The Portland daily press., 1883-12-29
THE REFORM SCHOOL.


Hon. W. w. Bolster, Of the Visiting Committee
of the Reform School, has submitted his report to
the Council In many of its features it is similar to
that of the Hon. S. Q. Hatch. He finds the boys
well fed and comfortably clothed. He suggests that
the boys be allowed to talk at meals and that the
dining room be repaired. He recommends that
long alternative sentence be given so that the boys
will not prefer it to confinement in the school.
Speaking of the letter box the report says:
The committee have received from the boys,
through the letter box ia letters. In composition
and penmanship they compare very favorably with
scholars of like ages in public schools Twenty
one of these letters contain complaints of treat-
ment, such standing the line for demerits for
guiltess violation of the rules Of the workshop: and
at the table for whispering; of this quality of
their food; some because they were required to
work on Sunday, doing the necessary and usual
sweeping Of the yard, some that they ignorant
of the bylaws and did not know their rights Eigh-
teen Of the letters were asking and claiming fhe
privilege of being discharged from the school and
out their alternate sentences in jail which are
from 30 to 90 days. This class of letters come from
the boys OF the third Glass; or the lowest class of de-
pertinent. Seventy-fve of the letters express
sive of their good usage and kind treatment by the
officers their health success and progress In their
various studies. The following are quotations from
some of these letters which are fair index of tho
substance of the Others viz:
81 am getting along well"
"Am well-get enough to eat"
"Getting along nicely-and SO the other boys"
"et along all right with the officers and so do the
other boys when they behave"
"The officers are very kind to the boys when the
boys do any ways near right"
write you to let you know am well and getting
along very WE'LL"
81 am getting along well-getting up in my grade.
All the education have, learned since have been
here am in the third reader, exp ct to be in the
fourth reader when school commences. Am In the
fifth class In arithmetic and in the second class in
SDelliuQ-lav6 been here two and eleven dQva.
work on the farm the most OF the time. ana
getting along first rate. am learning to road and
write. am learning arithmetic. L get enough to
eat every meal, and get used well enough. My gen.
eral treatment is good Railways get asng all right
when behave myself"
On the subject of mechanical school, the report
says:
1t is clear that such schools are in demand, and
have legitimate function TO perform in connec-
ton with our reformatory institutions. 1t is be-
ieved the State acted most wisely when it made
provision for the establishment of mechanical de-
partment at the Reform school. Here, the en-
ployment Of the intellectual can. as it should al
ternate with the physical training of the boys and
the manifest desire to re ach this department., 20 be-
come mechanics and carpenters and become fsmil-
lar with the use of toOls) will give 1t is believed,
force and strength to their moral training and do
pertinent, if properly and wisely managed, and will
become the most important INDUSTRY, both in its
cunary results and in the discipline of the institu
tion. 1t Is believed that it will have much 70 do
with the after-life of the boys. The State, by its
officers at the Reform School, stands in the place of
the parents Of the boys hence it is not assuming
much when it enters upon the education and devel-
opment of the head, heart and Eand Of the inmates
of the school. Here the boys that possess the ca
pacity can learn trades by which they may make
living.
The mechanical school building is now completed.
and furnished with benches and twelve sets of first
class carpentry tools for class Of twelve boys and
a set OF tools for general use as occasion may
quire. The capacity of the building Is sufficient to
accommodate as many more, and will be at once
equipped and made ready Tor like number of boys.
Itls also intended at an early day to furnish tho
shop with machire cry for working wood so that the
boys may obtain practical knowledge of the use
and management Of machines. Mr.. IT, H. Houeh-
ton experienced mechanic, has charge of this
department. and the beginning promises success.
1t is hoped that the full cass of twenty-four will
be made up during the ensuing January. The cost
of the machinery, mechanical building benches,
tools and salary of the master mechanic within
the appropriation for the year 1883. A class has
been made up, and commenced work on the 21st Of
the present month.
