The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-02
OUR BOYs-PAPER NO. S.
item for the Indianapolis Journal.


been suggested that should devote this parer
to the best methods of retaining the boys who
have fallen. have aimed to help parents to so
guide their sons that they might prevent their
ever becoming the wards of the State. Proven
ton is better than cure" But where prevent
i've work is not done the curative work becomes
of the first Importance. More than sixty years
ago. on Randall's Island, New York city, was
established the first reformatory in America.
There are now more than fifty such
schools in our country, and more than
10000 children have enjoyed their benefits.
About 2, 500 of these have been sent to the Indi-
ana Reform School for Boys here at Plainfeld
since its organization, Jan. l, 1868. The most
careful statistics show that fully 90 per cent of
these boys were reclaimed, and have led correct
lives. Others were necessarily returned to bad
homes, and while some of these did not become
criminals many, after time, returned to their
old ways and did badly.
But it is the most hopeful work on earth.
We're it possible to prevent their ever returning
to vicious homes, we might hope for almost per-
feet results Most all the boys in our Reform
School come from cities-very few from the
farm Here at Plainfield we have a
farm of 225 acres and about thirty buildings
of various kinds. Ten of these are where boys
live. The rest are shops, dining rooms kitch-
ems, main building. barn. gas-works, chapel, hos
pital, etc. The school is organized upon the cot
tage or family system. Each of these families
of boys enjoy all the advantages of wei,-regu-
lated family. The family system has many adj
vantages over the congregate in allowing a bet
ter classification and more personal supervision
and care. Wellgraded schools mpart to each
boy the much-needed secular education, while
| the moral and religious work is not neglected.
Good books and papers are supplied them, and
kind hearted teachers each hour guarding
fr rsm bad 'nA' babts and thas thsS
may form good habits. "Cease to do evil, learn
to do well, is the great aim of the school. Cease
to be idle This is taught in school, at play and
each day and work the other half. More than
an hour each day and all Saturday afternoons
are given to play The Sabbaths properly
observed by two religious services in the chapel.
one of which is the Sabbath-school l am quito
sure that every one OF the boys looks back to
the Sabbaths he spent here with pleasure.
Realizing that we cannot reform boy on an
empty stomach, good food is provided.
He is clothed WELL and is required
to keep his person and his clothing
clean. Each boy has good bed, which
he must attend to himself. His evenings are
| made especially pleasant Mirihfulness is en-
couraged. Music is an important factor in the
work All his surroundings are made as pleas
we'll as his sleeping apartments, are decorated
with pictures. The grounds are made beautiful
No walls or bars meet the eye, but everything
has the homelike appearance 1t should have.
Such are his surroundings.
Believing that the great requisite OF boyhood,
or even manhood. is a wholesome discipline, the
very greatest attention is given to this.
Promptness in response to every duty is
self-control and industry are secured.
Bad temper is eliminated and cheerful heart is
made to take its place. As ono Of our boys ex-
pressed it, Il have thrown down the frown and
picked up smile" Politeness is taught in
school, at work and at play. No more polite
boys are to be found than the boys of our Re-
form School. Respect for law is taught as fun
damental truth. without which life is a failure.
The eradication of the bad and the growth Of
good qualities is the gst of reformatory work.
To prevent communicating influences no boy is
allowed to ever refer to his dissolute criminal
life. All punishments are reformatory.
The IN abuse $500. of privilege is followed
If boy cannot play without quarreling, he Ia
deprived of his play till he can give assurance
that he will not abuse the privilege If he
swears, uses foul language or tells untruths, he
is not allowed to talk for time If he is lazy
or habitualy careless, he receives report for it.
Each month his department for the month is de-
termined after his record for the month is read,
and after his general conduct is discussed In
full meeting of his teachers This is called his
motion, or he may be degraded. When q
boy has advanced till he has received his 'hon-
or" he is allowed ticket of leave"
to 90 home on his good behavior" When ar
from time to time. If he relapses into his old
bad habits he is brought back. When he be-
comes twenty one years Of age he is no longer
under the control of the school.
The work of the Reform School is not un-
known 10 your readers. About 900 boys who
have received instruction in it are now scattered
in every community of the State. The eye of
tho public has been them, and pronounced the
work done here to be we'll done. But while we
claim all the honor due us in retaining the
hayward boys of the State, we are impressed
with the Importance of morespreventive work.
Let truancy and absenteesm from school be
stopped by the personal effort of parents, and
where this fails by the strong arm of the law.
Let no child be raised without religious training.
Let the home life of our people be improved and
let street life be prevented. / am convinced that
there is aid efficient in this work to cul-
tivate habit of reading good books and good
periodicals. Such papers as the Youths Com
panion should be placed in the hands of every
boy and girl On the other hand, improper read
ing is destructive. Police Gazette and papers of
that class should be forbidden by law. Give o
boy wholesome amusements and teach him to
shun places Of vice.
''Vice is monster of so frightful mein
That, to be hated, needs but to be SEEM
But seen too oft familiar with her face,
we nrsL amor, tnen plty, tnen embrace
Let more preventive works be done, and
there will he less need of reform schools. Fewer
homes will see their boys snatched from them
and GENT away to have undone what was allowed
to be done at home. Let love be made the iikft
Of every home.
"And what is home OF where
But with the lovinga
Happy thou art that so
Canst gaze on thine.
T. j. CHARLTON.
PLAINFIELD, Ind, April 90, 1886.
Women and Men.