The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-30
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS ron GIRLS.
Proposed to BE Established Through
out the EnuntrN.

Proposed To BE Established Through
out the Country.
New York, Aprn 2S.-Philanthropic wo-
men through bout the country viii no doubt
lie interested in the proposed establishment
OF THE New York State Industrial schooi
for Girls a movement that originated
with Mrs. Jennie c. Croly, Jennie June,
the veteran newspaper woman. The in
dustrial school project is al present car
rlod on BY Mrs. Clarence Burns Of New
York city.
The spirit of the enterprise is that IAN
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of
cure" Everywhere are to be found insti-
buttons for the reformation OF hayward
and criminal girls. but, alas. there are
none that take these girls. in the tenement
districts between the ages of Il ana 49,
and, by teaching ,ihem some industry by
which they could earn an honest living,
foster self-respcct and thus keep them
from ruin.
The earnest efforts Of these women have
shown that these girls cannot sew. cook
wash or iron. OF even wash a dish prop
erly. Through the influence of some friend
they may get a place as cash girl IA
department store. In few years The girl
will be too tall ana gawky to fit the place
About one in fifty of them are bright
enough to "catch on" 20 The business ana
gain gradual promotion from cash TO
saleswoman; the other forty-nine are dis-
charged; they do not succeed IN getting
other employment. there are many mouths
at home TO feed perhaps a drunken father
or mother. che girl is scolded, called a lazy,
worthless thing: she gets 10 running the
streets in search of work, does moi find IT,
is Accommodation comes ruin.
The appeal of the New York women
who are Interested in this matter. and
which might furnish a model for others
throughout the country, Is as follows we
suggest that each club appoint commit
tee and prepare a suitable programme for
discussion of this topic, The need OF a
state industrial school for girls The
chairman of the committee can procure
books, giving all required information from
the Board of State Charities and Correc-
tons.
This subject can be discussed from
several points of view: First The import
ance of early industrial training for de-
veopment and seif-support.
Second Industrial training for charac-
ter building and as a factor in saving
large number Of girls from criminal ca
Teers.
Third, Industrial training for ultimately
diminishing to The state the expense of
supporting paupers and criminals.
Fourth The results TO be obtained
through an ideal training school, etc.
Everything should be done to interest
as many as possible in the discussion of a
problem of such vital interest TO women.
The great object is TO make each woman
in your club reafize the necessity of such
an institution. and the responsibility that
rests upon her 10 put forth every effort TO
have established a state industrial school
for girls"
The Industrial school project was unani-
mously adopted by the New York State
Federation of Women's Clubs, as the work
of the year They are asking the state TO
appropriate $4,000 for the school, which
is TO be established on the cottage plan,
enabling the managers to divide the girls
into classes of thirty or more.
The bills were introduced in both
branches of the legislature on Jan &c. The
legislators are about showed under" with
letters, as every woman Is requested TO
write 10 the senator and assemblyman of
her own district giving her home address)
urging them to vote for this bill when II
comes up for action"
To remove all possible stigma that might
attach TO a course of training in this
school, il was decided to avoid Saying that
girls, and also to decline TO receive girls,
who, by reason of any act committed are
liable by law to be committed to any of
the state institutions, asylums or reforma-
tories now existing, or hereafter TO be es-
tablshed; il being the intention hereof
that the school shall be devoted exclusively
to girls whose circumstances and sur
roundings are of such a character that
they should be given an opportunity 10 re-
ceive an orderly and systematic industrial
training in all branches of domestic sci
ence."
TIRE Housekeeping in the tenement dis
tricts, if indeed a family living in two
rooms can be called housekeeping is 80
faulty that the girl cannot so from her
home into domestic service; of dressmak-
ing, or even mending, she knows nothing;
her cooking is fully as bad as that of the
volunteer soldier; If she is disposed 20 be
bright there are not nearly enough places
where she could learn stenography and
typewriting. To fling wide the doors of
instruction In those branches would be the
work of state industrial schools for girls
Ruth Everett
----s-~4--N--