The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-29
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
Reports of Mrs. George S. Hunt and
the Hon Joseph a. Locke, OF the
Board of Visitors.

The reports of Mrs. George S. Hunt, and
the Hon. Joseph A. Locke, two Of the official
visitors to the Reform School, were submit
ted to the Council yesterday. They are as
follows:
MR.. LocKE's REPORT.
To His Ercellency The GouerR0r, and the
Council Of Maine:
| herewith submit my fourth annual re-
port as member OF the Visiting Committee
to the Reform School.
The committee have visited the school
monthly, with one exception, during the past
year, and followed the same course of pro-
cedure which has worked so well in former
years. The letter box, the principal channel
OF communication from the boys to us has
been continued, and through the letters so
received, we have been kept informed of
matters going on in the school, of the troubles
and trials of the pupils, of the attempts to
still better. Of their own personal hopes and
ambitions, and their individual discourage
ments and loss of rank. Occasionally let
ter has come from some boy who had become
discouraged, or felt aggrieved at something
which may have occurred during the month,
and who did not feel he could put his
thoughts in. writing, asking Call me up"
All such we have seen personally, no one be-
ing present except the committee, and we
have listened patiently to their statements,
imaginary, but nevertheless real 10 them.
A little pleasant chat with them on one sub
ject and another, about their homes and re-
lations, what they were doing in the school,
what they hoped TO do when they became
men, calling attention in the meanwhile to
the necessity for certain rules and regula-
ti0ns, and showing them that society at
large was governed by somewhat similar
rules or laws, and a smile has lit up the face
Of sadness, and he has returned to his COM
pani0ns and associates a better boy. Not in
frequently one entering complaints has ad-
mitted to us before leaving the room that he
was wrong, and ON the whole he thought the
teacher or officer had done about what he
would have done, were he in his place. The
| committee have not confined their inquiries
| to boys writing them, but when deemed prop
| er have called up others, that we might as
| certain the general feelings Of the boys on
| any matter. In this way the confidence Of
many of the boys has been won. and they,
| knowing that we were interested in them
and what they were doing, have tried to do
better than before.
In contrasting the appearance and deport-
/ ment Of the boys four years SINCE when
| was first appointed a member of the Visiting
| Committee, with that of today, there appears
great Improvement; the animating spirit
/ prevailing among the boys is better the
/ school has taken a higher grade
| Is there reason for this? Yes, several.
First-Through the Visiting Committee the
| boys have learned (Or had it instilled into
| their minds) that the officers and teachers
are not placed over them as task masters,
but for their good; that the school instead Of
| being place Of punishment for past misr
deeds, is for the purpose Of fitting them fgr
future usefulness, and to this end II is neces-
sary that they should acquire habits Of in
/ qnstry and perseverance, speak the truth, be
honest with themselves, their companions,