The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1897-02-24

'ayoritc mode of punishment admin q
stored by this teacher is to throw I
silver dollar at the boys, and IN one
Instance the missile struck the boy
and caused a cut on his head, from
which the blood flowed freely. This !
same teacher in open school, accused, t
Inundated and made fun OF q BOY, q
blaming him for an unnatural crime. g
For boys who attempt to escape, G
the mode or punishment isin placing |
shackles upon their feet, in several 1
cases keeping them on from two TO
six months, at all times, not even re-
moving them at night. In the pen f.
itcntiary this might be necessary,
but in a reform school your commit
tee believe that it is inhuman and I
unjust. Tho favorite position in Z;
which the boys are placed when {
whipped is to force them fiat on a {
barrel, removing their coats and {
leaving them at the mercy Of their
chastiser. The most unjust punish
ment that has been administered IS,
in our opinion, in the cases OF lgnor-
ant BOYS who cannot read being
whipped for not being able to COM
nit verse Of the Bible to memory,
or in failing to learn the Golden
Text. 1t has seemed to us 1mpossl-
bic for them, in their ignorance, 70
learn such verses rs required, and
we believe that this rule should be
eliminated. In this institution
there are many simple minded boys,
who, in their ignorance, make mis-
takes. Some allowance should be
made for them, yet they are looked
upon the same as those of a moro in
tcllgent mind, and, if anything, be-
cause of their ignorance they are
punished more severely.
We recommend that the superin-
tendcnt:s salary be reduced from 1925
to 800 per month; that a record be
kept Of each violation or the rules
and the punishment administered
therefor and the dates OF same and
the name OF the employee who ad~
ministered punishment.
We also recommend the abolition
OF the above unjust and inhuman
rules. We are perfectly satisfied
that the suspicious and rumors OF
criminal intimacy in the school are
unjust to the trustees, manager and
employees. .... .-....
We recommend that the mouth
pads that are placed upon the girls
mouths to restrain them from talk
inc be dispensed with, as we believe
it is barbarous and should not be per-
mittcd in the great commonwealth
; Of Montana.
! We find that the best of treatment
is given to the inmates during sick
: ness, and firmly believe that no i'm
5 proyement could be made in this
+; particular point. ".."
/ We recommend for the girls de-
: partmcnt a number OF bathtubs,
: abolishing the system Of causing the
| girls to batlc in common WaslboWls.
We believe that the trustees and
e the people Of Miles City are not con
O vcrsant with the true facts regard
c ing the punishment at the reform
/ school, and we most heartily recon.
c mend that the board OF trustees be
n more rigid, that they administer
a more authority and as much as posi-
&c bic specify all the workings OF tht
Il institution.
IS We recommend that the rules b.
g printed as clear as possible for thu
t. information of the new inmates, a
1T under the old system the children
a have to learn the rules by experience
TO and experience means the strap.
* While we do not hold that th
X present superintendent is incompe
to tent, we most firmly believe that h
k. Eis too severe, and that under tn
a present rule the home might be bet
to ter named house OF correction thar
en- a reform school.
as We find as class that the boys ar
he not overly disobcdient, and we be
a lieyc with kind treatmcnt'thata vas
en- number Of them will leave the inst
nd tuition with the desire to becOm
at good and honest citizens.
Mt In the matter of finance, Whic
elf was the main object OF our invest
in eating this institution, we find tht
The appropriation asked to maintai
he this Institution is exceedingly an
w. excessively high. We heartily re
Fer ommend that the inmates OF tn
of school be given better food, but v
believe that better food can be give
an them for much less than is askc
ihe The amounts asked for food excct
M by far per capita the expenses OF tt
Sc majority Of the people Of this stat
She We do not report that there Il
md been juggling with the states mon
few but ii it requires the amount ask
the for to run this institution, we belle
the there must be gross mismanagcmc
lrc. Of finances The children even
any the exhorbtant prices asked rccei
emit butter but twice week, meat on
and a. week, one dry piece Of Bread one
fed week and coffee but once day.
JUS our opinion this institution raj:
1ses enough vegetables and have them
Of market. we believe that an app
ont, priation of $34 800 will thorough
lint cover the expenses that WIFI be
,sti- quired to maintain this school
div the next two years with good mana
At ment.
lren This appropriation Is $17,500 !
eye than the appropriation asked I
for and we believe this amount is su
cicnt to give them better food {
BOYS better clothes than they have b(
Who, given in the past. Under no clrcu