The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-13
STATE SCHOOL FOR BOYS.
Annual Report of the Trustees to the
 Governor.

Annual Report of the Trustees to the
 Governor.
 The trustees of the Connecticut school for boys at Meriden have adopted their annual report to the governor. The document, which was prepared by President Francis H. Parker of Hart ford, reviews the years work of the in stitution. The enlargement of the wa ter supply, the building of metal working laboratory and the erection of a new and enlarged boiler plant have been effected during the year.
 The health of the boys" says the re- port, has continued excellent. Con- tagious diseases have made their ap- pearance on two or three occasions, but the complete isolation of the pa tients immediately established under the direction of our competent and painstaking physician and the city viz ilance enforced by the superintendent in each case prevented any spreading of the disease among the boys Owing to the prevalence of smallpox in many towns in the state, all the inmates of the school were vaccinated except those deemed sufficiently protected by pre- vious vaccinations. For the same req son the superintendent was empowered in his discretion to suspend the priv ileges of visiting days and accordingly, visitors were excluded, wholly or par tiallY during some of the spring and early summer months. The necessity of providing a hospital In a detached building for the treatment of con- tagious diseases is too plain to admit of argument and the trustees propose constructing such building as soon as the expense can be provided for from the ordinary revenues of the school"
 The report explains that during the year 120 boys received instruction in sloyd and elementary manual training. The success of the schoolroom work is noted. During the year A boys have been connected with the band. ''The distinctly moral and religious training of the boys" says the report, lis kept steadily in view The religious services and Sunday school work are regularly maintained and 1t is believed with good results The report explains the value of giving the boys diversity of em- ployment and also of providing them l with reasonable opportunities for sport and recreation.
 In discussing the policy of putting each boy on his honor and making his advancement and privilege of parole dependent on his own conduct, the re- port says: Tn nearly all cases there is no question but that this policy is pro- ductive of the best attainable results. | It appeals to the better side of human nature and the appeal is seldom fruit less. On the occasion of the recent visit of President Roosevelt to Meriden 300 of the boys in charge of half dozen officers were taken to the church green, where with the boys and girls from the | public schools they were given the op- portunity of seeing and greeting the country's chief magistrate. Not a sin gle breach of decorum occurred and the boys returned in an orderly manner to the institution. AS is to be expected, 1 however, individual cases occur where i the privileges extended are not appre- ciated and advantage is taken of them to commit Wilful breaches of discipline and even criminal acts. Thus during 1 the past year the schOl property was greatly endangered on two occasions by acts of incendiarism. No course was open save to turn the delinquent over to the courts for adequate punishment. While the necessity for this procedure was deeply regrettable it was unavoid- able as no provision has as yet been made by the state for a reformatory where juvenile and other first offenders may be committed"
 { The work of the state agent is com mended During the year he made 627 visits. investigated 216 homes and found employment for 149 paroled boys. The finances of the school are reported to be in good condition and the devotion and ability of the officers is compli- nlented.