Evening journal., 1900-12-19
FERRIS SCHOOL
VISITED BY JURY
Impressed With System Of
Discipline and Sanitation
Jurors Reached School While Boys
We're at Work and They In
Spected All Departments

For the first time In the history of
the Ferris Industrial School. the grand
jury or New Castle county isited and
inspected ii yesterday afternoon. The
jurors We're shown about the institu-
tion by President Caleb Harlan. Alfred
Gawhtrop. Winner j. Ellison. w. S..
Prickett and l.. c. Kent Of the board
Of managers. and Superintendent Me-
serve.
The jury arrived at the school while
the boys were engaged IN Their various
duties. Some We're chOpping WOOD.
others were tearing down the fOunda-
tions of the barn recently burned,
some were taking care Of the cattle, or
were in the laundry, the kitchen ana
the bakery. The completeness Of the
institution was a revelation 10 the
grand jurors, many Of whom had never
visited the school before.
The splendid system Of discipline and
the sanitary arrangements were the
source of much favorable comment by
the visitors.
Shortly after the arrival Of the party
the bugle sounded, and all the boys
put away their working implements
and marched off to the wash room,
where each one prepared himself for
the school room.
In the meantime the jurors inspected
the new barns. Both of these We're
built, with the exception OF the ma
sonry work, by six boys and a super
lntendent. These buildings are well
planned. and all the boys are proud Of
the work. They point to the building
as an evidence Of their industry. One
of the managers said that at first II
was thought that the burning of the
barn was a disaster, but it had turned
out to be a blessing in disguise, since
it has been a means Of putting the
work Of the boys to practical use, at
the same time acting as an incentive
toward the contentment OF the boys.
The labor cost but a trifle.
The description or the two buildings
has already been published in the
Evening Journal The members of the
/ jury, who are farmers. were particular
! ly interested in the completeness OF
the COW stable. IL is well-lighted and
ventilated, has cement floors, and in
each stall water is kept constantly in
| a vessel by means Of n pipe connected
with a cistern. This does away with
! the necessity of taking the animals
out OF their stalls All the appoint
ments in both buildings are up-to-date
WHAT THE BOYS DO.
The boys at the school are taught
! to do all things OF which the school
appropriation will admit. They cult
vate the farm, care for the stock, in
which they take particular delight
make their own clothing, including
caps, do all the laundry work, bake
cook and sew, besides which they have
a required number of hours each day
in the school room.
The boys are given the freedom OF
the school premises. which comprises
1876 acres. There are no walls or fences
to prevent them from escaping. Their
uniforms have been gray, but the new
suits, which are now being made will
be Of blue, which will be the regula.
tion color in the future.
The grand jurors were impressed
with the necessity of larger and more
modern buildings. Two Of the present
buildings are modern, but the main
one, which is the old Churchmar
homestead, is not suited for the pur-
poses to which it has been put. The
jurors were much interested in the
bakery. The baker is George Seney, q
Wilmington colOred boy, who has beer
in the school for some time. He is IA
miliarly known as Jim, the baker" In
this line he is an adept. He bakes al
the bread, and it is of excellent quality
Jim is proud of his record. and keep,
an accucrate account of the number oi
loaves baked each day. During the
three months Of July, August and Sep
temher he baked 1867 loaves.
In the school room the jurors were
treated to a musical program. Ths
boys sang solos. and choruses. after
which short speeches were made by Mr.
Gawthrop. Peter A. HOrtv. Philemma
Chandler and Charles Megginson.
urrho, uoIaor cr,o