After commenting on the bad quality and the in
sufciency of the water supply and the bad ventila-
ton the report proceeds as follows:
Some discussion has of late arisen upon the elassi-
6cation and separation Of inmates relating to our
reform school. 1t is plain what reform schools need
for their reformation, is wise system administered
by gifted and well-trained officers. What the boys
need is constant stimulus to good behavior-not
merely the distant hope of future good or i'll, but
the daily presence of a motive to do right and con-
tinued growing into habit Of doing right In this
way they will become wesned of their bad habits
1t is substantially claimed by q A. Blockway
superintendent of the Flmira State Reformatory,
New York, and it is believed he makes the true
grounds "that the classification of prisoners must
be natural not arbitrary. 1t cannot be based upon
the crimes for which the boys committed for
the offence does not always inaieate ths true
been betrayed into crime. and habitual criminals
are,found, often, under conviction for simple mis-
demeanors. Nor is the age OF the criminal always
a good standard Of classification or separation.
Some of the most depraved are young in years; yet
full grown boy. fellow prisoner though he be, win
iufn a ad wi Of
his own age and the officials utterly fail, and the
presence of boy with company of adult prisoners
has in instances, exerted good influence
upen their conduct and conversation.
Even if the diversions of moral character are
clearly discerned and rightly gaaged, what benefit
equal virtue vice? 1t has been said that society
is like an edifce, composed of materials the most
diverse, which is held standing by the mastery
manner in which they are mingled. II all the bad
should be placed on one side alone, We should OBJ
tain a frightful quintessence OF vice and the re.
anything to contend With. would probably soon
change over the same side by natural deteriora-
ton" II this is true of general society, is 1t not
applable to criminal society?
Yet again. could it be shown that moral improve
ment is more rapidly made when the good and evil
are separated from each otner, such improvement
would not be sufficient guarantee OF rectitude n-
ter release, because it would be exceptional or
forced lacking the hardness desired from that
action between diversities of character which
makes so large part of the real discipline OF
ordinary life and which is so necessary for perma-
manners is not denied but that other dicta of the
same high authority that "the tares and wheat
must grow together until the harvest announces
principle that should be considered in this eonnsc-
tion.
1t is believed it is not expedient or for the best to
classify the boys in our reformaory institutions
cording to character age or crime. And being
most favorably impressed with the practieability
and utility of the family system" of government
in these institutions distinguished from the
rregate system that here the classification should
not be arbitrary in regard to age, character or
crime.
upon this question. It has been well said that
Providence has arranged that in society the vrtu-
and the vicious shall in some respects be togeth-
but associated in the family and in the walks OF
business, and in the walks of pleasure Some of
those that are vciously inclined doubtloss led
astray while on the other hand Others strength
ened by seeing the resalts of wekedness and they
learn to resist temDtaons and thus their VirtuOus
purposes are strengthened and perfected.
1t is suggested that the law should provide for
the appointment by the Governor Of suitable per-
son visiting agent believing that such would be
highly beneficial who should be required to visit
the wards Of the State placed in famies TO aecer-
tain whether their rights have been invaded, and
duly observed, to appear before magistrates and
courts in behalf Of children who are hGb.s to COM
mitment to any Of reformatory institutions
and in proper to ask that the child instead OF
being sent TO a reformatory, shou be placed in q
suitable family it being made the duty Of the agent
to seek out families willing and suitable TO receive
such children. 1t is believed that the execution OF
the duties of such agency would not be very dit
hculty nor very costly; that better homes, treat
ment and traiuing would be secured, and would
considerably decrease the number of boys and girls
in our reformatory Institutions, and would bring
to the knowledge of tho courts and of the public
many facts q, ncerning juvenile delinquency which
ought to be known and acted upon.
line experiment in other States fully justihes and
sustains the wisdom and Recommendation of such
an agency.
cannot conclude this report without expressing
qualification at observing the accord that exists be-
the board of trustees and the superintendent
and his assistants Ia the management Of the nsli u
tion Tor the best good Of the boys, and 1t 10 be-
heved they have discharged the difficult and i'm
portant duties imposed upon them with credit to
themselves and the institution