Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-12-03
THE STATE AT LARGE.
Report of Superintendent of State Public
School,


From the eleventh annual report Of the
state Public School for the year ending Sept.
30 1885, we take the following items OF gen.
eral interest: The total current expenses for
the year were S32 81 .55, the largest item being
for officers and employees, Sl0,4l1.16; the next
was for repairs, S6.0Y2.l9; fuel cost 1868,
clothing s33O6.76, and farm and barn 81, s23.-
66 The whole number OF children received
during the year-boys, 1872, girls, 62. The
total number indentured was DO; eleven girls
were married.; seven children died, % have
become of age, 20 have been returned TO the
counties from whence they came, II were de-
clared self-supporting, 142 have been restored
TO their parents, and 90 are In homes on trial.
The average number belonging during the
year was 3J4, and the number remaining in the
school sept. 50 was 204. The whole number
of children received since the school
opened is 1866, and the whole number
indentured Is 1867. The average age OF the
children is l-5 years. and the average age of
those ia6entured is 9 SO years. Superintendent
Foster says the health OF the children is re-
markab good, considering the physical condi-
ton OF many received. Among the important
products OF the past year on the farm were "a
tons of hay, ., bushels OF oats, 9l2 bushels of
potatoes, AZ bushels of apples, $50 bushels of
beets, 313 bushels Of turnips, $50 pounds of
pork and $50 worth of beef. During the year
several valuable cows have been added to the
herd on l. e farm, and now they can boast Of
as excel 'ul herd as is often found. TIE barn
has bee en- arged by an addition 2sxiO feet,
and various farm implements purchased. In
the bakery 3,i01 loaves of Tread and $3.50
biscuits were baked, and great amount OF
othlng ma in the domestic department
Over satons of coal and 700 cords of wood
burned Sa during COS, the STD at an
cen S per day less than for
the prev Gus year. There were 263, $50 feet of
gas manu- actur,d, using 2,331l9 gallons of oil
and S3l pounds Of coal. The report also
speaks Of the various improvements made, in-
GLIDING the changes in the school room, base
ments, the sewa,e etc. The schools appear
TO be in highly nourishing condition, the
Kindergarten, established during the past
year, being especially satisfactory Consider
able space is given in this report TO the care of
children In the school. 1t says: Every
child coming into this institution is considered
and is at once placed under the conditions
most nearly in accord with "A true home. They
are carefully trained TO habits of honesty,
truthfuluess, neatness, punctuality, order,
regard to each other, and industry; each one
who is old enough, has such employment as
he NAV be best ABLE TO do. Every
known wrong act is considered and the child
instructed how to avoid a repetition OF tie
oflense The little ones who need love
a mot ler's care, are as perfectly cared for as
can be, and many ties OF affection are formed
for them here that make IL hard 10 give
them up The evenings are spent in the true
family way. The children are gathered in
Inc I play rOOins Win gaines anu redulug LOT
awhile, the Bible lesson for the next Sunday
carefully studied and finally the evening
PRAYER In which each one, not already too
Sleepy to repeat its words, joins. Goodnight
is said and the manager soon goes and sees
that ach one is properly covered, that tleir
sleeping rooms are carefully ventilated, that
they are not exposed to drafts of air, and that
they are in all respects left comfortable for
tie night. Every few hours through the night
they are visited TO see If they are well and
properly lowered Good food and warm cloth
ng are supplied, regul ar attendance at school
is reaui ell. and when sick good nursing and
ca care provided. Delicacies such AS the
sick ones appetite Graves are always ready.
If a child Is seriously sick some one sits
by its bedside day and night. watching
the symptoms and giving IL every CAFE
that human skill and forethought may devise.
Tls Is simply an outline of the home provided
here" Regarding the care of children after
Icing placed in homes Mr.. Foster says:
Experience only strengthens my former con-
victions that with the majority of children
now received into this school il is far better
nsidering their entire life, to place them In
good FAM homes as soon as such homes can
be found. But care must be taken to select
eactchild with reference to its home, that IL
NAV be most naturally fitted TO its place; and
when placed to visit and advise with both child
ami guardian to the end that 1t may have pro-
per aiming and all the conditions of the in
denture-contract be con:ormed to. | am glad
TO know that our experience is not exceptional.
/ find in attendance upon the National Confer
ence of Corrections and Chart es, and by cor
respondence with men In this work, that the
majority of close observing and thoughtful
men connected with preventive work, regard
this work of caring for children as most hope
full VIII special efforts are made TO place them
In homes"