Gilpin observer., 1906-02-15
FOR GIRLS
REFORMS IN COLORADO STATE IN
DUsTRIAL SCHOOL.
HOPE TO END OUTBREAKS
New Set of Rules Adopted-Superin-
tendent Given Large Authority
Committees Of Employment and
Recreation,

VI 6HIPIoyuCut etfO
Recreation.
Denver.-f the new set of rules
drawn up by the board of control of
the State Industrial School for Girls
at its last regular meeting rs strictly
adhered to, it is hoped that trouble at
the institution will soon be thing of
the past and the school will become
credit to Colorado. The rules, accord
ing to the records, are the only formal
written ones ever adopted, and by pro-
viding remedies for all the evils that
have affected the institution so long,
supply many much-needed reforms.
The most important of the reforms
set forth are those relating to the en-
ployment and recreation of the girls.
Among the eight committees provided
is a committee of employment, whose
duty is to devise ways and means of
properly keeping the inmates en-
ployed, especial attention being given
to the domestic industries and all
branches Of housework. To a COM
mittee of recreation the planning of
healthful pleasures for the girls when
they are finished with their daily tasks
Is entrusted.
Another committee is called the
vi WHICH lS 10 SEE
that vegetables are planted in season
on the grounds of the home, and a
farmer employed to cultivate them
The instruction of the girls is given
over to the committee on education
and all paroled cases comes under the
supervision of the committee on pa
roles, which is supposed to keep in
touch with all inmates who leave the
school on parole.
Exclusive management over the af-
fairs of the institution and authority
over the employees is given to the SUI
perintendent. To her also is commit
ted exclusive charge of all matters re-
quiring discipline, but a safeguard
against any arbitrary or tyrannical ac-
ton on her part is provided for in
section which states that she must
make specific reports to the board of
control of all cases requiring excep-
tional punishment or physical re-
straint." According to the rules, it is
the duty of the board to uphold the su-
perintendent in her management and
If she acts contrary to the wishes of
the majority of the board she must be
advised, and if she does not then con-
form to its orders, she shall be dis
missed. One of the duties of the su-
perintendent, expressly stated, is to
know that the eatables given are of
good quality, sufficient in quantity and
we'll cooked. She must also see that
every inmate is kept busy and is given
a thorough common school education
and training, particularly along lines
that will lead to making her self-sup-
porting. She must also send monthly
| reports concerning the temperament
and tendencies of every new inmate
AMI thereafter report monthly with re-
spect to her opinion OF the girls pros
poets of improvement in character.
Each girl on her admission Is to be
examined by physician appointed by
the board. Religious instruction is not
made compulsory. Religious instruc-
tion may be given girls on Sunday by
clergy Of any religious denomination"
is the way the regulation reads.
The part of the new rules considered
the most important by the members of
the board themselves is that dealing
with paroles. No parole, it is provided,
| will be permitted by the board unless,
in its opinion, the girl in question has,
since her confinement in the school,
become so reformed that a parole ID
warranted.
Another section reads as follows:
mo girl will either be permitted to
leave the institution within eighteen
months of admission or be paroled at
any time or go home or return to the
environments from which she was
| committed to the school, excepting for
very exceptional reasons" Paroled
| girls who are supplied with places OF
employment must entrust to the super
| intendent all their earnings except 81
: uaals n ha Kant for Snandinp
II any girl escapes from the place to
which she is paroled she forfeits to
| the state part of this reserve fund and
must indemnify the state for the ex.
pense caused by searching for her.
During the agitation aroused by the
serious outbreak in the school last
summer the methods in vogue at other
| industrial schools in the country were
| frequently quoted by those not in ac.
| cord with the manner in which the
state school was being conducted. The
custom at some places of rewarding
the wayward girls for good behavior
was particularly commended.
This is one of the innovations that
Is going to be tried by the present
board of control of Colorados irstitu
tion. The daily behavior of each girl
is TO be marked according to merits
or demerits. The superintendent is
made the sole sldge of the marks and
must advise each girl ut least once
a month of her standing
| Undue criticism of the board OF con-
troll as whole by the actions of any
one of its members is warded off by
| this section: Members of the board
of control are not permitted to discrim-
mate or take special interest individu-
ally in any girl or girls and are hereby
prohibited from receiving in their
charge any girl or girls on parole"
| Members are also prohibited from
making promises to the inmates and
from incautiously or indiscreetly con.
versing with them.