The Portland daily press., 1885-01-22
STATE REE0Rm SCHOOL.
Annual Reports of she Trustees and
Treasurer.
The following is the annual report of the
Trustees of the State Reform School, with an
abstract from the Treasurer's report:
TRITsTREs' Prp0RT


The following is the annual report of the
Trustees of the State Reform School, with an
abstract from the Treasurer's report:
TRUSTEES REPORT.
To HIS E1ceHency the Governor and the Honor-
able Council of the State of MdiYe.
Tne trustees Of the State Reform School,
in presenting the thirty-first annual report Of
the institution would gratefully acknowledge ge
the benefeent and kind hand of Divine Provi-
dence in blessing the school with most excel
lent health and q good degree of prosperity
during the year.
The last Legislature made an appropriation
of the sum Of five thousand dollars for the pur-
pose of establishing and maintaining a
mechanical school for the instruction of the
boys in mechanical trades. AS result of this
appropriation mechanical shop has been
erected and thoroughly equipped with
machinery and tools.
As instructor in this department Mr.. H. Fl.
Houghton has been selected, and the good re-
suits of his teaching are but evidence of his
own skill and ability as master mechanic.
And, indeed, many of the boys exhibit a
decided liking and taste for this new industry,
and consequently have made good progress;
whilst some specimens of their handiwork
would, We believe, compare quite favorably
with those of similar kind in the primary
departments Of schools OF technology and
mechanical shools where boys are selected for
this speciality.
While we cannot hope to make this depart
ment self-sustaining we believe it may be
made means of reformation, and means
OF better fitting these unfortunate lads to earn
an honest living, on leaving the institution.
The mechanical shop has been supplied with
a portable boiler and engine furnishing
power to operate the machinery, such as plan
ing machines, circular saws, turning lathe, jig
saws, &c.
Twelve work benches equipped with as many
sets OF tools have been placed in the work
shop, furnishing facilities for the instruction
OF two classes of twelve boys each daily.
The boys are carefully taught, first, the
names Of all the various tools and for what
purposes they are to be used, and then how to
make an Intelligent and skillful use OF them,
and also the necessary and proper care of their
tools and work benches.
They are also taught the names OF the differ
ent Kinds OF wood used in carpentry and how
to designate them by their color and grain,
names OF the marks on the rule and how to
measure with it, the grinding and whetting of
tools, the use OF work marks, steel and try
squares, chalk-line, rip, back and hand saws,
the cutting up of lumber, and surface plan.
ing, the use OF the knife, gauge, spoks-shave,
bevel, dividers, bead, match and rabbit planes
and plow. Instruction is slso given in mitre.
ing. doye-tailing, mailing boring, small fram-
ing and the use of machinery.
The combined usefulness OF the tools spsci-
ned In the foregoing lessons ia practically
taught In boarding, shinging, sheathing, max
ing small boxes, mitre boxes, door and window
frames, casing doors and windows, ,jointing and
hanging doors, putting on locks and knobs,
making book-shelves, bread-boards, etc.
AS soon as the boys acquire more thorough
knowledge Of the use Of toels, it is believed
they will be able to make larger variety Of
useful articles.
AS this department of industry supplies
long 1elt need in the school, it is indeed with
pleasure that we note its successful progress.
Inc R0Ueral of 10
School, methods employed, and results at
tanned are as good as may be expected under
the present system Of management.
But our system is getting far behind the
times
During the last few years great progress has
been made In the system Of conducting re-
form schools
The so-callsd "famiy system" at first adopt
ed in Germany and France and later in this
country is no longer regarded as an expert
ment.
This system is now in successful operation in
Ohio, New Jersey and Connecticut,
Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Michi-
gan, Massachusetts and other States.