Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-12
I'm IMPORTANT QUESTION.

The Legislative Committee of the State
Teachers Association is about to submit Il
bill to the Legislature for the establish
ment Of State Reform School. Unques-
tionabIy some such institution is needed,
IS we pointed out on the first day Of the
legislative session. Indeed, we know of
no more pressing necessity upon the State,
so far as moral reforms are concerned. But
before any plan, are adopted, or any sys-
TEN settled upon, the Legislature should
examine the Massachusetts, system. 1t Is
the most recent, has achieved the greatest
success and is the result Of the experience
Of the hest peno!ogists and phiIanthropists
Instead Of erecting buildings in which to
imprison children and thus indelibly
brand them with 4 mark that all through
life viii reproach and cripple Them and
prove a deterrent to advancement and
right living, Massachusetts, has Il home
system. We cannot, in this place, attempt
to give the details of which it is necessary
there should be knowledge in order to
thoroughly understand the Massachusetts
system. But in brief, we may say that a
prison is provided only for incorrigibles.
All other youths tending to criminal lives
are at first grouped, not more than twenty
five in . group, and placed under the care
Of matron and superintendent for each
group. These, as closely as may Re, set up
a home for these twenty-five, in small
buildings provided, but isolated from the
central or receiving structure, where the
worst cases are detained permanently and
taught trades In 4 brief time the charac-
teristics and capacitie, Of each child in
each group are ascertained and precisely the
treatment needed is known The State
Agent then searches for home for the lad
or girl. and he has no difficulty in finding
them in plenty. This home may lie upon
a farm, in a shop, a store, On ship
anywhere where child can lie Use
full ard well cared for Tie ward
Is given over to its new. guardians
who are required to end it to school and
care for twith kindness and to train it up
to a useful life Only men and women
capable Of such tasks are chosen. Very
frequently the State AGENT corresponds
with and visits his ward, examines him in
his studies, inquiries into his care and com
fort, ard encourages him in all possible
ways. BY this system the lad is wholly
disasso, lated from any prison atmosphere,
and the stigma Of an institution can
not attach to him Massachusetts has
found very few cases, indeed, in which the
"warjs" so treated have not turned out
well and made useful citizens and good
men and women. 1t is found to cost the
State less too, than any institution system
though this is a small consideration in
contemplating the weighty question Of
cutting of the criminal supply. 1t pro-
ceeds upon a humane line it is based upon
the idea that you can train n child by
kindness easier than YOU can drive him
and that 10 State works reio MS with boys
by punishment in penal institutions. The
details OF the Massachusett, system are full
Of interest, and the success that has attended
il commands the respect of all who have
examined into it. II the Legislature Of
California is so minded it can, by tele-
graphing for it, probably receive all de
sired Information statistics and details
within q fortnight