The herald., 1895-11-28
THE BOYS DEPARTMENT.

A little over four years ago the state OF
California generously opened to her I'M
fortunate children the doors of an insti
tuition the aim of which is to surround
them with that environment necessary to
their best moral, intellectual and phys
ical development, thus shielding them
from the temptations and inhences of
evil associations and giving them an
equal chance with their more favored
brothers and sisters OF the state.
The so-called delinquent is often more
sinned against than SHINING. Home it
has been the policy of the school to fos-
ter and encourage the good in child ma
ture, while humaney REFRESHING the bad,
to preserve and stimulate self-respect,
and, by proper employment OF all powers.
TO help the child to realization OF the
best that is in him.
On ons hundred and sixty acres of land
lying well up toward the foothills OF the
San Bernardino mountains and giving a
fine view OF the valley below, with an
occasIo nal GLIMPSE OF the ocean and
islands beyoEd, are situated the four com
Portable aud well-appointed buildings of
the Whittier state school. Two of the
buildings accommodate the boys; while
nearly q m lie away two others are for the
girls. The necessary shops, barns, me
chanical and other buildings are grouped
about the grounds, leaving a relatively
large acreage which is well economical
for the various fruit orchards, vegetable
and flower gardens and farming interests
of the school. Since the first of July
four years ago over sight hundred boys and
girls have found their way to the school,
about an average OF four hundred re-
manning from month to month, sixty OF
whom are girls. The remaining tire,
hundred anu forty with their various
trades, the schools, the military and me-
cbanical departments, games and literary
exercises, with religious services on Sun
days, form at the boys department veri-
table little world.
In the military departemnt boys ara
ranked according to age, size and morality
into seven COMPANIES, each company re
quiring the constant care and supervision
of a man who, as captain OF the company
stands nearest the boy in the relation of
parent. guardian, adviser and friend.
the military drill, the morals, the dress
of the boy, in fact all his movements
while at the school are under the watch
full care of thu captain, who, in turn is
helped and directed by the principal OF
this department. Therefore TOO high an
estimate cannot be placed on he benefit
10 the boy to be derived from the faithful
care of an effective captain.
OF the industries and trades represent
ed the farm and the garden form no small
part OF the general economy and health
full employment for the boys. Cooking
and sewing, housekeeping and laundry
ing. mending and tailoring afford EN-.
ployment for MANY. supplying the needs
of tho boys and girls and atfording op-
portunities for learning useful occupa-
lions. At the bake shop over three hun.
dred loaves of bread baked daily besides
pies, cakes, and other needed supplies
speak of the thrft OF The baker and the
demand for his trade. Dung printers
learn the trade by actual practice. Ms the
monthly paper, edited and printed in the
school, will show. All Lighting of
buildings and stear: for heating, cooking
and otner purposes is furnished from the
engineering department.. The painter
the blacksmith, the shoemaker, the car
penter and the cOmmissary give employ
ment to scores OF willing workers be pro-
ducts OF whose labor help to decrease the
expenses OF the institution.
OF the arts as yet but few have been in
troduced, Photography, music and me-
cDanical drawing receive some attention.
In the offices of superintendent, clerk
and historian, capable boys find employ
ment in type-wrting, short hand, book
keeping and gathering and compiling
data. 'e
Interest in educational WORK is increas-
ing. In the schools seven grades are rep
resented, which range in general advance
ment from the primary to the seventh
and elghth grades oil the public schools.
The younger boys attend school IN the
morning while the industrial departments
claim the older. In the afternoon the
order is reversed thus giving tqual oppor-
tunities to all for work and study. The
work OF teaching is done by four teach
ers, two OF whom in the course Of the dav
instruct over q hundred pupils.
The majority OF the poys committed
here, both large and small, enter the pYi-
mary grades, examinations for entrance
TO the schools showing a lack in even the
elements OF an education that is truly
deplorable. Often the homes from which
the children come have been broken IN
by drunkenness. poverty or separation.
and the child is an ltcast from society
and truant from school, and has adapt.
ed to his needs as best lie could the edu-
cation picked up on the street. Often
pale and thin, sullen and moping. ne
enters the school an unwilling pupil
Having broken The law ana offended the
public, he feels That every man hand is
against him, and his reluctant reply ana
logged look speak plainly of his own CON
ception or the chasm between him and
good society. But the endeavor here is
10 create healthy sentiment, and 10 i'm