The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-27
IS BEST OF ALL
Fine Showing of the BelOit In
dustrial School.
The 200 Girl Inmates Are
Obedient and C0ntented.
Is NEVER A RUNAWAY.
Mrs. Perry, the Superintendent,
Has Excellent Control.
In Report Urges the State to
Buy More Land.


Beloit, Dec. 27-Of all the state in
stitutions under control of the state
board of control. Governor Hoch be-
lieves the State Industrial School for
Girls. located in Beloit. is the model
| institution. Mrs. Julia B. Perry, the
superintendent, has recently dis
tributed the ninth biennial report of
this institution, and to all who are in
terested she will be glad to furnish
the report, that they may see for
themselves the manner In which it is
conducted, and note the progress the
girls are making. 1t is said that no
superintendent heretofore has had so
complete control over the girls, and at
the same time given so general salts
faction, as has Mrs. Perry. That the
government of the girls is the best,
and that they are entirely satisfied,
one only need to point to the fact that
There hasn't been a runaway in the
last4fQur years. It is a praiseworthy
| fact that of, the 200 girls and more
! who find a home here in this institu-
ltion the most pleasant and cordial
relations exist with the girls toward
the superintendent. and SO far as any
one knows there hasn't been a jar or
a grievance made against Mrs. Perry
in the manner in which she so rigidly,
and at the same time so ably, con
ducts this institution.
In her report, the superintendent
says: For some time, the possibility
and advisability of divorcing the
eleemosynary institutions of the state
from politics has been under much
discussion. Perhaps no one has real
lied the necessity of this SO much as
the superintendents of the various in
sttutfons. 1t is not natural for politi-
Eciaps to rob themselves of political
patronage, even If the best things are
pot accomplished for the wards of the
state. Yet in Kansas as we'll as in
other states, there are men who are
informed and enough interested in
their respective state institutions to lay
aside all selfish motives and lend their
influence to bring about the best con-
ditions. In other states where civil
service has been adopted and enforced
the results have been highly crafty
ing The more one studies the means
of retaining hayward girls, the more
one IS convinced that it is necessary
to use the best methods. When the
public considers that industrial schools
are educational institutions and that
they are training places for boys and
girls that the public schools and par
ents have failed to reach, they can
readily see the Importance OF having
strong characters brought in touch
with every phase of the work The.
persons employed to train our girls
who fill these places should be those
who have made study of child
nature; persons who are sympathetic
yet not weak ana SenI1n entail. persons
who are cheerful, yet not foolish; per-
sons who are qualified in the highest
degree to give the best service in their
various departments. No one save
the individual who realizes the neces-
sity of all these requirements is able
to choose nor should be allowed TO
place officers in positions where such
serious results may follow an in
]udlelous choice, or such good results
wise choice
The superintendent goes on to say:
Since our institution should be made
home in the truest and highest
sense; since it is a place where vari-
GUS industries should be taught; since
it should. be an educational institution
in the hroadest and truest sense.
would advise that the name be
changed !. to the Kansas Training
The. people of Beloit are proud of
the fact that this institution was To-
Gated in their town, and they are Civ |
ing 1t all the assistance possible. The |
tract Of land on which 1t is located |
was donated to the state by the city |
of Beloit. Mrs. Perry, in her report |
urges the legislature this winter to /
appropriate sum large enough to
purchase 100 acres of ground. There
is need, too, of a hospital storeroom
separate from the buildings, is also a
necessity.
Horticulture and dairying is an in
dustry- recently added to the institu-
tion, of which the girls are greatly I
interested In the work
The many industries in the institu-
ton are in fine condition. In the sew
eraI departme nts the work is so sys-
tematicaily arranged that it does not /
interfere with the work in the school
room. Domestic economy, music, /
stenography, decorative art and the
sewing room are all carefully taught
by the able corps of teachers. The
schools are in session every month in
the year. and only experienced teach
ers are employed. In January, 1905,
the first years work in high school
was introduced. with great success.
The several teachers who have the
work in charge are: Music depart
ment, Miss Arletta Rinehard; do
nestle science, Miss Florence Richie;
decorative art. Miss Zella Blanger;
stenography. Miss Clara Porter; sew
ing room, Miss Clara Myers. Their
reports accompany the report of the
superintendent, all OF which go to
show that the Industrial School for
Girls is in a most prosperous and
pleasing condition. In the sewing
room alone, in the last year there
were 1854 garments made, and more
than 5000 mended.
The resident officers of the institu-
ton are: superintendent, Mrs Julia
ron, Mrs. Clara Baird; physician, DR.
F. b. Home. To these officers, to-
eether with the several teachers, Is
due the successful management of the