Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-01-18
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
Twenty-Ninth Annual Reports or r..
Ohicers

ABSTRACT. The Trustees Report saws tb.
the Reform School is not a part of on,
common school system nor is il a mar, y,
our penal system but as reformatory i,
occupies place midway between the two
The founders of this institution never dssion.
ed II TO be prison for punishment. bu,
rather an Institution for the reformation Il,
juvenile criminals; a home where bad bows
could be subjected to wholesome restraint
The trustees have long felt the need of a
thorough Classification of the inmates. one
that will separate this bows that can be easily
controlled from those that need a more rigid
discipline. They would earnestly request
magistrates to exer Use great care in
sentencing boys
The advantages of the family pIan over
the congregate are many. 1t has been dem
onstrated beyond a doubt that yonng crimi
nails may be reformed in families governed by
chrl-tlan fathers and mothers Ii Is a rnl-
OF the trustees that discipline must be main
tanned by as mild punishment as possible.
The bows during the year have been unu-
suallv healthy. have been well fed and COM
fortably clothed. The schools have been
successfully managed and in .tructors have suc
ceeded in awakening as much interest IN the
pupils as could be expected. During the pas 4
year ~ have been discharged, indentured. or
allowed to go out on leave, with the follow
ing results; Doing well. 20: doing fairly. :;
doing badly, 3; no reports from two A
number of those now out Oh trial will be
indentured
The management Of the farm for the past
year has been satisfactory in every respect.
and the income from that source has been
considerable, az well as giving employment
to large number Of the boys most Of the
work on the farm having been done bv the
inmates of the school. The buildings have
been thoroughly painted, and repairs made
as far as possible with the amount
of money that could be spared for
that purpose. Other improvements and
repairs are greatly needed. They would
also call the attention of the legi,la-
iure to the pressing need of water. The
quality Of the water i not good, the supply
In times of drought Is insufficient, and the
protection against fire is inadequate.
The treasurer reports that there are bills
outstanding against the school to the amount
of s3.2S9 80, on account of supplies pur-
chased for the year. The total receipts from
Dec. lst 1881 to Dec. lst, 1882 were S2l,-
742 60; expenditures, S2I,7I6 40.
The whole numb. of boys rho have been re
ceived into the institution since it was opened
Is 1,1ll. Present number, 10; 1854 have
been committed for larceny 1870 for truancy
and l04 for being common runaways
Number OF boys in school Dec |, lss', 1l3
- % committed the past year, a
" previously out on leave,
Number of boys previously escaped, returned, ,
Whole number in school during the year l4s
discharged =
allowed to go on trial %
indentured
died
illegally committed 2
Number of boys remaining Dec. |, 1882, ITO
The total receipts from the farm for pro-
ducts sold amounted to 81 .0f1.63. The neat
stock consists of one AYRSHIRE bull eighteen
cows, nine heiftrs and one calf. We have
four superior team horses, two driving horses.
and one horse tor jobbing ard farm work.
There are in all forty-six swine.
The hay crop was of excellent quality, and
was housed in good condition. We have
cultivated - acres of land. The severe and
long -continued drouth that prevailed in this
part of the State, reduced the yield of all our
cultivated crops. and nearly destroyed some
of them. A kemps manure spreader has
been purchased this year.
An advance of % per cent. on previous
prices is obtained tor our work this year.
The income from this source amounts to a re-
spectacle sum and gives material aid to the
finances OF the institution. An abundant sup
ply of palatabe and nourshing food is daily
placed upon our tables, and every one il al
lowed to eat all he wants. For the first time
since 1889 there have been no successful es-
capes or violations of trust by running away.
There are more than 1900 volumes in the
library. These books eagerly read by
the boys, who derive much pleasure and in
struction from their perusal.