The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-10
STATE REFORM SCHOOL
Interesting Account of the
Work Being Done.
THE PUPILS ARE WELL CONTENT
Kindness and Good Influences Pre-
vail-BOys Respect the Teachers
and the Rules Are Observed.

To the Editor:
One of the most interesting of the state
institutions to the visitor, Is the state
reform school, located four miles souh-
east Salem. 1t seemed to me that the
afternoon and evening are the most in
tersting times to visit, although the even
ing is not included in the hours allotted
to those who wish to witness the work.
ings of the school. During the day the
boys are engaged in working about the
buildings and farm, or studying in the
school room, so that there is not suffl-
cient change to relieve the monotony.
But from the time the boys start to
supper until they are safely lodged be-
tween the white sheets Of their soft
spring beds there is much to invite at
tention and excite the admiration of any
person who appreciates order and good
management.
The overseers, or teachers, who have
charge of the various groups of boys
conduct them to the dining hall at the
proper hour, and adj take their places at
the long tables, quickly, but quietly. They
sit upright till all are in readiness, when
at a given signal, they bow their heads
and repeat in concord a short prayer of
thanks. After supper they are conducted
to the school room where the roll is
called and all dement's for misconduct
are recorded.
There are twelve grades in reform
school life, and if boy is good in con-
duct, he earns a grade each month; but
a certain number of dement's, given BY an
official will cost boy grade and length
en- his stay at the school one month.
When a boy attempts to run away, he
loses all the grades he may have earned,
and must begin again, and cannot be sent
home on parole untile he has earned the
twelve grades. If a boy starts to run, or
secretes himself any boy who can catch
him will be given an extra grade for
so doing. The grade system is an ex-
cellent incentive to industry and good
conduct, and this latter means of earn
ing grade is a safeguard against es-
capes, for a boy will betray his best
friend to earn grade. So all know that
the possibility Of escape is very small.
On Saturday evening, when the pupils
of the school assemble in the school
room, Supt. Hendricks assists them in
the study of the Sunday school lesson
for tine next day.
After roll call each overseer, or teacher,
reports the number of boys in his charge,
and turns them over to the night-watch-
man. Each official is responsible for all
of the boys in his charge, from the time
he receives them until he gives them
over to the care of some other official,
so each group of boys is carefully count
ed and receipted for, every time trans
fer is made. If a boy escapes, the offi-
cial who is responsible for him is liable
70 nave lllS COSl VI lSSdPtulS NCuuStSu
from his salary.
When the boys are ready to- be conduct
ed to the bedrooms, signal is given and
uhey remove their shoes and stockings,
The uninitiated can hardly imagine the
wasting of fragrance on the schoolroom
air." at the undressing of 2l0 feet, though
cleanliness is one of the most noticeable
features of the reform school. The boys
are then marched to the dressing room,
where they leave their clothes, and go to
the bedrooms having on only a shirt.
The dressing room is locked at night so
that If a boy escapes before morning ne
will have especial reason to be thank
full for a Cover of darkness" The boys
all kneel together by their bedsides and
repeat q silent prayer, after which a Sig
nal is given and they slip between the
covers and are, in theory, at least, asleep.
In the popular mind the reform school
is a place where youthful viciousness is
sought to be eradicated by torture, but
judging by the appearance and conduct
on the boys, there is very little vicious
ness there and absolutely no torture. 1t
appears to me that the use of reform
school is not so much to reform" boy
as to- supply "a substitute for the lack OF
good parental control. Most Of the boys
are good at heart, but have had poor
training. AT the reform school they are
kept busy and are under strict, but not
severe rules and regulations.
1t is surprising what affection the boys
have for the officials of the school. They
will shed more tears over the departure
OF a teacher or overseer than the average
boy would on account of the departure OF
a parent. No father could be more kind
or pleasant to his children than Superin-
tendent Hendricks is to the pupils of the
school, and as a rule his feeling toward
them is duly appreciated.
There are many interesting incidents
that come under my observation that
would be interesting to the reader, and
show more plainly the spirit of the school,
but in the days of railroad building,
newspaper space is valuable. If any OF
the Astorian readers come to Salem, they
will do well to visit the reform school,
where they will be cordially welcomed
and royalty entertained.
A. w. PRES SOTT.