The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-24

course. must be maintained at the schoo
| that many years longer. We think, there
| fore, that scrupulous care should be takeI
| to have the courts action and the records
based upon accurate facts regarding age.
| The recommendation is again made II
have an amendment made to the acts at
! fecting the school by which approval Ie
| quisite to an appointment Of an officer b.
| the trustees should come from the At
| torney General instead of the District
| Commissioners as the present law pro-
yides.
| New Building About Completed.
| On tine question of the new building
now nearing completion the report says:
The new building is now completed SO
| far as the structure Is concerned, but the
| brick wall to enclose the yard, the con-
Meeting corridor between the two build
| ings, and some items of equipment re-
| main to be built and supplied by the Dis
| trict Commissioners before the building
will be finished and ready to be opened
| and occupied. The expectation is that
this work will be done so that the new
building may be put into use not later
than January l next. Some moderate re-
pairs and renovation Of the old building
will be necessary when the present in
mates of the school are moved into the
now building, in order to fit the cid build
ing for the reception of the similar class
of white girls who have not heretofore
been received because there was no room
for them. No doubt the class of white
girls in the District liable to be sent to
the school is less in number than the cor
.,,,;;-2lngj9g CLASS of colored girls, and the
pacity of the new one, will be adapted and
used for the white girls whom we should
receive.
THE board is much pleased to report
continuance of efficient and faithful SER
vice from the superintendent and her
subordinates To them is largely due the
coed and improving record made in the
administration and morale of the institu-
ton With the occupation OF the new
building we are confident that further
and rapid advances will be made. and
that much will be achieved in the way OF
reduction of per capita cost and OF en-
larging Industrial and other wholesome
influences upon the girls.
Attention is directed to the report Of
Amy Jean Rule the superintendent OF ne
school In her report to the trustees she
states that there is only room for twenty
seven girls and that the number was upon
several occasions exceeded. This necessi-
tated the use of the hospital room and
the punishment cells as bedrooms. Her
report says:
I'VE do not wish to shirl our RESPONSE
bility, and we realize that it is serious
one but we have no means at present by
which to occupy the time and attention OF
the girls. except the cooking. housework.
laundry and sewing. and day school, and
the law says these girls must remain here
until reformed or until they reach the age
OF twenty one years. and no girl is ever
dismissed on probation until she has
shown marked improvement in her ways,
yet nearly one-third of those dismissed
are returned.
II would respectfully suggest that for
these girls between eighteen and twenty
one years of age who have been released
on probation and returned by reason of
misconduct. some branch of industry
laundry work. fine sewing, paper box or
mattress making-be adopted. by which
they would earn at least part of their sup
port. and that this class be kept apart
from the other inmates of the school. The
new building is nearly completed and
believe that the time has now come when
such part of the work could be success
fully begun and carried forward"