The Delta independent., 1902-09-12
State Industrial School.

The report of Judge Benjamin B.
Lindsey of the Juvenile Division of the
Arapahoe County Court for the period
included between January 4, 1901 and
July ], 1902. has attracted much atten-
tion, not only In Denver, but in other
cities and states. His treatment OF
delinquent children has been generally
commented on and generally commend
ed. What he says in relation to the
Colorado Industrial School will there
fore he read with Interest. After COM
menting on the provision made in the
laws of 1901 for a parental school,
which was not established, he says:
I'm our opinion an industrial school
such as that conducted at Golden, Col
orado, at Lansing. Michigan, and In
several other states. presents no reas-
enable disadvantages rs compared with
parental schools. The separation OF
children OF this character can not be
regulated by any. rule as to the form OF
delinquency OF which they may he
guilty. Our experience shows that 1t
does not furnish safe or satisfactory
test, at least in our county. Separa-
ton according to ages. il this be possi-
bic (and II separation be necessary ap-
peals to us as furnishing the only prac-
ticable rule to be guided by. Such sep
aration is. as far as possible, main.
tanned at our Industrial school. Many
boys con-icted in this court of burg
larry have shown more gratifying re-
suits under the probation system than
boys convicted OF habitual truancy.
Out OF over go cases in this court
where burglary or larceny was the
<xf s1.alt I'm of
prosecuted for disorderly conduct only
there were seventeen commitments to
the Industrial school: and out Of Ia
cases for truancy, all originally prose-
cuted as such, there have been COM
mittcd twenty-one boys. but as hereto
fore pointed out herein. all excepting
six were guilty OF other and more seri-
Gus crimes: or Just about double the
number of commitments for truancy In
proportion to charges for that offense
as there We're commitments for the
more seriously regarded offenses Of
burglary or larceny. The truth Is. all
are the result. more or less. of irre~
sponsibility. thoughtlessness. misguid-
ed and misdirected energy. Why is the
idea of separating delinquent boys into
classes because OF vicious effects of as
sociations nearly always directed at
luuuStTlUi SCuuOiS anu tpt III puEeutat
or public schools? 1t is admitted that
there are always dangers from the ef-
fects Of such association. But this dan
ger exists equally in every parental
school and to more or less extent
every public school.
In most cases the condition of n tru-
ant boy taken from the public school
and placed in the Industrial school. in
10 far as the dangers from association
with older or worse boys is concerned
Is to no serious extent altered. Such
dangers necessarily exist in the life OF
every boy. no matter how situated. The
name OF our industrial school might be
very properly changed to Parental
School No doubt. at the end. however.
that Inflated name Reform SCHOOL,
would overtake 1t and 1t would be as
sociated In the minds OF the people as
such. A change of name would not en-
tirely remedy the evil here referred to.
There must be a change In public i'm
preston and sentiment. The industri-
nj school is Just as much part Of the
public school educational system as the
Stnte School of Agriculture or the State
School of Mines. No more serious in
justice is committed by the public than
that impression so commonly accepted
that It Ia a penal institution. The law
OF the state specifically fixes Its status
as an educational Institution. 1t should
Of itself he no disgrace or handicap to
any child of the Juvenile court or the
Industrial school to have been tried for
dlsorticrly conduct In the one or to have
received part OF Its education In the
other. 1t is refreshing to note that
such impression ls being gradually
eliminated In the face Of a more enlight-
cned and charitable public sentiment,
and the officers OF this court are under
lasting obligation to the heads and
management OF some OF the largest
business Institutions In the city Of Den
yer for tho employment. aid and en-
enlargement given such boys. 1t has
been appreciated and responded to In
q more satisfactory and gratifying
manner than Is generally met with
among boys not % situated"