Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-29
A CONVICT SCHOOL.
RESULTS OF A SINGULAR EXPERT
MENT IN PRISON MANAGEMENT.

Tho System Pursued in the Reformatory
Mt Elmira, n. Y.-IIow Thorough and
lasting Reform Is obtained-The Intel
iigent Criminals Mentality.
A most interesting product Of convict labor
is in the shape Of n little book Of 100 or
more pages, grouping together a number Of
papers and reports regarding the singular
experiment in prison management which has
been in progress for some years at the Ell
mira reformatory. 1t is printed by the pris-
oners themselves. Comparatively little
seems to be known by the general public re-
garding tho Elnira system. Only such CON
victs are sent there as are between the ages
Of 16 and so and have never been in state
prison before. They are sentenced for an in
definite term, subject to tho discretion Of the
board Of managers, but cannot be detained
longer than tbs maximum period for which
they might have been imprisoned under the
law. II, for example, q man has been CON
victed Of burglary, he may be kept in Ell
mira for ten years, but no longer, because
that is the maximum sentence under the
law. But II the management, or rather the
tically the head Of the observation-disclosures
from his record therc that he viii lead an
honest life ON emerging, he may be dis
charged at any time after one year.
To obtain his release he must get perfect
record in three brnnches-for conduct, zeal
and efficiency as n workman, and proficiency
and diligence asa scholar. In this latter field
is found the distinguishing character OF the
Elniira system. 1t is, in fact, q school for
convicts, and the results arc surprising. On
the average, it is said, GO per cent Of the con
victs released from state prisons find their
way back, but thus far so per cent Of the
discharges from tho Elmira reformatory dur
ing the eight years the experiment has been
continued are believed to be permanent
reformations. The full significance Of this
will not be understood unless it is remem-
bered that in the newer prisons every inn
provement has been introduced, not incon-
sstent with proper discipline, looking to the
health and general well being Of convicts.
The Elnira system proceeds upon the
principle that thorough and lasting reform
can only be obtained through a decided
change in tho intellectual character of tho
convict. Christmas dinners, the privilege
Of reading good books, and an occasional
holiday, which are conspicuous among
the SmelioratiRg features OF lifo in vari-
Gus prisons, aro not believed TO furnish
sufficient radical treatment At Elmira tho
convict "a not invited TO read. He Ia COM
PEELED to study and TO work over his books
as he does over his bench in the workshop,
because il is only by making perfect record
as scholar as we'll ns in the other two
branches that he can shorten his sentence.
The schools are held in tho evening after the
eight hours Of labor required in tho shops
have been performed. Tho subjects run as
far up as tho higher mathematics, American
and English history, politics, English litera-
ture and political economy. Ono Of tho
classes was in practical ethics. This began
with only seventy pupils, because the con-
victs seemed averse to the idea. Yet inter-
est in it grew so rapidly that the member
| ship increased 70 about eight hundred. The
| discussions turned upon practical questions
in the morality Of daily life and had no bear
ing upon religious dogma, so called.
Tho course ia English literature became SO
popular that the class increased in less than
a year from sixty to moro than 500-fvo-
sixths Of the entire convict population. The
account given by the school secretary Of the
/ growth Of this course in popularity reads al
most like fairy. tale. No regular class meet
ings were held except at examinations, but
the study was followed in private by each
/ prisoner, with helps and suggestions through
circulars or in talks with tho instructor The
history Of English literature was taught
through leaflets prepared by him, while the
texts Of the great masters were read By the
pupil, each being assigned every month a
/ portion Of an author for study. As with the
subject Of practical morality, English litera-
ture was regarded at the outset as q nuisance
| by the men selected to form the class. They
looked upon it as another method of making
| it difficult for them to earn tho marks which
would be necessary to secure a release. Many
showed great distaste for tho study, and
some exhibited positive anger. Yet it was
not many months before the corridors Of the
prison any night showed curious spectacle
--convicts porting over the Canterbury tales,
! the story of Evangeline, and even pages Of
! Bacon and Browning.
The experience Of those engaged IL this
work is directly against the theory that in
tellectual development only increases the
capacity Of the criminal for wickedness
/ They find, on the other hand, that even tho
so called intelligent criminal seems mentally
deficient as soon as he passes ont Of the groove
| in which he has been accustomed TO exercise
! his cunning. He takes harrow and distorted
views Of life. The process OF intellectual cul-
| ture which is carried on in this institution,
they believe broadens the convicts mind
until he is lifted out of this narrow groove
and is able to see the wisdom of good morals.
The experiment Is unique and may have a
most important influence upon the future Of
penal science.--New York Tribune.