The record-union., 1894-05-26
WHITTIER STATE SCHOOL.
An institution Which Pays the State
Well.
Interesting Account of Visit to the
Place and the Impressions
Created.

The following letter to the San Jose
Mercury from Ralph Lowe is worthy OF
the careful perusal of every citizen of this
State:
Being recently called to Los Angeles on
official public business, and taking an in
terest IN whatever pertains to the educa-
tion and training of the young, i'm
proved the occasion of proximity thereto
10 crafty desire which | had long euter-
tanned to visit the Whittier State school,
formerly known as the Whittier Reform
School-a change OF designation, by the
Ing the stigma attaching to the name Re-
form School and TO those who have been
or may become its inmates.
Having heard and read much OF this
institution | had thought myself reasona-
bly, well informed as to its equipments,
as we'll as concerning its plans, purposes
and methods. Through the thorough
personal inspection. however, which 1t
was my privilege TO give it in all its de-
critical observation of its inmates closely
regarding their appearance, manners and
general bearing as l saw them at work In
the various shops, on The farm and IN the
vegetable gardens, upon the playground,
at their meals, III the schoolrOoms and in
their military drill very soon realized
how entirely inadequate had been my
views concerning it and the work which
it is accomplishing.
NO SUGGESTION OF RESTRAINT.
The first thing, it seems to me, which
must impress every visitor, aside from
the attractiveness of it's location and the
charm Of It's immediate surroundings, is
the entire absence OF everything savoring
OF the prison, or even of a refOrmatOry
for Juvenile delinquents, as We have been
accustomed TO picture such institutions
IN our minds. One sees no walls, no
patrolmen, no sentinels, no guards armed
or unarmed-nothing indeed suggestive
of compulsion or even OF restraint. And
as the visitor moves about The place this
first impression finds such verlhcation in
the want of any manifestation of force
anywhere as to excite surprise little short
OF wonder, and never fails to evoke COM
ment from those paying their first visit.
The inquiry is almost invariably made,
"How do you prevent escapes-how do
you keep these young people from run
ming aWay?" The answer which heard
given TO an inquiry of this nature fur
nishes the keynote to the whole system
of administration so skillfully inaug-
urated, and so intelligently directed and
successfully carried out by Superintend-
ent Lindley.
simply" said he, "by convincing our
boys and girls in all our dealings and re-
lations with them that we are their
friends-that it is our disposition and our
purpose to do them good and not harm;
by interesting them in their chosen work
and in everything that pertains to the
place, its conveniences, comfort, neat
ness, and its embellishments as their
home, until they come to feel sort OF
proprietary interest in it; indeed, so
actual and lively does this sentiment of
personal interest in their home and its
surroundings become among those who
have been with us some time, that they
would resent as a personal insult any at
tempt To indulge spirit Of malicious
mischief to the damage of even a flower
in the garden or even carelessnesS on the
part OF a newcomer. And SO you see
they don't want 10 go away until they can
do so legitimately, and bearing with them
the credentials and the good will and
continued interest in the welfare of the
institution and of their friends-its OFF,
;rs and trustees"
DR.. Lindley is an enthusiast in the
great work which he has in hand, and
his enthusiasm is of a nature to be con-
tagious; so that each and every person
who is associated with him in the execu-
tive management and care Of the institu-
ton, or who would be allowed to remain
in such capacity, is fully in bued with
his spirit, aim and purpose, which, in
their effect upon the young people COM
mitted to their charge, make constantly
for their uplifting into manly and
womanly personal responsibility, aud
begeG in them also a confidence in their
guardianship officers of the school
which can be and is safely reciprocated.
Everything about the place is designed
and calculated to stimulate the sentiment
I,Nfe 1. ind ho Of
order. and respect for constituted author
ity. All the surroundings and appurten-
ances are refining and elevating, and in q
very short time produce their legitimate
fruits in the changed manners, speech
and bearing of those who are committed
to the school. The dogged, sullen boy,
with downcast and averted eyes and
hang-dog look, soon catches the spirit of
the place, and conforms himself quite
unaware to the atmosphere of his new
home andt changed environment: begins
to feel that he is somebody after all; grad
| ually assumes an erect carriage, aided by
the military drill; and, with new-found
and healthful confidence, lifts his face to
the light.
AS have said, everything is carefully
and judiciously, yet unobtruSively de-
signed to produce precisely these results;
and just as naturally as children catch
the whooping-cough, measles, etc., no
| one knowing where, when, or how, just
SO do these boys and girls 'catch" un-
willingly and naturally the inspiration
to right doing, and the aspiration for bet
ter things. For instance, instead of TAX
| ing their meals from uncovered tables,
with tin plates to eat from and tin cups
| to drink from, they sit at a table spread
with clean white tablecloth, eat whole
some food from plates of earthenware,
and find beside such plate a goblet with a
napkin in it-yes, a napkin; a clean,
white napkin Is there anything refn-
ing or elevating to boy who has been
accustomed TO wipe his mouth upon his
coat sleeve or on the back of his hand
in learning TO use napkin2 Superintend-
ent Lindley finds there is, and that the
little money required TO furnish napkins
and to keep them clean pay big divi-
dend in the results, to accomplish which
the school was established and is sus-
tanned.
EDUCATION AND REFINEMENT.
The older boys conduct, with officers Of
| their own choosing, literary and de.
batting society, and room is set apart fol
| its exclusive use, of which the boys are
taking great interest and pleasure in its
proper care and embellishments.
Then there is music room given over
| to those having talent or taste in tha
direction and so there is now banC
composed exclusively of the boys of the
| institution, and the music they render