The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-29
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
Reports of Hon. J. A. Locke and
Mrs. George S. Hunt.


The annual reports of Hon. j. A. Locke
and of Mrs. George S. Hunt, of the visiting
committee of the Reform School, are here
with appended
MRS. HUNTS REPORT.
To His EGcellefscy the Gocernor and the Honor
able Council of Maine;
The visitor to penal OF reformatory institution
feels natural desire to know something OF the
inner history of each life theRe represented and
two questions follow this desire: First, by what
slow or sudden processes of temptation its evil
habits have been formed and, secondly, by what
agencies the germ of goodness inherent in
every soul can best be brought to the noble
aspirations which will develop and save it.
suppose that the statute which provides "that
a committee shall visit the Reform School to in
uuire as to the treatment, condition and progress
of its inmates, &c." was framed in recognition Of
such desire, as we'll as with the intention of Civ
ing to the people of Maine more of the details of
the life of the school than it is possible for the
trustees or officers to embody in their reports.
Another benefcent purpose is also served by this
regulation. 1t aims to convince the boys Of the
school that they are not isolated from the world,
that friendly eyes regard their progress in the
right paths, and that kind tongues will speak of
their success in regaining the ways of virtue.
During the first months of my association with
the committee, it was evident that the inmates Of
the school utterly misunderstood our meaning
and office. The boys supposed us to be kind OF
receptacle for complaints, and inferred that all
letters must contain real or imaginary grievances.
Only the most vicious boys, therefore, would write
to the committee orask for an interview. For a
time both the committee and the school labored
under the unfavorabe circumstances caused by
this misapprehension. But our quiet and per-
sistent efforts have succeeded we have convinced
the boys that we come to them as friends to all,
and that we wish to know each one more inti-
mately that we may help him to better life. Dur
ing this year but one well-founded complaint of a
serious nature has been made, and this grievance
was promptly redressed. The committee have
reason to feel that judicious advice to the boys
has prevented many petty grievance from rip
ening into wilful stubbornness and disobedience.
Each month l have written to one OF more of
them, hoping by my sympathy to stimulate any
good impulse which had observed into per-
manent desire for Improvement in character.
Extracts and copies from few OF the many letters
received in our monthly visits may be OF interest,
and think will show that our letter box is ac-
complishng its purpose:
Dear Friends:-Ia am very glad to write to you
this month because have got up into the nrst
class as promised you | would. Three months
ago was in third class and tried hard to get
into first class by December, and am very G lad
have succeeded. / am going to try to get into
honor by February and hope will
| am very much obliged to you for encouraging
me to behave and all the officers that / am under
have encouraged me to behave.
Yours truly, -.
Dear Friend When you spoke to me down at
the table was kinder surprised for that was the
first time any one ever spoke to me down there
except Mr. Little once. You asked me to write
and tell you if was iu the. first class. am not
quite but got up some last month, and mean to
some more this. did not think the committee
took any interest in the boys except you, but MT.
E. p Wentworth lately he tells us all about the
friends Of the School there is good many of them
that takes good deal of interest in US and our
welfare. If anybody came here about year ago
change if he came now. The Sebago water is in,
and it is good deal better than the old well
water. The steam is fixed better, it will keep the
school warmer than it did before. l will be glad
to write to you every month.
Your affecfionate friend, -
My Dear Friends:-I wrote to you last month
but % yeu ySS see was very badly disappointed but
will not give up yet giving up wont get me up in
the first class so | viii try over again and per-
haps will get up this month if don't will keep
on trying just the same they say If anybody works
hard over a job he will conquer at last.
hope you had a good time on THANKSGIVING l
we had a very nice time. will be glad when the
time comes for the Christmas entertainment II
will be pretty good one, better than last year. l
l hope you shall be sure to come out to see the
Christmas entertainment know you will like it.
Good bye, truly your friend, -.
Dear Friend, II received your letter few days
ago, and was very much struck by what you said
especially about my mother. had never looked
at the matter in that way, but since received
yonr letter have thought good deal about it.
and see clearly that what you said was very
true. did not think before that you took so
much interest in each boy, particularly in myself
knew that you took an interest in the boys in
connected
school, but never thought That you thought or
the boys much after you went away 1 am very
glad to learn that you do take an interest in each
boy, and will try to prove myself worthy of your
interest and friendship. l tried hard to behave
get demerit that am aware Of shall try and
get along as well this month, and better if pos
sible, and not only this month, but every month
until can earn an honorable discharge.
Hoping to hear from you again,
/ remain yours truly,
During the year my attention has been called to
the wisdom and Importance OF q suggestion made
by Mr.. harrington to the effect that there should
be an agent. paid by the State, to secure homes
and employment for the boys when discharged
school every effort is made to stimulate their am
bition to reach the first class with honor, so that
they may be candidates for "leave of absence" /"
Now many of them have no homes or kindred /;
and unless some means of livelihood can be at
once secured, it would be vastly better for them
to remain in the school; while, ON the other hand,
the honor of the Trustees if the well earned
freedom was not granted | have myself ob,
tanned employment for some OF the boys; and feel
a personal interest in their welfare and care for
their future.
The boys spend four hours a day in the school
room, and under faithful and competent teachers
make good progress in all the branches OF their
study As matter of special commendation, it
may be mentioned that the penmanship which
they acquire is, as a rule, remarkably good. l
regret that more of the friends OF the institution
do not visit the class rooms, or attend the exhibit
tiOns which are given twice during the year. such
visits would certainly impress all who would take
this trouble with great satisfaction and convince
them that the boys have the best of educational
luetant to improve their opportunities.
The mechanics Shop now in its second year,
has been growing in favor with the boys, since
they have been allowed to use them the instruction tr
ervisOn of their popular and competent teacher
Mr. Kenniston they worked with great interest
and skill in sheathing the laundry, as we'll as in
making other repairs about the building. After
new desks had been placed in one of the school
rooms, the best of the old double desks were sep
arated and made over into single ones. In doing
this work, the boys showed a cOmmendable pride
in turning out a good result which should testify
to the skill which they had acquired in the use OF
tools.
The much needed improvements Of which other
reports have spoken, have been effected during
Sebago water, the building is thoroughly warmed.
the system of ventilation is good, and the paint
has been carefully renewed throughout the insti-
tuition. With all these things accomplished, the
State may well be proud Of its Reform School
building Yet, after even so much has been done,
the visiting committee will not be quite satisfied
until there shall be q division of the school into
families, and the young have been separated from
the old offenders. The boys are well clothed,
have sufficiently generous diet, and are well
treated. But with the best intentions on the part
of every officer and teacher, it is impossible to
give to each boy that special care and supervision
which could be so easily and effectively rendered
him in the Home system. The experience of
other States has proved that this system requires
no larger yearly appropriation than the old one,
while far better results in the way of reformation
system has been advocated by every Superintend-
ent who has had charge of our Reform School, In
his last report after discussing this subject at
length, Mr. Harrington says: THE Christian
Home is the divine model, and the nearer Re
form School can approach to it, the more success
full will it be in reclaiming erring youth" The
trustees also Zealously advocate this plan as the
one best calculated to advance the highest inter-
est of the school.
would earnestly urge upon the members of
your honorable body a careful investigation of
the Cottage or Home System as adopted in other
CommonWealths, with the hope that in the near
future our Reform School can take rank in all re-
Spects with those of our sister States.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. GEO. s. HUNT,
of the Reform School Visiting Committee.
MIR. LocKE's REPORT.
To His EccelleRcy the Governor and the Honora-
Die Council Of Maine:
herewith submit my third annual report as a
member of the visiting committee of the State Re
form School,