Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-09
miscellaneous.
Educating COnyictS.

OF the thousand or more prisoners dis
charged from Sing Sing prison during
the last year and half there was not one
who was not able to sign his name, says
the New York world. Many had learned
this while at penal service. More than
one who has entered the prison ignorant
has been able on coming out to make a
new start in life with the education he OBJ
tanned within prison walls. 1t is the boast
of Warden Brush that as rule they now
discharge no one from that institution who
cannot read and write and cast up ordi-
nary accounts. The exceptions are those
of few old men who say they are too far
advanced in years to begin their education
now. This kind of compulsory education,
as carried out in Sing Sing, was an limo
walton in prison management a compare
lively short time ago Warden Brush
was the pioneer, and the example he set
has been followed at other Denitentiaries.
After he had been in charge of
the prison three years or more,
he announced that he intended to
have evening schools for the convicts.
None of the other officials could be inter-
ested in the plan except Principal Keeper
Connaughton. He was not quite sure
that the plan would work, but, even with
his little faith, he was willing to give it Il
trial. Wardens of other prisons laughed
at the idea and predicted the most dire
results. Some people gave Mr.. Brush a
week and others a month to demonstrate
the impracticability OF the plan. During
that period it was expected by all save
the warden and his assistant that the con-
victs would revolt and kill somebody if
they did not escape. But nothing OF the
kind has happened.
In January. 1884, the school started.
Chase, the Brooklyn teacher, was then
serving term for bigamy. lie had been
a very successful instructor, and was Gag
err to relieve the monotony of prison life
by pursuing his old vocation. Two classes
were formed, one with Chase as the
teacher and the other was under the
charge of highly educated man SEN
fenced for forgery.
Both Warden Brush and Principal
Keeper Connaughton were present every
night in the week, except Sundays. to see
that there was no trouble and watch the
progress of the experiment From that
time until the present the school has con-
tnued six evenings in the week until the
most beneficient results have been at
tanned. No attempt has been made to
violate the discipline of the prison. and no
corrections have been necessary. Aside
from the benefits the convicts derive, the
school has been of incalculable benefit to
the prison officials. The restless spirits
have been given something to occupy
their minds. There is less loud talk than
formerly. and disturbances OF all descrip-
| tons are intrequent. The worst class to
deal with in an institution of that kind are
the ignorant men who have nothing to do
to amuse themselves and distract every
body else in all manner of ways. Once
having started on their lessons, they all
take to them eagerly. Where the incen-
tive to learn is lacking they regard it as a
means OF killing time. Bnt it has been
noticeable from the beginning that no
matter how depraved convict might be,
there comes to all the ambition to learn.
The classes average IS or so in number,
divided into two sections, which meet on
alternate evenings three times a week.
School opens at 6.l5 and lasts an hour
and halt. Each cell is provided with a
lamp which can be kept burning till 9
O'Clock, thus giving each prisoner an OPP
portunity to study tor two or three hours
every night.
Chase's term of Imprisonment expired
some time ago, and his assistants health
broke down so that he bad to give up his
work. The teacher now is Luther c.
Shear, an accountant, who was sentenced
August 1884, to five years Imprisonment
for forgery. He is an excellent instruc-
tor and an enthusiast in his work, and the
progress made by his pupils is marked.
1t is almost incredible that such rapid
Improvement could be made by men of
the worst class of society. such as can be
seen in the prison evening school. re-
porter visited it few days ago, and saw
80 as desperate looking convlcts as could
probably have been picked from among
the 1913 who are in the prison. They
were seated on rough benches at one end
OF the platform in the chapel. and were
porting over their books studiously. They
were not all of the same grade. One was
Just learning to read words of three let
tiers after being connected with the class
seven days; others were able to do lit
tie better in first reader lessons, while the