The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-01-16
BRIGHTSIDE
Something About the Work at the
Training School and Its Purposes.

n nile anu d Hall HUI vi VI UiiS CiOf
is an institution occupying unique
position in the states charitable econ
omy, says Plymouth writer in the
Indianapolis News. 1t is the Julia E.
Work training school, and is called
Brightside. A station on the Van
dalia railroad, just back of the build
ing. bears the same name. The spe-
cial purpose of the institution is to
care for the dependent children that
can not be successfully placed in family
homes.
Some 20 years ago Mrs. Work be-
gan caring for orphan children in a
home at Mishawaka; later she moved
to Laporte, and i'm 1898 established
Brightside, beginning with the main
building and a small cottage, on about
% acres of land. The plant has been
added to from time to time, as neces-
sity required, till now itincludes some
40 acres of land, with The necessary
farm outbuildlngs, besides four large
structures for the accommodation of
the inmates, the present capacity be-
ing 200. A school house to seat 100
is also part of the plant. This is
furnished by the township. Previous
to opening Brightside, Mrs. Works Ia
bors for dependent children were con-
fined to their temporary care in the
orphans home, their placement in
families, and the subsequent super
vision, the expense being borne by the
various counties employing her to care
for their dependent wards.
During this period a band of de-
fectives-or non-placaebles-
lated, and knowing that there was no
provision III the state for the care of
such, Mrs. Work decided to devote
herself to their training, rather than
to continue the active placing-out
work. With that end in view, she
proceeded to build and equip this
plant, in accordance with the teach
ings of experience. The original in
tent was to care for those who were
non-placaeble, through mental or
physical defects. but another and
larger class claimed attention, the
ones usually denominated as incor-
rigibleS. And of the about $50 non-
plaecableS now in the institution, full
ly one-half belong to this class. Some
have been sent by orphans homes
that found their presence menace to
the other children; some have been
sent by the courts, the judges prefer
ing to send the youthful offenders to
the training school rather than to the
reform schools. Several truantS are
here.
The writer visited the institution
and was shown through it fully and
given clear detail of the plan in
yOlved in keeping and training tie
youngsters, so that in time they may
take their places among the state IS
self-supporting citizenship. unless
handicapped either physically OF
mentally so that they will be perma-
nent dependents, Space forbids a
full detail of the plan, but, in few
words it is as follows: Careful at.
tention to hygenic matters, including
scientifically selected diet; quiet
and regular routine of life and duties:
and rigid though kindly discipline
"a spirit of the Savior's love per-
vading the whole. In training the in
mates for future usefulness, attention
is paid to those things only that are
likely to prove the self-supporting oc-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS being the
constant aim. A boy who cares foi
stock must learn to do every part OF
the work in the best manner possible.
The girl who works in the dairy must
learn every operation. The vacations
taught boys are mainly farming, gar
dening and stock care-girls are
taught housekeeping, dairying, laun-
derlng and sewing. Efficient helpers,
only, are employed and the children
are constantly under their superyi-
sion. School attendance is in accord
ance with law and the first eight
grades are taught.
Dinner was served while the writer
was making the rounds and he had an
opportunity TO observe the decorum
of the meal and sample the food. He
found each very satisfactory. Boiled
fresh beef with gravy, potatoes, stew
ed tomatoes, pickles, bread and water,
were served. Each child was given
his fill. The tables were covered with
neat cloths, and each child used a
napkin.
If there is such thing as painful
cleanliness. " 1T prevails in the insti-
tuition today.
The writer asked Mrs. Work whence
the ITO odd children came, and learn
ed that representatives were present