The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-19
INDIANA'S REFORM SCHOOL.
Report of the Workings and Condition
of the Home at Plainfield.
How and in What Branches the Boys Re-
ceive nStruction-Steps Taken to Insure
Good Behavior After Their Release.

Boys, yesterday. filcd with the Governor their
nineteenth annual report 1t is prepared with
evident care. and contains much more informa-
ton of public interest than is usually found
in the official reports from such institutions
During the last year." the commissioners Of the
institution state, 'the school has not only Kept
up its former good standing, but made percepti-
BILE Improvement on its previous record. The
success of this school, in other departments of
1ife. is shown by its works. Hundreds of boys
who have been honorably released, and are now
holding honorable positions in society,
demonstrate the success of the school and its
management. True. some. after being released
have fallen-it could not be expected to be other
wise. OF the 1880 boys who have gone out
from the institution. many of them were from
the criminal classes of society; their surround
ings at home were anything but good, and the
evil influences around them were calculated to
counteract the good impulses received while
in school. AS far as possible,
such unfortunate boys have been kept
away from their families, bat the ties of blood
are too strong to prevent it entirely. If the
boys were all orphans and had no homes, then
we fully believe that 90 per cent of the released
boys would become good, useful citizens. AS it
is the records show that 80 to 95 per cent are
doing well. We do not hesitate to compare
records with any reform school in the land"
The number of inmates has gradually increased
until the institution now ranks second in the
United States the school at Lancaster o., hav-
ing the largest attendance. Since it was
established in 1863 there have been 2,236 boys
admitted. Of these 473 were sent from Marion
county and the next LARGEST number, 102, were
sent from Vigo. During the last fiscal
year, 179 boys vera received at
the school, and 211 were released on
tickets of leave. Ffty-four who had been released
prior to the beginning of the year became in
doent, or were unable to furnish satisfactory GER
4ifcates of character from their mpoyers. as the
Claw requires, had their tickets revoked and were
returned to the institution. Homes were pro-
cured for thirty eight boys At the
the year was Al, while during
the preceding year the general average was 395
Eleven family buildings are now required to &C.
eommodate the inmates, and in each of these
structures is lodged about forty boys. Accord
ing to the report of the commissioners and the
superintendent the attention given to training
and educating these boys is better than the pub
lie schools afford. and it seems that it is really
very good place for all boys.
1--WE feel especially proud" they say, "of the
efficiency of our schools. Every affort has been
made 10 retain the high standard that they have
heretofore attained. Each boy has to begin
cal school authorities has left him, frequently
with the alphabet or primary reader. Each boy
il in school one half of each day. except during
4he summer season-then only the primary
grades are in misunderstanding ample oppor-
tunity for instruction in all the branches usually
included in the course of good common school
education. In addition to the grades during the
day the superintendent has class il history or
geography Saturday evenings in the chapel,
composed of all the inmates"
Thn hOyy orn rQn M rod RI WI md no a
last year they probably had larger yield to the
acre than any farmer in the State. The farm
comprises 225 acres, and the work on it
IS all done by the boys, under the direction
the officers. They also made 9000 900 brick in
last March, more than half of which was used in
the erection of the barn, and new walks
about the promises were made with 5O, 600 more
while the remainder will be used in building an
addition to the chapel. The boys made their
own shoes last year, but the superintendent
recommends that they be purchased this year,
as he thinks it best to Line this class of work
TO repairing.
In his remarks regarding the moral training
and diciplne of the boys, Superindent Charlton
says: "It seems to be weakness in the charac-
Ter of some boys, not at heart DESTROYS to do we'll
when they get a long distance from the Reform
School to imagine that do not hear of their con-
duct, and as they conclude after doing we'll for a
time to resume their former life they write
glowing letters and furnish false certificates
from others in sympathy commencing
them for their excellent conduct, when.
to their surprise, they receive letter of warn
ing from me even then they flatter themselves
that will go further. When placed under
arrest and returned, they realize the true situa
4ion. and resolve that when they are turned out
an the world second time they will do better
"a am glad to report that this class of boys usu-
ally keep their good resolutions, and it is seldom
that am compelled to return boy second
time"
5 The system adopted requiring permits to be
ted ka adj
Tninstered. the Superintendent says works
well 1t is wholesome check on some officers
bwho. from inexperience or defective managing
abilities, might punish unduly. 1t requires the
officer who asks permit to study the case and
first of all, to determine whether the boy is
guilty or not; then to use his judgment
as to the amount of punishment
needed to prevent a repetition of the offense.
TO the superintendent, who may reduce refuse
it, as he may deem proper. The superintendent
says that he would never return to the old sys-
item, where the power rested on one man.
BY system of promotion or demotion a boys
stay is heightened or shortened, according as he
deports himself 1t is something on the
same same plan as the prisons are adopting
under the name of good time" record. The
prisons obtained this from the reform schools,
superintendent Charlton claims and he thinks
that. in the near future, they will be compelled
10 adopt many more of the features Of reform
schools When q boy enters the school he is
given standing. which is called his badge"
This is represented by anumber which indicates
the number of months he has to stay in the in
stitution by moderately good course of conduct
Extra good conduct hastens his release, while
bad conduct postpones it. Each month all the
rasdeeds, small and great. of each boy are
brought before the superintendent, and after
determining the weight they should have in his
record for the month"; the officer in charge is
required to explain orally all he knows about
abe boy; Other officers are then called to give
their observations, and finally, aided by all
Ahese the superintendent fixes the boys record
or badge. for the month This is like mile
stone along road. The boy can see how his
course is tending.
. The superintendent suggests that the Legisla-
lure should make provision for a visiting agent
TO watch over the boys who are out tickets of
leave.
1t is estimated by the board of cop.ro, that
Abe cost OF mai ntenance during the NJ t year