Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-10
REFORM SCHOOL.
AnnuaIlReport Of Trustees and
Resident Officers.
Boys in School Now Number Five
More Than Last Year.
Council Visiting Committee Makes
Council Visiting Committee Makes
Comprehensive Statement.


officers. |
The report of the trustees show that !
the whole number of boys received
since the school was opened is PAST. The
number in the school Dec l, 1901. was
141; committed the past year, AZ; pre-
viously out on leave. returned, 10;
eloped, L; total, 1874 in school during
the year. Allowed to go on trial, 20;
discharged, 90; died, 2; eloped, 2; il
legally committed, l; remaining Dec.
l, 1902, 146.
The receipts for the year 1901 ag
gregated $2S,65S.09 The balance on hand
Nov. 80. 1902, was $2765, showing that
the expenses for the year aggregated
SIS. 631.44.
The estimates for the year 1903 in
cludes two cottages to cost $4,000 and
for 1904 the same sum is asked for,
thus making a total of $4,000 for the
two years for additional cottages. In
addition, the trustees recommend
total of $4,000 for the two years for
current expenses, repairs and the like.
The visiting committee of the ex-
ecutive council submits the following
report:
| To the Honorable Governor and Coun-
| ell:
| We desire again to urge the necessity
| of radical improvement and changes in
| the Reform school. This institution
| deals with Il large number of the youth
| of the State, and should, it seems to us,
be generously provided for by the
State, so that it shall be enabled to
reach the very best results in the train
ing of the boys who come to it under
the laws of the State. There have
been great strides taken by the insti-
tuition since the central building was
first erected designed as it was on the
theory that the Reform school was
prison for youthful criminals
This theory has long since, in large
degree. given way to a more enlight-
ened policy and the training of the
) boys intellectually, morally and in the
requirement of some useful trade or
occupation, is now the main object
sought. To change the course of the
boys thought and life and to equip
him with some useful occupation, rath-
er than to punish him, is what the
State seeks to accomplish. The OBJ
iect is a most important one. Not only
to the State, but to the boys involved,
and no narrow treatment by the State
of such an institution, can, in our
opinion be justified.
Some years ago, the State deter
mined to change the old and worse
method, for a new and better method
in the management of this institution.
For this purpose, two cottages have
been built by the State, in which it is
| t0 WI cal
there be taken care of, with something
of the influences of a real home, influ-
ences which most of them have never
had the advantage of, and all of them
most lamentably need. The building
of these two cottages was "a start in the
right direction but their capacity is
sufficient for hardly more than one
half of the boys now in the institution,
the other half having to be cared for
in the old central building. The result
of this is a manifest unfairness, as be-
tween the boys themselves, and an un-
systematic and uneconomical manage
ment of the institution in behalf of the
State. AS stated by the trustees in
their report, it is absolutely essential
and imperative, if this institution is to
do it's best work for the State, and only
! its best work justities its existence.
lanything less is discredit to the State,
it should be at once provided with two
new cottages, so that all the boys can
have the benefit of a cottage life, and
all boys equally deserving have equal
advantages in the institution. To
your committee, it seemed highly I'M
wise for the State to do part of this
work and leave the rest undone. To
build one cottage would not enable the
officers of the institution to take all
its boys out of the old building, and
there would still continue the neces-
sity of running the two systems, as it
exists at present, but with an increased
lack of economy. If the cottages are
built, there should also be a sufficient
| appropriation to practically entirely
remodel inside the central building, in
which, should be grouped all the school
| rooms, making it possible to properly
grade the schools: the work rooms for
the boys; their public assembly room:
their library and rooms for the officers
of the institution. so that its affairs
can be conducted in ii modern, system
attic method. If the cottages are built.
and the main building remains for a
| number of years untouched, its proper
use must for so long be lost to the
| State, ana the systematic management
of the institution be unattained It's
seems important to your committee,
that I, comprehensive plan be deter
| mined upon in accordance with which
| the future enlargement of this insti-
| tuition shall be made. In this way. it
will be possible to avoid putting build
| ings in the wrong places, involving the
State in large expense to subsequently
remove Them and the best results can
thus also be obtained in the lighting
and heating of the various buildings
from the central power plant already
established. The new cottages if built,
are in the nature of modern and per-
manent Improvement. and care should
be taken that they are properly located
in accordance with some general plan.
The barn of the institution. in the
opini III of your committee. should be
immediately moved, in order to pro-
vide for the proper location of the
cottages Tie barn at best. is an old