The mirror., 1895-03-14

leach them to be Industrious, wean
hem from their evil habits, and en-
them to store the mind with
that which will create desire to rise
above their present condition, and be
honorable and useful members of soci-
ETY.. While many crimes are commit
ted by men who are educated and
intelligent, the majority are ignorant;
by this we do not wish to be under
stood that they are dense or stupid,
and do not know the difference be-
tween right and wrong, in its broad
sense; but the minds are undevelOped,
they are unable to grasp the problems
OF life. and frequently, rush headlong
into the commission of some wrong |
action, impelled thereto, through an
ignorant mind, and not vicious or
bad heart. TO the convict, more than
to any other human being, if his sal
walton is desired, must the mind be
constantly employed; not in musing
over the past; not in meditation over
the real or fancied wrongs of the pres
ent. but in the acquiring of that knowl-
edge that will carry him away and
above the past and present, and open
before him brighter and better fu-
ture BY teaching him those things that
will qualify him to occupy better
position in life than he has filled in the
lot h,,n h0 a
desire to know more Of the history of
his country, its laws, and the require
ments to become worthy its benefits;
to study the lives of those great and
good men who have shaped the worlds
progress, and this, the prison school is
rapidly doing; and that the convict ap-
preciates this, and enters into the
work with whole heart and soul the
rapid progress made in our prison
school during the past few months
cOnclusively demonstrates. About
two months ago The MIRROR wrote
up the prison school, dividing it into
ten grades and giving the membership
of each with the studies attached to
each grade. Through the courtesy of
Prof. Alyard, who superintends the
school, an inspection of the school was
made Friday night and the progress of
each grade and class noted with the
following result: Two months ago
there were two classes of beginners, of
20 and 16 members each; Is of which
could not read, and had no knowledge
of the numerals; of these have en-
tered the End grade, and IL are in
Third reader-5 in Second reader, and
all are doing addition in arithmetic.
The remaining Is are in First and
Second readers but have advanced IN
arithmetic to multi lication.
The Second grade contained "a mem
bers. and were in Third reader and
elementary arithmetic; has advanced
to Third grade, the remaining "a are
still reading the Third reader but have
advanced to subStractiOn and multiple
cation of fractions, and writing lessons
Third grade contained Is members
and there are now 20 members in
this grade who are reading the
Fourth reader, and are doing long
division in arithmetic.
Fourth grade contained 18 mem
bers and began with the Third reader
and division; and are now in Fourth
reader and multiplication of frac
tions, and their teacher predicts {
diploma at the end of the term fol
every man in this class; he says
Every man is a student, and deeply
interested in his studies.
Fifth grade contained 81 mem ber
this was an advanced part Of thu
Fourth grade) were in the Fourth
reader and division of fractions
have advanced to division of decimal
and are reading American Master
pieces.
{ Sixth grade contained 81 members
Y and while practically doing the sam'
1 work as the Fifth grade, have ad
5 vanced to reading of the masterpieces
r and reduction of compound numbers
D All of these grades are using cop
: books, and many write very pretty copy
e Seventh grade is divided into thre
}. classes of % and IA and 13 member
e respectively. The 9Th, 9th, an
f 10th grades were reading America
Y Masterpieces, and were doing redue
e ton of denominate fractions. The
S are now designated the advanced elias
l. and divided into two sections. Th
e first are still reading American mas
O terpieces and are doing stocks; Will
l. the second are learning BoOk-keepin
e and are reading the Merchant c
/ Venice. Prof. Alyard states, ths
d through the earnest and efficient wor
d of the different teachers, who TAX
J. every interest in their work, that til
d progress made in each class is veI