Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-04
REFORM SCHOOL BOYS
FACTS REPORTED By THE ACTING
SUPERINTENDENT.
Many Of Those Released on Parole Are
Doing Well-Fondness for the
Military Drill.

I. D. Porter, acting superintendent of the
has submitted to the board of trustees OF
the Reform School his annual report for
the fiscal year ending June 50, 1902. In his
report he states that since the opening of
the school the total number of boys re-
ceived has been 2.S75, the number of deaths
IA. the rate of mortality less than one-hah
of 1 per cent and the average age of boys
received since opening 1870 years. During
the past year the total number of boys re-
ceived was IT, and they were received by
Commitment as follows: The Police Court
of the District of Columbia, 104: the Su-
preme Court Of the District A; United
States district courts, 50. and by paroled
boys returned, by escaped boys returned.
and by transfer from the Moundsvlle peni-
Tertiary, TO- The number of boys remain
ing in school June 30, 1902. was $50. COM
pared with 237 June 30. 1901, an increase
of 49,
Facts About the Boys.
Mr.. Porter states in his record of the
boys as to their pei sonal habits before
commit ment, that S. had the habit of keep
ing bad company, "a had doubtful records
and 80 had doubtful records but came from
good homes. He also said that 81 were
cigarette smokers % used tobacco other
than cigarettes, and 62 mad never USED TO-
bacco in any form.
Out of the 1I2 boys received during the
past year, 53 had never been employed in
any way, SO had been employed part of the
time. u had been regular attendants at
school and II had attended school part q
the time. Six of the boys were committee
for assault, 81 for larceny. 10 for money
larceny, Al for incorrigibility. l for va
grancy, 2 for houSebreaking, for depreda-
ton on property. for violation of the rev.
enue laws. IA for violation of the United
States postal laws, for burglary, 1 for
disorderly conduct, for carrying deadly
weapons, / for mansiaughter, for false
pretense, for forgery and for receiving
stolen property.
According to the religious associations of
the boys prior to their commitment, SO of
the parents were Baptsts, 80 were Method
lists, 90 were Catholics. a Lutheran. 1 a
Presbyterian. 3 Christians. 3 Episcopaiians.
1 attended the Jewish Church services, 1
attended Seventh Day Adventist Church
services. and IA did not attend any relig-
ious services whatever.
OF the different nationalities of the boys
received during the year, 137 We're of
American parents, German. Irish, l
English. 1 Italian, l Canadian, l Finn and
/ Swede.
OF the 1T2 boys 81 had both parents liv-
ing. 10 both parents living, but separated;
81 no father, % no mother, and y were
orphans.
Little Educated
knew the alphabet only, As could. read in
the primer, So were capable of entering the
second school grade and 16 could read toll
erably well. Mr.. Porter also states that SO
had no knowledge of penmanship, "a could
write only their name, 40 could write i'm
perfectly, and Is could write. fairly well.
Eighty seven of the boys had never studied
arithmetic, "a had done practical examples
in addition. q had advanced to division and
hod ina1 rr,fSteS In, 1ppi fy1at
fractions. Only 81 boys had never attended
school,
The school during the past fiscal year pro-
crossed fairly well, has grown steadily, and
find accommodation for the boys. Never
before have there been SO many boys in the
reform school as there are at present.
Operation of Parole System.
The number of boys released on parole
from the reform school during the year
was 1870. and many good reports have been
received from the majority of them, telling
about their present occupations and about
their prospects
Few changes occurred in the daily routine
of school life during the year. The boys
who go to school In the morning work in the
afternoon, and the boys who go, to school
In the afternoon work in the morning. They
have fine manual training school and reg
ular sessions were held there. The school
is under the care of a competent teacher
Col. Burton r. Ross instructs the boys
once every week in military drill, and they
are proud of the showing they make
Every Sunday religious services are held
in the assembly hall. The services are not
conducted by clergymen of any particular
denomination. but of different denomina-
lions. 1t is declared that the boys are al
ways glad when Sunday comes, as they
take great interest in the Sunday services.