The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-11-20
WE NEED A REFORM SCHOOL,

- NOAaAS u expended IN
the cost of criminal prosecutions in
the State of Nerth Carolina, to say
nothing of more than 800, 900 ex-
pended for the State penitentiary,
and the vast cost of the work houses
and jails. A single work house in
one county cost over $4,000 in 1898.
What is accomplished? The older
criminals r kept from their nefari-
Gus ~avocation for awhile, and the
younger are taught in these schools
of crime how to be more expert in
law defying.
We begin at the wrong end. The
wrong-doer should be taken charge
of when he commences his career.
The only hope of purifying the
stream is at the fountain head. The
young offender begins often in care
lessness or ignorance sometimes tor
want of livelihood or training to earn
a living, and sometimes under the
control of wicked and lawless parents
or others.
Under the direction of the Board of
Public Charities, the writer, in the
autumn of 1898, made an investiga-
ton of records, sc far as preserved,
of municipal police stations in the
State for the previous year. In
Wilmington there were 636 commit
ments to lookup, of which 100 were
of minors. & In Washington 200, of
which so were minors. In Wilson
900, of which so were minors. In
Asheville about 1000, record of
minors not being kept. Raleigh
1850. of which 1856 were minors, and
of these 43 were under 16 years of
age. There is no space for further
statistics, but these tell the story.
For two hundred years the jail has
failed now let US try the reform
school. It will save money (the
least of alD, lives, property, charac-
ter, happiness, peace, human souls.
How do we know that? Because
it has become the refuge of civiliza-
ton. Every enlightened country is
increasing and e%nlarging them. They
reduced the number of criminals in
England 10, 900 in a single decade. In
the three States in the Union where
they have been best developed and
cared for, crime is actually diminish
ing, while it is increasing every
where else, and in our State, denials
to the contrary Notwithstanding, it
is advancing rapidly.
What makes us believe in reform
schools? Because we have seen
them at their blessed work training
and disciplining the young in one
case twelve hundred happy children
we're snatched from the slums and
police courts of New York City be-
every State, except a half
a dOzen, maintains them, including of
our Southern States, Maryland, Ken
lucky, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia because from
correspondence by the writer, no
body was found in public life in any
State where a reform school exists
10 be willing to see it given up; be-
cause the U. S. Government itself
for a number of years has main
tanned, with increasing efficiency,
one Of the best in the District of
Columbia.
In 1867, the last year of full re-
ports, SO reform schools in this
country contained 21,243 pupils and
II, 657 learning trades. The average
number committed is about 5000,
and about 5000 are annually e
turned. The governmental report
says: "Of those released o than
rs per cent. are self-supporting, lead
ing useful lives, and are honest and
respectable citizens of the cOmmuni-
ties in which they live"
In reply to the inquiry of the
mayors and chiefs of police in any
State, as to the best thing to be done
to prevent crime, and with one voice
the answer is, Keep children from
the streets alone at night, and insti-
tute a reform school,"
The Judges of the State agree in
the Importance of this action, the
leading religious bodies, and the as
ISOLATION of teachers.
Let US give all our aid and inf1u-
nncn TO this effort to save the Young.