Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-04
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
/ Record Of Colseiendols Uofk Amons
the Inmates.
Events Of the Year and Improvement
to be Sought In the Future.

The ohcers Of the Maine Industrial
School have completed their report Su-
perintendent Major L. Rowell, In his re-
port says that three hundred girls have been
committed to the school since IL Was fret
antecedents Of these girls, with hereditary
tendencies to overcome. IL would no; rca-
sonably be expected that al would be car
ried through the term Of their commitmen Mt
without experiencing many relapses from
the standard Of morality and purity 90 de
sirable to be obtained and maintained
The utmost care and vigilance cannot, In an
institution where bolts and bars are not re-
sorted to, prevent occasional escapes, or de-
ter viciously inclined girls from acts Of in
| discretion or positive criminality when .
combination Of circumstances In the way
of temptation may sssail them.
During the history Of the school many
| cases of persistent deception have occurred
to sadden the hearts Of the officers aud
| no institution in the State where positively
vicious and criminal glasses Of grls can be
sent, it cannot reasonably be expected that
the oficers Of the school can At once aud
fully control those Who have become hard
to the school.
We nnd in the whole number Of girls
committed thus far To the school, but
twenty whose records have been persist
emily and perhaps permanently bad after
their discharge. Some who gave the Off
cers great trouble Afterwards gave pnmis.
taxable evidence Of reliability, and continue
to maintain fair record.
an h., ~ n( 1alativas ha.
often been disastrous, returning the girls to
their old associations. Few perhaps real
ise the difficulties to be contsnded with In
the training Of such classes. When marked
casss Of delinquency or criminal tendency
occur. there are those who are ready At
once TO conclude that hut little improve
ment has been made in the way Of rescuing
those who are inclined TO be vicious, OF
shielding the innocent from temptation.
Several cAses ~ above indicated have
occurred the past year and furnished oc-
casion for exaggerated publicity and unjust
criticisms, which have been borne In silence.
II 10 not the purpose Of those having charge
Of the school TO publish to the world the
faults, failures or even indiscretiona and
sins Of these dependent waits. thrown upon
the charity and placed under the guardian
them from offensive comment. and en-
courage that confidence and self respect
without which moral advancement becomes
impracticable. Neither do We care publicly
to record cases where justice has been
meted out to vile creatures whs would
make victims Of the unwary and lead them
astrAy.
Each years experience confirms the
statement that fully 50 per cent Of the
girls committed to the school were rescued
from vice and immortality and grew up TO
be respectable women and 1t would seem
a. though this was worthy Of consideration.
even from those having but little faith In
reformatory institutions. The superinten-
dent trusts that there may never come q
time when the school shall not deserve and
enjoy the support Of the State authorities
the general public and the press Of the
State.
At no distant day the necessity for a
more perfect classification Of the girls will
no doubt receive due consideration. At
the present time the influence of evil minded
girls over the younger girls of the school
10 manifest and requires vigilance on the
part Of the officers to counteract 1t.
Twenty-Five girls have been committed to
the school the past year from the followin
places Augusta, 8; Bangor. 2; Cherry
field, q RocklaDd, 2; and one each from
Auburn, Benton, Etna, Vinalhaven, Union,
Gardiner and Calais. making = total Of 8O3
since the organization Of the school.