The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-05-09

1898. when the reigning administration
took hold of the affairs of the prison,
that the present school system was
adopted. Immediately upon assuming
control of the prison, Warden Wolfer
introduced the dining room system.
The large hall under the chapel COM
prising the hospital and store-room
was divided into two compartments
connected by arched doorways and
known as the First and Second
grade dining rooms. They were made
to serve two purposes, dining and
school rooms. Prof. C. Aylard, princi-
pal of the saltwater High School, was
engaged to take charge of the school,
and upon assuming control placed
everything under the same discipline
in vogue in the public schools. Ex-
aminations were held, and each scholar
assigned to the class he was qualified
to enter; and upon the evening OF
October 8, 1893, the prison school be-
came fixture.
COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE.
The warden caused poll to be taken
of the inmates, and all those who
could neither read nor write were COM
pelled to attend school. Sickness or
some other bodily intirmity being the
only cause entertained to excuse an
inmate. All others who chose to at
tend were permitted to do so, but once
enrolled as a member, they were COM
pelled to attend the entire term, only
excused upon the above causes. All
inmates confined under the reforma-
tory sentence, are by law compelled to
attend school, no matter what their
proficiency; those who were sufficiently
!. advanced to teach being used in that
/, capacity. Three sessions week, on
$ Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday
Il evenings, were held, as it was believed
d greater progress and more interest
: would be taken in the studies. The
f alternate evenings could be utilized
IS in the preparation of lessons. The
=. following taken from the
REPORT OF PROF. AYLARD
70 to the Board of Managers for the tern
10 of 18934, will show the wisdom of tn
D. management in placing the school II
~ the hands of practical educator, il
II the progress made by each grade:
ir "The term began with SIX regula
IT teachers which number was Increase
= from time to time till nine were EN-
H. ployed. They are all to be commende
Up for the faithfulness and care with Whic
e. the work was carried on. In no cas-
70 was there neglect of duties, while i
NJ most cases the instruction given wa
~ intelligent and sklllful.
re Each session was of two hour
W. length. the time being divided int
four equal recitation PERIODS. In
~, men receiving instruction were divide
LII according to degree of advancemer
into five grades. These were Subdlvlt
of ed into sections for convenience
ne teaching The highest, numbering
,s+ first nineteen, began with the Fourt
'0.u reader and at common fractions
nu arithmetic
at The work of the classes was as TO
he lows: The First grade consisting
nd all who were ignorant Of the slmDle
", words, numbering forty, was divide
" into two sections, and the instructio
Is was necessarily individual. Feellr
a that reading was the subject OF grea
of est importance, each man had tN
raj reading lessons per night. BeginniT
'"i with the simplest words they rapid
mastered the First reader, and by tt
ut, close of the term most had complete
The the Second, while some had finish'
ar. the Third. Beginning with simp
a., number work on their states, they we
,eo given arithmetic as soon as they cou
read we'll enough and the fundament
operations of arithmetic were mastere
Spelling in connection with the rea
zen ing and writing was also taught the
on- The Second grade consisted OF tho
o- o. who could with difficulty read sim1
ere words. This grade began with the FIJI
ned reader and read intelligently the s.
to ond and Third. Beginning with adj
Of ton of simple numbers by rapid q
~ vancement they were at the close of t
heo term quite proficient in all numerlt
lelr operations up to and including divlsl
nx- of common fractions. Spelling "
in from reader and speller and writing
on0 copy books.
APPS The Third grade began with the 5
be ond reader, and completed the Thl
of Taking the practical arithmetic tf