Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-12-29

AePeft Of Non. .. o. Hatch "A . ur.-s
Of the Waiting Csnnittes.

the State Reform School and in comnI;.no.
With chapter l42. section Is of the Revi.ed
Statutes, | herewith submit, nv fonr,h
annual report:
The necessity of establishing r.form.torv
state institutions for the protection of its
citizens and for the restraint and correct;on
OF Juvenile Offenders being admitted, it surely
follows that such establishments should be
properly cared for and their inmates wise v
oisclpllntd, that the object for which thew
were Instituted may be accomplished, a. far
~ possible, and that those VINO NAV be placed
therein may receive the full benefit thereof
ana mercy become respectable and useful
citizens 1t affords me much pleasure to
state that the close of the present year fnds
TINS Institution in excellent condition, it. in
mates in the enjoyment of good htalth, and
~ happy and contented az could be expected
under the restraint which it 10 necessary to
impose upon them.
1t has been the aim of your committee not
to exceed its authority under the law undsr
which their appointment is made, but firmly
ana faithfully to carry out its provisions.
In doing so they have had the hearty CO.
operation of the Superintendent of the
School and Board of Trustees. / have made
eleven official visits to the school during the
past year, and have from time to time con-
versed with the boys in regard to their treat
ment by the officers, and have endeavored to
give them such advice and instruction a.
deemed for their true interest, and impressed
upon them the importance of obedience to
the rules of the institution and urged q pro-
per appreciation of the privileges they there
ENJOY Tor obtaining an education and acquir-
ing habits of industry that will ft them for
life's duties after they leave the institution
1t should be borne in mind that the class #
boys who are placed in reform school for
violation OF law are not those who have had
pleasant homes, kind parents, or who have
been taught obedience TO home discipline
they are, as rule, boys who are neglected
at home, unaccustomed to kind words, edu-
Gated in the public streets, surrounded by
evil disposed associates, and in many cases,
no doubt, forced to the violation of law
through poverty and wants it strange, un-
der such circumstances, that our reformatory
institutions are filled with juvenile criminals?
The State has assumed the instruction and
training, during their minority, of those Of
that unfortunate class who have been gen.
fenced by the court to the Reform School, and
is therefore morally bound to adopt all
proper and judicious means to max. its
guardianship prove blessing 10 its wards
to so train and educate them that they shall
be prepared, when discharged, to become
good and useful citizens.
1t is too much to expect that all bows sent
To such an institution will bec1m. reformed,
but the large number of those, once inmate
of the school, who have become useful and
respected members of society proves the
wisdom of the State in establishing this ip-
stitution. The boys have enjoved and ap-
preciated the privileges granted them in the
AS Of ih.. latfar-hnv and
selves freely in their letters to the committee.
relative to the treatment they receive at the
hands of the officers and the food furnished
tor the tables. A few of the letters taken
from the letter-b0x contained complaint of
the insufficienCy of food and Of ceuive
punishment for the violation of the rules
which upon X ,niration proved not we'll
tuundtd
The punishment Ia has been Inflicted up
on the boys for the violation of thr rules of
the school was only such as was justified by
the offence committed.
The .uperin endent aud his assistant mani
fest much interest in the bows and do every
thing in their power to advance their true
interest. The daily task assigned to each
bov has not been unreasonable and, as a rule,
has been cheerfoly performed. Quite \
number of the boys, those who are
pnFslChllv bDle, are Ou kHe
farm during the season. They seem to
enjoy farm work and appear anxious to do
their full dAty In fact the school in I'll it.
branches was never in u more healthy and
satisfactory Condition than ut the present
time. Competent teachers are in charge of
the several schools, the boys are interested
in their studies and have made satisfactory
progress the past year, in that direction
The Introduction Of water into the building,
the enlargement of the steam heating appsra-
tus and the improved system of ventilation,
have all added largely to the comfort and
health of the inmates of the school. The
schoo-rooms, hospital room and dormitory
are now well ventilated. The air in those
rooms is as sweet and pure as good ventl ,tion
and the most approved sanitary arrangements
can make it.
The mechanical department is still under
the charge of Mr.. c. +. kcnnison. Twenty
four bows are employed in this department,
divided into two classes, az in each) one of
which is in the shop portion of the fore
noon, the other class an equal time IN the
afternoon The boys seem to ENJOY their
work and certainly are to be commended for
the progress thew make. Mr., kennison is a
first class mechanic and an excellent instruc-
ter for the boys. All repairs inside the
school bullulng nave oeeh uaue III "ofk-
manlike manner by boys from this de-
partment This branch of the Reform
school. thus far, gives unmistakable evil
depce of success and, in my Judgment
should be continued and literally provided
for by the legislature.
In NV report of last year | called your at
tention to the vslue aud importance of the
Cottage or Family plan" as connected with
a reformatory institution. Such system Is
generally considerd by those who have made
our reformatory institutions study, the best
one that can be devised tor bringing the in
mates directly under the constant care and
superyision of the officers in charge and will
ems BILE them to adopt such measures for their
reform as is best adapted to the peculiar needs
of each. | am still of the opinion that it
would be for the best interest of the school to
adopt the Cottage or Family PLAN" and
would respectfully urge upon the coming
legislature the Importance of giving the sub
;ect thouphtfui attention and would advise an
spnropriatiou sufficiently large TO insure the
building of one or more cottages during the
ensuing year.
At the commencement of the present year
there were in The school one hundred and
twelve t; received during the year twenty; con-
ditionally discharged twenty five; indentured,
one. e.caped. two. Number of inmates at
the close OF the school year, Dec. l, one hum
dred and nine. At the November meeting OF
the committee a careful inspection OF the
rooms in the school building was made The