his power and should know and direct
all the methods of the institution. Punish
ments necessary for the maintenance of order
should be administered under his eve or the
eve of his assistant. and none others should
be allowed ever to inflict chastisement. For
the personal treatment of every boy he should
be held accountable. Their liberty and well
fare are in his hands.
The boys are divided into three classes and
each class into three divisions. Department
after admission is the sole test that governs
the position of a boy in these classes. All
when received at the school enter the middle
division of the middle class regardless of their
previous history. Those guilty of the highest
crimes enter side by side with those whose
misfortune in having no parents or no home
has led them into some trihing offence.
A system of merits and dement's advances
the boy to the highest grade or reduces him
to the lowest place. Only boys of the first
class are generally allowed outside the build
ing or high walled yards. These may be
discharged by the trustees or bound out at
service.
To maintain discipline in the schoo. various
g.
whispering or otherwise violating the rules
at meals. boys were compelled to leave the
table and stand while the others finished their
meals and were not allowed food until the
next meal. This practice was abolished BY
the present superintendent, who at frat
allowed the boy bread and water to be eaten
standing; but at the present time such boys
are allowed to eat their regular meal standing
at the window sill
During a part of each week day the boys
are employed in seating chairs. To each boy
is given stint of a certain number of chairs
for the week. To compel the performance
Of these task. punishments are inflicted One
i. standing the boys upon line in the yard
daily, while the other boys are at play, until
the task is made up. In one instance q boy
was thus deprived of all outdoor exercise
for a period of two months. Another is con-
fnement in the cell with the work. until the
task is completed. Here the boy is required
to work day and evening BY the dim light
that falls through the grating at the door. and
at night is compelled to sleep wrapped in his
blanket. if he pleases. but upon the floor for
a bed A third is fiogging, fourth is to
stand the boy with his fingers to his toes for
a period of not exceeding twenty minutes
but boys have been kept so standing for
much longer time than that; in one instance
for three quarters of an hour.
The officer in charge of the first and second
elias. chair shop has repeatedly, IN direct vio-
lation OF the rules of the school, administered
bodily chastisement to the boys under his
care. which in some instances was hash and
cruel. and called for the action of the super
iptendent. He is msnifestly an unsuitable
per.on to govern the boys in his charge and
teach them manly and honorable conduct.
Many boys from physical weakness need to
be walked each night The former Waterman
ga, accustomed to wake these by striking
them with a thong or small cord, so that the
marks of the blow remained upon their limbs
He also for violation Of rules kept boys stand
ing in the floor at night, and in one instance
Kent hov standing all night. For this con
duct he was discharged some months since
For other breaches of discipline. boys have
been confined in the cells for week. with no
article in it beside an open vessel cieansed