The Portland daily press., 1883-12-31
rmE STATE REFORM sCnooL.
Report of EHon. Jose ph A. LOcke-The
school Generally in Good Condition
He Thinks the Influence of "A Lady
Visitor would be Good.

Report of EEon. sBOse pin A. LOcke-The
school Generally in Good Condition
He Thinks the EnGnence of Lady
| Visitor would be Good.
To His EaceHency the Governor, and the Honor
able Council of Maine:
L herewith submit my report as member Of
| the visiting committee to the State Reform
Schocl as required by act OF the Legislature,
Chap. $50, public laws 1888.
| AS member of the Standing Committee on
| the Reform School, had visited this institu-
tion several times and became quite conyer-
| SAINT with its affairs before my appointment as
member OF this committee.
| We made our fret visit to the school June
| 18th, thoroughly inspected the building, and
| examined into the treatment Of the inmates as
far as possible, and obtained what information
we could as to their condition and progress.
| At request of the committee, caused suita-
hle box for the receipt of letters from the in
mates to be placed, where all would have free
access to deposit letters, and on the 29th of tie
same month, had candid talk with the boys,
among other things, explaining to them the
rules established by the committee, and what
was expected from them, and especially, infoT-
nation as to their treatment, condition, work,
and progress, also assuring them that their
communications should be confidential
| July 10th the committee again visited the
| school and devoted great portion of the time
there to the reading OF the letters in the box.
The general tone OF the letters was far differ
ent from what had expected it would be. H.
stead of complaints and faul t-6nding, we found
the boys generally satisfied with their treat
ment. and having regard to their standing
and grade, many Of them expressing a deter
minstion to do still better than they had done.
The complaints were very few.
Year committee with one exception have
visited the school monthly, and examined the
letters from the inmates. l was unable to be
present during the last visit.
The letters read by me speak well for the
management of the school, and furnish evil
dence sufficient to satisfy any fair minded mau
that this institution is well managed, and a
great blessing TO the greater number of those
committedto its care.
A few of the inmates doubtless belong to
that incorrigible class who cannot be reached
by kindness, and whom only the fear OF pun
ishment will reach.
have been very much interested in the
starting of the mechanical department at the
school. 1t will prove, believe, move in
the right direction. and encourage many Of the
boys to get themsevesito earn a livelihood when
they leave the iustitation Not all boys take
kindly to farm or garden work, to the taking
care OF the barn and cattle to the bottoming OF
chairs or manufacture of clio hing What suits
one will not please another The last time yis-
a ma stryc~c
mission to the workshop 1t will prove strong
Incentive to good behavior, should it be under
stood that only those who behave well can be
admitted. The boys intujtively feel that to
know Aow to use carpenters tools is a nobler
calling than TO stand hour by hour bottoming
chairs.
can but believe this shop will prove great
benefit to the school.
Many of the boys sent to the school are
among the smartest, most active and inteIli-
gent in our midst, boys who with happy homes
and proper advice and training might have es-
capped such punishment as they are now re-
ceiVing. The State having taken them into
It's cars, IS in honor bound to fit them to oh
tain their living hereafter, honestly, if it can
be done, instead of turning them ont at the
age OF twenty one, no wise prepared to enter
upon the duties of life, and only fit subjects for
crime.
AS l walk through many OF the streets in our
larger places, where the poor and foreign pop
uia5ion live and see their boys and girls crowd
ing the public way by day and night, | woD-
der that crime is not more frequent than it
now is Many citizens and privats societies are
dong much to save the young; shall not the
State likewise do its share, and when the Young
come under lis control shall it not fit them for
future usefulness If possible. Whatever is
done IN this direction 1 believe the eitizens of
this State will approve.
think pleasant ACCOMPLISHMENTS for the
young strong incentives for an upright life.
Hence It is that the Home Plan for such boys
has proven sos much more successful when
tried, than to have them all together. The
little ornaments placed by the matron around
the rooms of the Home, make an inde llible
Impression upon the childs mind, which though
iDperceptibe at the time, has a lasting infa-
enca for good.
II this connection will refer to the dining
room in the school. IL is net such pleasant
place as it ought to be, although kept neat and
clean; small expense would improve it
much, a few pictures and ornaments upon the
walls, chairs at the tables, flowers in their sea-
son and conversation at the table, would tend
much towards making the dining room pleas
auter place. do not mean to find fault with
the trustees. The money at their disposal is
limited, and they are obliged to c1rtail expen-
ses whenever they can, but in the matters OF
conversation, they should remember, that they
we're once boys. and boys enjoy their meals
much better when they can talk. l think this
liberty should be granted under snch restric.
lions as may be proper. Could the dining
ICOu1 10 nduc rs dlIrdCL1V6 as EQ0 prllcIDal
school roo--, or the room set apart for devo-
tional exercises aad social gatherings the re-
suit woald be beneficial.
have been much pleased to find the ground
surrounding the school bulldings kept neat
aud tidy, have visited the barn and adjacent
buildings and also observed the general man
agement of the farm, aud am satisfied that the
superintendent does not neglect his duties as
to their management.
have conversed with the boys freely, and
m ma
home they ever had, and they would rather
remain than go away, others while saying they
were treated well; have felt the restrictions up-
on their liberty, and for this reason would like
10 leave, and occasionally, l have found a boy
who was not happy at all. This is to be ex-
pected.
The only wonder to me is, that so manv OF
tbs boys are satisfied with tneir treat ment.
When we consider the fact that they are seen
to this place under restraint of the law, mauv
of them wing seea considerable OF crime and
having been accustomed TO indulge in
the many vices to which the young are contn-
ually exposed IN our larger pl aces, we must sc-
knowledge that the influence of this school
upon them has been for good
From my observations 1 amSsatisfied that
the superintendent with his assistant and
teachers are doing all they can for tue best
welfare Of those committed to their charge,
aad that the trustees feel deep interest in
these wards of the State under their control
Mrs. Hunt, who was appointed a member of
the committee, has not been able to unite with
us in our visits on account of an injury, receiv-
ed in the early part OF the summer. The COM
mittee trust she will be able the coming year
to unite with us in our monthly visits A lady
will naturally see and discover many things
that man will overlook, and her presence, l
know, will have beneficial influence with the
boys in the school; and for this reason she has
been urged by the friends of tae school not to
decline. Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH "A. LOCKE.