The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-12-01
CHILDREN bear
CONVICT BRAND
Public School Pupils Taught
to Walk With the Prison
Lockstep.
Forming a Habit That Will
Attach a Stigma to Them
in After Life.
A Pernicious System That Gives the
Boys an Obnoxious Char
acteristic.

"Come along tho street and let me show
you something"
1t was one of the best detectives in the
city speaking. The street was crowded
with people. Some were hurrying along
on business lent others walked with
leisure step, and it was noticed that it
was the latter class that fell constantly
under the gaze OF the detective.
There. See that man walking with
his arms folded across his chest Do you
know ;he reason for that peculiar atti-
tudeP That man Is an ex-convict. He
naturally falls into that position when
walking if his mind is on something else.
Ii is the position that all convicts must
take VIII n walking in rank in prisons.
To the old detective that position is as
distinctive as brand on the brow and in
variably marks the ex-conyict. If you
will go over to San Quentin or 10 Fols m
you will see the conv.cts in line walking
with the lockstep and each man will have
his arms folded in that manner.
Nov come with me and | will show
you something else-some hing shat THE
CALL should pay attention to. The paper
has shown up The numbering system in
vogue in our public schools, but there is a
system there that is far worse and one
that is calculated to bring stigma on our
boys after they have grown TO MANHOOD.
Tie mum bering system taxes away their
individuality, but the system l sneak of
brands them all through life in moments
when their minds are taken from their i'm
mediate surroundings"
The detective walked out from Market
street o the nearest public school pui d.
ing and reached there just as he CHI ildren
were lined up preparatory TO entering the
inn of hoy otn hd
walk waiting for the tap of the bell and
each one had his arms folded across his
breast. AS the hell sounded the line
started and with as perfect Iockstep as
was ever seen in o penitent.ary the boys
walked into the schoolroom.
Nor was this ali. Along the sidewalk
were rows OF mails driven in, making lines
between which the ranks marched. These
dead lines were there 10 separate the
ranks, and woe to the boy who acCi-
dentaily or Intentionally epped over the
line. He was sentenced 10 the depori-
ment class and compe led to square his
mum bers or write lines until his little
brain, already tagged from the long hours
| in the scboolroom, was completely
wearied and his eyes burned.
The detective called attention 10 the
positions of the boys and TO the uncon-
| sciousness with which they mimlcked the
| lockstep of the -coavicts 1t was perfect.
ness. The boys were forming the hab /
that would attach stigma to them all
| through life, because it was learned at an
age when hab IS that are strongest in
their force are formed.
"These boys are forming q habit said
! the detective, that Will in alter life ca use
| them to be under suspicion or every
trained police officer OF the world. When
| they go to strange cities they will uucon-
| sciously proclaim TO the police of that city
! That they have been inmates of an insti-
| tn ion where they were made to walk in
! line with arms folded, and the police
| know OF but one such institution, and
/ that is the penItentiari,s OF the land.
| II Is time that parents OF the city
! should be enlightened on this subj ect,
and | am sure that if THE CALL will tax e
il up the teachers the selves wilt be the
| hrst 20 put stop 10 the pernicious sys-
tenn. Ii they have not the power then tn e
Board of Education should do it,