The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-02-10
REFORMING GIRLS.
The Work of the State In
duStria1 School During
the Past Year.

TRENTON, Feb 10. 1s91.-The twentieth
annual report of the Trustees of the State
Industrial School for Girls has just been
issued aud shows that this institution is
doing a work of the greatest Importance
in the reformation OF girls between the
ages Of seven and sixteen. Justices OF the
Supreme Court or the presiding judges of
the criminal courts have power to commit
to the care of the school any girl within
the given age, who is guilty OF any crime
Except murder or manslaughter), or who
Is habitually disorderly, incorrigible or
vagraut, instead of sending them to tine
county jails or State Prison.
While at the institution the girls are
instructed in piety and morality and In
such branches of useful knowledge as
may be adapted to their aye and capacity;
also In some regular course of labor,
either mechanical, manufacturing or
horticultural, or a combination of these,
and especially in such domestic and
household labor and duties as shall be
best suited to their age aud strength. dis
position and capacity: and IN sucn other
arts, trades and employments as may
seem best adapted to preserve their
health, secure their reformation, amend
ment and future benefit. After the girls
show sufficient evidence of reformation
they may be bound out for any period of
time until they reach the age of twenty
one.
The annual report shows that there are
80 girls now under the control of the in
stitution, 63 at the school and 16 under in
dentures; 325 girls have been cared for
since the organization of the school in
1871. Twenty were admitted during this
past year. One was 10 years old, aged
IL, 2 Of 12 of IA, 6 of Is.
OF the 63 now at the school 90 are Of
American parentage, l2 African, II Ger
man, irish. 3 English, 2 Swedish,
Polish, AZ were born in New Jersey, 9
We're born in Europe, and 10 we're born in
other States.
Seventeen have both parents living, 9
are orphans, 30 have one parent living,
and nave parents separated. or the 6S
only lived at home, 81 worked at service,
and % worked in mills.
Or the 325 that have been sent to the In
stitution, Atlantic, Cape May and Sussex
counties have each furnished but one;
Bergen, Hunterdon and Ocean, 3 each; I;
Somerset, 4; Salem. 5; Gloucester, Z; Bur
lington and Cumberlad, each s; Mon
mouth and Warren, 10 each; Middletex,
"A; Morris, II; Passaic aud Union, each
20; Hudson, 3S; Mercer, %; Camden and
Essex, each 81. Essex county sends IS of
the 63 now In the school and Camden 10.
Mercer and Passaic have each z. or the
girls now at the school 10 were not able to
read and is not able to write when they
were received. From the instruction
given by the teachers they have made
considerable progress in reading, writing.
and geography and history. Beside the
household duties the girls are taught to
sew and work in the lawn and garden
and aid In furnishing fresh vegetables for
the table.
The general health of the school has
been remarkably good. There was but
one death last year, thirteen cases of in
tiuenza Of mild form and three cases of
chicken pox. The crowded conditio u
will be relieved when the addition pro-
vided by the last session of the Legis-
lature is completed.
The expense of conducting the school
last year was S9,6l0.24; of this 81, 149 IL
was paid out for repairs and 1868 for a
pumping engine. The invenUary gives
the valuation as S43, $50 and So. 1925 in
personal property, a total of $50, ,669.25.