Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-10

buildings. and is highly op-
jectionable from a sanitary point OF
view. In the opinion of the trustees
and your committee it may be moved
to a proper and convenient location at
comparatively small expense.
Your committee would suggest, that
in the central building when remod-
elled. as it should be. more room be
given for manual training, SO that ali
BOYS, showing any aptitude whatever
may have some opportunity to obtain
the advantage of such training. The
boys should be taught, if possible, work
that will be of general utility to them
in after life. At present, much time
is spent by the boys in the anti
uuated institutional occupation OF bot
toming chairs. 1t seems to your COM
mitee that no boy coming out of the in
stitution would be likely ever to be
able to care for himself. as man. by
any such employment. 1t bears toe
many institutional ear-marks to be at
tractive. if it were at all practical as q
means of livelihood.
we nave great NiiStilCi @iiN
method of general farming employed al
the institution is of the highest ad-
vantage to the boys. We are inclined
to think that better results would be
reached if the work upon the farm
could be to some extent specialized
For instance if intelligent and pro-
gressive instruction could be given III
market gardening, or in horticulture
and greenhouse gardening, we think
the general educational effect upon the
bows would be much better, and they
would be taught useful occupation. Ii
would serve as one of the best means
of education to the boys, agreeable
and interesting to most of them, ano
would serve to equip them for an oc-
cupation both honorable and at the
present time lucrative. The value OF
such work is already recognized by the
United States government, and the
department of agriculture is already
undertaking experiments looking
toward general instruction in these
branches. of pupils of public schools
Arrangements are already being made
by Professor Galloway in this line OF
work with the pupils of the Washing
ton Normal school, and the work is re-
ferred to in the current papers, as be-
ing one which fits pupils not only for a
better appreciation, but also for an
actual and remunerative calling.
It further seems to your committee
that it is in line of n progressive and
enlightened policy, which looks both to
the- advantage of the boys trained at
to the State. that so far as possible,
the institution be stripped of its prison
character. With the exception of some
rooms especially adapted for confine-
ment in necessary instances, we would
recommend that the main building and
work rooms be stripped of bars. and
we are of the opinion that this may be
done with no more degree of risk than
attaches to the care of the boys In the
cottages, which are as free from any
sembiance of Il prison, as the home OF
any citizen of the State. The stone
wall of the old prison yard might also,
in our opinion, be put to a more bene-
fetal and elevating purpose as under
pinning to modern cottage, in which
the boys could be taught something of
the value and sentiment of a home,
than by remaining. as at present, a
grim and daily reminder of the boys
that they are regarded and treated as
criminals. Many of the boys in the
school are not natural criminals and
have been guilty of wrong doing only
as result of evil surroundings and
companionship. The best results in
the reformation and elevation of boy
so bred. is not to come from con-
slant reminder of his outlawry, but
rather by impressing upon his mind
that the State is really endeavoring to
assist him by placing him in those
surroundings that constantly speak to
him the truth of such purpose. The
difficulty of obtaining the theoretic re-
suits in such an institution is, of
course. the quality of many of the
boys TO be death with But the saw
ing Of some is better than the punish
rnent of all. and the State that deals
with these subjects upon broader
principles than strict commercialism
is the State. in the end, whose perma-
nent progress is more surely TO be
realized.
In our opinion. it would be an impor-
tant step forward in the progress of
this Institution. if its name could be
to the Maine Home for Boys,
lr some similar name to which should
not attach the old time prejudice that
'ollows the name Reform School. 1t Is
possible in our opinion to re-
lraft the present law governing COM
nitments to the Reform School, in
such a way that a great advantage