The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-11-24
OHIO REFORM SCHOOL.
The Annual Report of the Trus-
tees.
A System of Practical Manual Train,
Ing for Boys Urgently Recon-
mended.

The following lS the official report of
the trustees of the Ohio Reform School
at Lancaster, to the Governors:
To the Hon Charles Foster, Governor of
Ohio:
We hereby present for your cOnsidera-
tiOn the 2Sth annual report of this in
stitutiOn and the results of our action
In a judiciary capacity, with the statis-
tical and detailed reports of the superin
tendent, steward and other officers, for
the year ending November 10Th, 1888.
Having in view the object for which
theIinstitution was established, we have
endeavOred in all ways possible to fur
ther this object by personally acquaint-
ing ourselves with the requirements
necessary to accomplish the greatest
good to the inmates placed i'll our
charge, whereby their moral, physical
and intellectual condition might be inn
proved.
The result Of the recent change in the
laws governing this institution, which
no longer permits the commitment of
boys simply for incOrTigibility, while it
has reduced the number of inmates, will
eventually materially change their
character in that they will be a class re-
quiring great care, watchfulness and
consideration to effectually reform and
train them to habits of industry and
honest action. TO more surely accom-
plish this desideratum, we must sur
round them with moral and intellect
ual influences 80 that in their life beyond
the control of this institution they will
be better enabled not only to provide
for but to respect themselves as well as
others.
In this connection and in their behalf
permit us to suggest the prODriety of
introducing as part of and for the pur-
pose of providing our boys with better
and more practical education, a system
which is gaining IL popularity and fast
becoming recognized as necessity in
all classes of sOciety-that of mechani-
cal instruction, to include dTawing-an
instruction wich will teach our boys
and give them knowledge and the use
of tools and the working of wood and
iron.
A thorough inquiry into the practical
workings and results of such instruc-
tiOn has convinced US that in no other
manner or by no other means can we
interest the boys, or do them a greater
service, not only to them but the general
public, and especially to the tax payers
of our State, than to so educate the mind
that the hand can intelligently perform
such service as will give them knOwl-
edge of inestimable worth to them, and
that will enable them to become not
only valuable citizens, and not burden
to their friends or to the public, but
themselves through their ability to per-
form mechanical labor.
In the introduction of such system
there would be no antagOnism to the
present methods of instruction, or the
manner in which the boys are otherwise
employed. The means now existing for
mental education would work harmOusly
with this addition. There is no other
institution or community where such
education would be so important. and
public sentiment everywhere would pro-
nOuncedly sustain such an innovation,
as surely the necessity for manual train
ing is apparent to every discerning
mind.
There are other and economical rea-
sons why manual training would prove
so desirable in such an institution as
the Ohio Reform School, reasons of vast
importance to the boys, and of interest
to the public. With Ignorance comes
vice and consequent increasing num-
ber of hardened criminals, who prey
upon life and property, who fill our
prisons and empty our taxpayers
pockets. With Intelligent minds and
honest hearts, come human happiness
and prosperity. Therefore to prevent a
return to this institution, or worse yet
a commitment to be companions in con-
finement with muTdererS, thieves, etc.;
to prevent the necessity of State agent
dppOlnIeu duu Ut ldIB6 bApeHSb IuI Gu6
purpose of providing homes for friend
less boys who may be discharged from
our institutions; to prevent the honest
granger, who on one occasion, having
provided home for one of our boys, re-
marking, 'He is good boy, but he don't
know nothing" and to prevent the ne.
cessity and cost, as is now the case, of
keeping large number of boys at the
institution, who are entitled to dis
charge for good conduct but are friend
less and homeless, we must so educate
these boys that they may be self-depeDd-
dent upon leaving our control, with the
ability to care for themselves.
The disposition to be independent,
fearless aud honorable will follow. In
no other way can this so readily, so eco
nOrlically and with such direcG results
be 4 occurred as 3by giving the boys ia
practical knowledge of the mechanic
arts and the proper use of tools, as is
contemplated in the manual training
schools. Believing as we do in the great
Importance of this subject matter, we
sincerely hope it will receive at your
hands and from the General Assembly
that consideration its merits deserve.