The Portland daily press., 1884-12-25

Dent by the presentation of silver medal to
the boy who ranked highest, books to the
two succeeding him in rank and card with
his name on the roll of honor TO every boy re-
ceiviDg five stars, these representing good COR
duct during study hours for tsn weeks, and be-
ing the lowest number recorded. More than
oDe-half Of the boys in the school were entitled
to place on the roll of honor
AS my public work la different societies
brings me into contact with poverty and crime,
and as go about the city seeing contin ually
young boys smoking, swearing and sometimes
intoxicated on the streets, the thought of our
Reform School sometimes comes to me as the
only ray of hope for these children, the only
silver lining to the dark picture which today
their lives present. | wonld like to gather
them all in by crowds that to them might be
extended the same instruction and care, which
is now received by the boys who are the wards
of the State in It's Reform School.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. GEO s. Hunt.
Portland, December, 1884
Mr.. LocKE's REPORT.
10 HIS E1cellency the Governor and the Hon.
orable Council Of Maine:
As member OF this visiting committee of
the Reform School l submit the following re-
port:
During the past year the committee have
carefully complied with the requirements of
the Law relative to the school. We have con-
tinued the letter box for the receipt OF letters,
to which the inmates of the school have had
free access to deposit letters without the
knowledge or scrutiny of the officers OF the
school, the box being placed III entry way,
through which the boys pass several times each
day With one exception your committee have
visited the school monthly, on given day, the
boys knowing from our regulations on what
day the committee would be present Men,
bers OF the committee have individually visit
ed the school at other times, especially Mrs
Hunt, who hss shown a deep interest in the
school and the welfare of its inmates, and
done more than the rest of us have been able
to do IN encouraging and inducing some of the
BOYS to strive to do better in the future.
On regular visitation days we have been ac-
customed so take all communications from the
letter box and read them in open committee,
no one except ourselves being present. During
the past year most of the letters have baen re-
ceived from boys, with whom we have become
personally acquainted, many Of sthem being OF
the worst behaved boys 10 the school. We have
encouraged this class to write, believing 1t to
be the best way in which we could reach them
In these letters they have informed us how
they we're progressing, what their rank was,
and when they would reach the next grade, if
they received no demerita or punishment,
Many OF them have informed US OF pnnish-
ments given them, and the reasons therefor,
and in their letters have requested to be called
up;snd when they have felt that they we're ay-
grieved complaint has been made. After the
reading Of all letters q number of the boys, both
those making complaints and others, have
been called up siHgly, and by personal CONVEX
saton with them and questions we have been
enabled to form very good idea of how mat
ters were progressing at the school. Com
plants of ill-treatment have been very fe ",
and those we have carefully investigated.
Boys entering complaints have sometimes re-
ferred to other boys to substantiate their state
ments, who on enquiring Of them as to the
facts would state that there was no reason for
the compliant 1t is natural for boys when
punished for misbehayior or wrongdoing, to
think that they are unjustly punished, and es-
pecially SO for boys who never were accustom-
cd TO proper restraint or control until placed
IN this school, Hence a certain allowance
should be made to their statements, or at least
an efficient officer should not be reproyed or
condemned until the facts are ascertained.
All suggestions made by the committee to
the superintendent and the trustees have been
kindly received, and they have courteously
rendered US every assistance in their power.
The mechanical school has been doing WE'LL
two classes are now in this department, aud
the advancement Of the boys and specimens of
work prodHced by them have been better than
WAS expected. Many enjoy the regular farm
work and take pleasure in doing their full duty
while others are employed in the chair shops
and about the buildings, each having certain
and regular work TO do. By means of the
school, the daily work, hours allowed for rec
reation and play, and tbs general oversight of
the officers and teachers, habits of study and
industry are gradually being acquired by the
boys. which will ultimately save many of them
for future usefulness.
l am satisfied that everything is being done
at the school that can be done with the means
at the disposal of the superintendent and trus-
tees for the reformation aud future benefit OF
its inmates.
During the two years have been on the vis-
iung committee not single complaint have /
heard against the superintendent or his assist
ant. In simple justice to these TWO officers |
mention this fact,
The act under which the visiting committee
Is appointed requires that they shall severally
report, yearly, concerning the school, its ocadi.
ton and needs.
Under this requirement I respectfully call
attention TO the following needs Of the school:
FlTsS-Au abundant supply of purs watsr is
needed. In my opinion, the we'll water is im-
pure and not lit to use, especially in the sum-
mer season, and the cisterns in the cellar are
not large enough to contain sufficient for the
wants Of the school, wbila those outside of the
buildings in the ground, are rendered im-
pure from the drainage of the premises around
the buildings; and in case of q fire there is
nothing TO prevent the sntiTs destruction of
the buildings. ! know OF no way by which
the necessary supply OF water can be obtained,
except by the Introduction of Sebage,
aud this most earnestly recommend. Your
committee have called the attention of the
Trustees to this matter, but have been met by
the answer, that they were powerless to furn-
ish better water as there was no way ia which
it could be obtained on the premises and they
had not the means or Authority to pipe the
buildings and have it furnished by the water
company.
Second--The heating apparatus of the build
ing is inadequate. In average ainter weather
only portion OF the building can be warmed
ut time, Another boiler is needed, and then
when required. both boilers can be used, while
tho other one would answer for fall and spring.
The attention OF the trustees has been called
also to this matter but their reply has been,
We hare done and are doing all we can with the
mesns at cur disposal.
made no reference to these matters in nv
report gear since, as thre was no way in
which they could be remedied until the Lsgis-
Iature shall meet again. now call due atten-
tian Eo them, hoping the Legislative commit
Gee on the Reform School will make other en-
qulrieS and recommend such an appropriation
as snould enable the trustees to properly meet
the needs of the institution
There are in the school one or two boys who
enght not to have been sent there at least the
second time boys who had become hardened
IN sin and crime, and for whom the school will
not prove reiormatory institution, and GER
tslnly they will DO it no good Some one
Wall say, ''Why do not the trustees tarn them
over to their alternate sentences? We're this
done fear the result would not be beneficial.
Let boy be sent there, say when twelve to
fourteen years of sge,. is long time Tor him
to look ahead until he shall be twenty-one
years aid, bsfore he is certain of going out
Nov II he should become possessed with the
belief that by being iDcorigable and doing some
injury he would receive his alternate sentence
fear many of the boys would be inclined TO
follow this plan: :out when it is distinctly under
stood chat no alternate sentences are given and
that their only hope of leaving Is by good be-
hayior, the inducement is much stronger for
them to do the best they can. l allude to this
matter, in the hope that the magistrates ard
municipal judges throughout the State will
carefully consider the question before sending
boys to this school, and that they will not send
there those of whom they see no hope of refor-
nation. This is an institution for reformation
and not for babitual criminals.
The "Home" or "Cottage PLAN for reform
schools has been frequently mentioned during
the past few years, and some recommend its
sdoptions at any cost. Were the State about
starting a new reform school from observation
and information repeiyed, should most cer-
tainlY recommand this methnd fnr I haliaus