The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-13
THE REFORM SCHOOL.
An Institution In Excellent Condi-
tion-The Cottage system.

An Institution In Excellent condi-
tion-The Cottage system.
Mrs. George S. Hunt, one of the visitors to
the Reform School, has forwarded the fol-
lowing report to the Governor and Council;
To His Egcelency the Gorernor and the
Honorable Council Of Mdine:
Gentlemen AS l present my fourth annu-
inittee of the Reform School, am reminded
Of legend of the Spanish Alhambra, as it
is told by Washington Irving.
On one Of the large gates Of the palace
were carved hand and key. As the story
ran, the old inmates Of those splendid halls
were lying in secret chambers asleep, bound
under a spell which never could be broken
till the hand should grasp the key and un-
lock their prison door. so, l wish that my
hand could find some magic key to the sleep.
ing hearts and cOnscienees of the people of
Maine, that they might be aroused to a bet
ter appreciation of the value and needs of
the institution for which speak
AS has been stated in former reports, this
School can never be, in the fullest sense of
the word, refOrmat0ry, as long as the pres
ent or congregate system is maintained.
use the term congregate as in distinction to
the cottage plan.
Even casual visitor to the School would
be impressed with the discrepancy in the
boys are under 13 years, and Of this number
nine range from Z to II years of age.
AS his eye regarded the many large boys
of IL years or more, he could not escape the
conclusion that both the officers and smaller
boys must, from the beginning, be at dis
advantage. To every parent heart must
come the thought that these children would
enjoy far greater possibilities for becoming
virtuous boys and men If they were placed in
a cottage or home by themselves, under the
iudioiOnc 10 of a ma and uVffa ho f,1fObf
represent the heads of the family. Some Of
these younger boys are sons of widowed
mothers, who are compelled to leave their
homes every day for their work. The boys,
left to themselves, find the streets more at
tractive than the schoolroom, and soon be-
come vagrants and, not seldom, petty thieves.
Such boys are not necessarily vicious at
heart, their circumstances and surroundings
having led them into habits which ought not
to be stubborn against reform by proper
means. The State promises to these boys to
do all it can to make them better Is it do
ing its whole duty when 1t forces or allows
their association with their elders in years
and crime?
Horace Mann was once asked if he did not
think a thousand dollars a great sum to ex-
pend for the reformation of one boy. He
replied, mo, not If 1t was my boy" Ought
not the State to consider the boys in the Re-
form School are indeed its boys, and reckon
no judicious expenditure too large II it can
secure their reformation? Adjacent to the
present grounds of the Reform School is
farm of twenty acres, the refusal of which
at a reasonable price, the trustees held a year
ago. The possession of this by the State
would have been stepping stone toward
the cottage, or home system. When the last
legislature failed to make the necessary APP
preparation for its purchase, my regret was
equal to the grief OF personal disappoint-
ment.
The cottage system is not merely ideal or
untried plan. In Meriden, Conn, Westboro,
Mass, Providence, II. L., as well as in many
of the Western States, it is in operation, and
has proved its practical value. All reports
from schools where this plan has been
adopted, testify to the larger opportunity of
reaching boys better nature. and the cor
respOndingly greater success in reforming
them than under the congregate system. /
am sure that a thorough investigation of the
two plans could not fail to convince even the
most skeptical person, Of the great adyant-
age Of the cottage, or home system for re-
form school.
One Of my hopes for our own Reform
School has been that in time it might be an
industrial home for boys, since there is, now,
no place in this State to serve as a refuge or
home for orphaned boys. The cottage plan
would be the first step towards this, and new
industries could, from time to time, be added
as needs required. And since there would
be nothing in the name to suggest crime or
wrong doing, the stigma which the boys
have sometimes felt from the present name
would be removed. Governors Robie and
Bodwell have both expressed themselves in
full accord with these ideas.
The second need of the School. from a re-
formatory point of view, is the appointment
of State agent whose duty should be to
provide suitable homes and employment for
the boys when discharged or released ON pro-
baton. 1t should also be his obligation to
exercise general supervision of such boys
for at least two years. Many of the boys
have no homes to 90 to when they leave the
School, and need to realize that they have
one friend in the world who is solicitous for
their welfare
While would thus urge upon your atten-
tion these needs of the School, l have no de-
sire to forget the valuable work which our
State institution is really doing, or in any
way to deny its merit
The teachers are painstaking and thor
ough, and the boys are well grounded in
reading, spelling, geography, history and
writing. have often been surprised at the
intelligent answers which they have given
to my questions when have visited them in
their recitation rooms.
The mechanical shop is serving its pur-
pose well, and is still under the efficient man
agement of Mr. Kennison. The boys apply
the knowledge gained in the shop to practi-
cal use; and themselves make the repairs
needed in the several buildings. They have
a sufficiently generous diet, are well clothed,
and the study, work, and recreation hours
are judiciously divided. The subordinate
officers endeavOr TO make discreet use of
the authority committed to them, while Mr..
Harrington and Mr. Wentworth are consci-
entiously watchful to check undue severity
on the part of such officials. The hope of
reward or some additional privilege for good
behavior-in short the working Of the Flaw
of love" is each year more evident in the
management of the School. On many boys
accustomed, before entering the School,
only to abuse and neglect, the kindness of
their treatment cannot fail to produce the
best results.
of course in every such institution there
will be incorrigible boys; boys who will try
to escape, who will not be ruled by either
fear or love, who are constantly melting
others to mischief, and who seem so inher-
emily vicious, as to supply living argument
for the old dogma of total depravty. And
while fully recognize the value of the Re
form School as at present conducted, to the
State, it is because Of the evil influence OF
these vicious boys upon their younger asso-
eiates, that have made so earnest a plea fer
the cottage or home system.
The boys continue to appreciate the priyi-
lege Of writing to the committee, and OF
having quiet pleasant talk with them. In
these conversations we have been able to
give both encouragement and adm0nition,
and have also made ourselves more familiar
with the individual life Of the boys. We
have learned Of some matters, having in
themselves no great Importance, and yet
matters in which some change has made the
boys more contented, and more earnest in
their efforts to do right
1t is said that in every block of marble
Michael Angelo saw beautiful statue; and
no doubt his insight aided his genius to
bring that artistic form to light Is it Lot
the duty of all of us to see in the same way
the possibility of goodness in these boys,
that our patient efforts may at last develop
from them the graces of virtuous man
hood?
AS deem it advisable to sever my official
connection with the Reform School, l must,
with some regret, decline a reappointment
as member Of the visiting committee.
l desire to express my grateful sense of
the courtesy and cooperation which. have
been extended to me, by the Trustees, by
my associates, and by Mr.. and Mrs. Earring
con, as well as all the officers and teachers
connected with the School.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS GEORGE s. HUNT