Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-27
INSTITUTION WHERE BAD
BOYS ARE MADE GOOD
Waits of New York Gathered at the Westchestel
PrOtectory Are Cared for and Taught Useful
Trades-PrOvsion Made for Their Future

things worth while, is the superlative
need for this class of urchins and year
of IL Is not too much Five or six years
of 1t would probably ruin the boy TOT
life by making him an automauon.
year Of IL may be the making OF him
and. In some cases, two years OF IL may
not be too much.
Whenever I go among people who
have made a study of delinquent child
hood I find substantial unanimity OF
sentiment on this one point; Lads must
not be kept In institutions too long.
one year of service will do boy more
good than two years, and hVe years OF
institutional life may ruin him. This
is fact that does not seem to nave
soaked into the philosophy of the man
ayers Of California Institutions, much
to the detriment Of such institutions, as
I believe. The Catholic protectory at
Westchester understands this, and Tor
that reason the congregate system Is
justihable in their case.
Under Women's Care
There are some 900 girls in one de-
partment of this institution, in the care
of sisters of charity. besides 200 boys
under 10 years. think this a good ar
rangement and one that L wish were
more closely followed In Calltornls
orphanages, where, in my opinion. boys
are sometimes turned over to the care
of men too early. When the voice.
changing period begins is soon enough
for the gentle mnistrations of wornan-
hood to go out of boys life.
The Christian Brothers are in charge
of the institution and seventy-iive OF
them are devoting their lives 10 the
lads. During the life Of the institution
nearly 10000 children have passed
through this training. OF these 80 per
cent have gone back to their own peo-
pie, and homes have been found for
20 per cent wherever they can DC
placed to advantage. 1t has been q
great and unselfish work anu' as IL
seems to me, well done.
The farm of 154 acres and the build
ings represent cash outlay of $l5oo,-
COO. all the results Of private subscrip-
tions. The land itself is coming to pc
worth nearly as much as this cash out
lay and the time may come When tnere
will have to be removal TO announcer
site farther from the encroaching CITY,
but there will be an immense waste
of buildings when that day comes.
Looking for Farm
Meantime the managers are looking
to the country for suitable farm for
lads who would be better OH on
farm than in a shop, something similar
perhaps to what Father Crowley or
San Francisco is establishing at Ruth
erford.
found manual training given
good place in the course of instruction
at the protectory, but I think mis-
take has been made in substituting,
too radically, other forms for the sioyd
models. I believe IN Americanizing
sloyd, but not in substituting hap
hazard lot of models for the Swedish
system. This has been done at the
Catholic protectory at Westchester
and this constitutes almost the only
criticism 1 have to make on the in-
stitution--always bearing in mind that
the stay of the child in congregate
institution of this character is, unless
in exceptional cases, to be one year or
less than one year. After being rough
broken, as they say of western range
horses, it is best for boys to do smaller
team work and, if possible, to require
them to trot in single harness, but with
steady hand a-hold of the reins.
r TISRTTRY.