Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-07

l : a
number of boys committed by the United
| states district courts. They come TO us
| under various forms and degrees of SEN
! tence. ard generally from states and ter
| ritories having as yet made no provision
Tor their proper care. These bows are
OFTEN ~ell advanced in years. and some
| or them rs well also in a criminal knowl-
edge OF the world having been to n large
extent unfortunate in their environments
from early childhood. Deficient in educa-
ocn, both in letters and morals they are
nevertheless often naturally bright and full
or energy. mental and physical Slow TO
accept restraints to which they have never
heen accustomed. they seldom fail how
/ ever. even after many exhibitions of stub
porn resistance. to give a willing suhrnis-
sion to the school DISCIPLINE. Having once
fully accented the new conditions they
make rand proeress. both in the school
sessions ana in their manual training ex-
crosses IN the shons--. These changes have
lmnosed new lines of duty. increasing to
some extent the general responsibility hut
thev have also given increased interest by
greatly embracing the sphere of our posi-
b'itieS for good.
REGULAR school sessions have been held
m each of the several family school rooms
excent during the midsummer months We
REQUIRE that everv how naturally qualified
sraH he able to read ard write recite the
multtnlica ton and other tables readily and
have some practical KNOWLEDGE Of arith-
met'c in the urinary rifles before he can
secure IN honorable DISCHARGE This &c
sunnlementarv to his having gained all his
BADGES for good behavior and obedience to
established rules
Our expenditures for maintenance during
TIE fiscal wear have been made within the
sum named for such purposes and in man
ner as prescribed by special act of Com
gress A small reduction over any previous
year IN the ner carita cost for subsistence
has been secured chiefly as the result of
favorable conditions in the markets ard by
reason of larger daily average in popula-
ton.
&c ~
some respects paramount to all others in
volving relatively large exnend' ture and
having vital bearing unon the health and
comfort of the school Hence it has been
my constant aim to secure the highest
standard OF excellence in the quality of
these necessary supplies, and as well also
to grard every avenue open to a possible
waste or irnrovidence in their preparation
for daily use.
I'm addition to these ordinary exnendi-
lures. as will appear in the annual renort
or the treasurer of the school. a large
amount has been required to cover recess
sary repairs to buildings including extern
sive changes in our steam-heating system,
and in the general pire service connected
with our water supnly. The most impor-
tant among them ALL however. is our new
bakehouse extension and mammal training
schoci building. completed and occupied
within the year This is substantial brick
structure. two full store s in height and in
every way adanted to the PURPOSES for
which IT was designed ard erected.
1.-The second floor of the building is &C.
cupied by class of boys who receive in
structionS In mechanical training under
modified form of the .sloyd or Swed sh sys-
tenn. This large room has been lifted IN
with suitable benches. and each furnished
| with set of tools. Other necessary APP
planes of a general character have also
been added to make the outfit complete, in
order that a practical test may ne made
as to the comparative value of this system
for imnarting and receiving instructions in
ia anti mo han al ind s4rio
This new system would seem to have a
special mission, in that it commends itself
to every hey old enough to make a kite or
pound his own finger in trying to drive a
nail No possible gain to the school IS
templated in this work-the whole object
being to interest and instruct the 10y in
some kind of mechanical labor that will be-
come habitual I'm time and eventually profit
able to himself.
Farm Work Increasing.
Our regular farm work has been stead
lily increasing for the past number of years.
Most of the cleared ground has been worn
out by long-continued cultivation. and
hence requires expensive restoratives an
nually to secure even an average crop
We have had favorable season and a
fruitful harvest. Among the standard field
crops, corn has been the most abundant
and the vegetable gardens have supplied
our tables generously during the entire
summer. Fruits and berries in many
choice varieties have added their season.
able quota to these healthful and palatable
food supplies: A large part of the labor
required to secure these results has fallen
to the lot of our older and more expe-
rienced boys, who have borne the burden
manfully and well.
We still aim to keen our entire force
employed at some kind of useful Industry
during part Of every working day. MANY
pussy hands are required to care first for
the labor that is strictly domestic in char
CT in,
mands. Others find employment in the
kitchens, laundry. bakery, tailoring and
shoe shops all under competent instruct
ors, and thus many boys, while faithfully
serving the school, are doubIy serving
themselves by what they learn in these
several branches Of mechanical labor
our paper-box industry still gives en-
ployment to large force of boys selected
especially for this work and almost en-
ureiy from those younger in years as the
labor Is light and the hours for daily
this enterprise our first object has baan
TO give mechanical instruction to a number
OF deserving boys. Everything in this de-
partment Is prosecuted in a business way
anu upon strictly business principles
Assembly Hall Needed.
Attention Is again directed to the i'm
portance of securing large and I'm every
way substantial building in which the en-
tire school cen be assembled at stated
other public exercises only less important
IN their influence upon the general welfare
OF the school. Our annual entertainments.
as given by the boys for many successive
years, have been indefinitely postponed. or
until this great need in our educational
work has been supplied. We could assist
In many ways in the erection of such a
building. which should be ample in size
TWO full stories in height, with the entire
first floor suitably fitted for use as a gym
nasium, wherein a large class of boys can
be practiced daily in all approved athletic
exercises, including military drill in the
manual OF arms, rnder a competent in
structor. This would give US school room
worthy of the name, and furnish opportu-
mites tor sound physical development, in
which so many. of our boys are notably de-
ficient.
THE boys dining room is never ne
elected. 1t Is under the general care and
oversight OF the matron, while the assist
ant superintendent also gives daily atten-
ton to its discipline and the good order
prevalent therein.
Our play grounds have also maintained
a prominent place at the school. While
every form of manual labor is more or less
a burden, it should be made as light and
easy to be borne as possible. To meet