New-York tribune., 1897-07-24
NO REST FOR THE TRUANTs.
VACATION NEVER COMES TO BRooKLYN's
NAUGHTY BOYS.
THE HOME IN WHICH THEY WORK HARD FOR
CREDIT MARKS AND LIBERTr-Mil~
IrARY EXERCISE AND MAN.
CAL TRAINING.

IrARY EXERCISE AND MAN.
UAL TRAINING.
While vacation time has come to all the othor
children, the Truant School Of Brooklyn 10 still
opsn. and its seventy pupils are going through the
regular routine OF work and drill and play. Its
numbers are steadily decreasing. IS the little fell
lows gradually reaching the desired goal Of 500
credit marks In condIct and 80 In Industry 1t
would be possible to do this In exactly ninety days
But the little chaps who hnd their way there be-
cause Of the espionage Of the truant ofncer have
rot been accustomed to work hard and they nnd
the goal a far-away one and that the ROAD leading
to 1t has a steep grade The first two boys brought
up by the truant officer October 49, are still there
and nothing but a miracle which should multiply
those marks could extrcate them before the doors
close on July 81. One hundred and twenty-five
have been committed TO the institution during the
year.
Tribune reporter said to a small. bashfu little
fellow There are no girls here suppose they
are always good and never play truant" With n
sudden dignity which comes with the consciousness
OF superior wisdom. he replied: Yer bet they play
hockey. could take yer to seven now" Then an
air Of pensiveness stole over him as he remembered
that he couldn't take himself anywhere. much less
any one else.
NOT LIKE A PRISON
But these boys do not have such bad times
they think they DO. The dormitories in which they
sleep are large and airy, and each one has clean,
comfortable little iron bed. which he makes for
himself every day. The white spreads are put on
smoothly each morning and removed at night. The
food Is plenty and good. many OF the vegetables
being raised In the garden. The schoorooms
pleasant. we'll ventilated and we'll equipped. The
playground Is large. Then. besides. each fellow
has q garden Of his own. In which he plants what
ever he chooses and which he himself cares for.
Most OF the boys enjoy this and take great pride
In IT, Each Is allowed to take home with him
DISCHARGED or n ri a
visiting day (the first Sunday In each MONTH, any
thins he may choose from his own plot.
This building with ITS large grounds Is located
on the Jamaica Road Just beyond Cypress Hills
Cemetery. 1t was formerly under the care Of the
Beard Of Aldermen. known the Truants'
home and to 1t were committed young criminals
as well as truants. BY an act OF the Legislature
the Institution transferred to the supervision
control Of that Board In September. 1886.
HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL.
Superintendent Maxwell says: "As far as have
been able 10 learn the institution. under the old
regime, was almost penal In It's character At
least. have never been able to discover n single
case Of reformation among the truants committed
TO its care. The committee has labored asslduously
since we took charge to make the Truant School
a reformatory In the best sense OF the word The
Board OF Education has been liberal In making
necessary improvements in the buildings and their
equipments. The schoolroom has been divided into
desks
1T Is a most difficult but most interesting ques-
tion to decide what the prevailing causes OF
truancy among boys when approaching the age OF
adolescence. The results OF my inquiries seem 10
indicate that there three main causes-frst.
unfortunate or unhappy relations in the home;
second. unhappy relations between the boy and a
teacher who does not understand boy nature. who
Is harsh and forbiddng where she ought TO be
gentle and encouraging. and who prefers to freeze
out n troublesome boy rather than take the pains
to gain his respect and affection: third. conseni
tai disposition TO rowing. II not 10 crime.
HOW WORK is LAID OUT.
THE course in this school must differ from that
OF our other schools. The boys have military drill
every morning from $40 TO $40 o'clock. Then they
have Joiner work and drawing and singing has
been found TO exercise n refining and humanizing
influence
Though the school is made az little like prison
ns the present building will permit yet the boy
who enters Is in a great measure deprived of his