Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-05-05
FRESH START FOR BAD BOYS
New York Trying farming to Cure Juven-
lie DslinqusntS.
SCHOOL IN OPERATION NEAR ROCHESTER
Boys Divided TIP Into small IndeDend-
ent Colonies and the Prison
idea ~ Entirely
ELIMINATED.


ester the state OF New York Is trying
new plan for dealing with bad boys. This
is the site OF the new State Agricultural
and Industrial school, 70 which Juvenile de-
linouents between the ages OF and Is are
committed.
The school in this city, which was for
nerly called the State Industrial school,
has not yet been abandoned, as all the
cottages at the new site have not been
completed. About 300 boys are now lv-
ing at the new site and 1t is expected that
the remaining 200 will be sent there in the
course OF a month.
The new school and the general plan OF
operation represent in the highest degree
the advanced views Of those who have
mado n study of the ills Of juvenile dein-
ouency. There Is not another institution
Just like II anywhere.
II is such an institution as is now pro
posed 20 take the place OF Randall's Island
for the offending boys of the eastern end
OF the state. Realizing that in perhaps a
majority Of cases the boys themselves are
not really to blame for their condition, the
object has been to eliminate entirely the
prison idea from the school. The boys are
to have a chance to make a fair, fresh
start IN life.
Fifty-EIght Years Old.
The State Industrial school in Rochester
was opened to receive boys in 1919. 1t was
known for many years as the Western
House Of Refuge, but as the nature Of it's
Informative system was altered. a change
in title was also made, the new one more
clearly representing the character of the
work done
The old school In Rochester occupies a
tract Of twelve acres. enclosed by stone
wall twenty feet high. That barrier was
the limit Of vision for any youngster COM
mitted to the school. Within that en-
closure from 800 to 800 boys at time have
been confined for periods varying from
few months to several years. 1t was
prison for them, no matter how the state
might look at II. They were subjected to
close surveillance twenty-four hours a day.
A military system was in force to de-
velop them physically and teach them
obedience, order and proper care of them
selves and their belongings. system
Of manual training and trade instruction
was provided. Their religious as we'll as
their secular education was looked after
Yet many OF the boys went forth from
these surroundings with no incentive to
lead honest lives or to become good cIti-
Gems.
Conditions Mt New Schools
The conditions at the new school are very
different The site is on the eastern bank
OF the river, in the town Of Rush, in the
fertile valley Of the Genesee
The school Is on the cottage plan. the
homes Of the boys being dotted over thu
beautiful rolling uplands, and there they
are living in all the freedom and enjoy
nent OF country life. There is no forbid
ding gray stone wall here to cast q gloom
into the souls of the boys; in all directions,
as far as they can see, there is nothing
but smiling valleys and beautiful hills
At the city institution all buildings az
cregating about thirteen acres of floor
space, were situated within ne walled en-
closure. At the new institution the build
ings for the accommodation of the boys
are scattered over the property, the cot
tages at the two extremes being two and a
half miles distant from each other.
At the city school as many as 2S5 boys
have lived in building $50 feet long and
forty-two feet wide, and their work and
recreation have been confined within the
limits Of space 200 feet by 400 feet At
Rush farm only twenty-five boys live
In cottage and each cottage is at
minimum distance Of 400 feet from every
other cottage. In many instances the dis
lance that separates cottages is not less
than 1000 feet.
At the city school the boys have lived
In four great groups, arranged according
TO age and character. At the new school
they live in at least twenty-five groups.
Division OF Labor.
The whole tract is di<lded into farms
each group having its own cottage which
Is entirely separate and distinct from
every other cottage. matron and a
supervisor are in charge of each cottage
Each farm has its own horses. cattle
shsep' swine and poultry. and already il
has been noticed that the care of IN,
stock exercises beneficial influence upor
the character of the boys.
The new school differs in many resueot,
from other cottage plan Institutions. In
other institutions the cottages are closer
together The food is usually cooked II
central Kitchen then distributed by car
or wagon.
The boys living in one cottage are as
signed to shops or squads with the bov,
OF other groups. The same rule is followed
In the school work, All the farm stool
IL housed In a central barn and assoeiatet
buildings and only small proportion O
the boys have the privilege of caring 70
this stock
Experience has shown that II is unwis.
TO allow the groups to intermingle. At IN,
new school the general plan embraces tU,
distinct sets Of colonies farm ana indus
trial
The tract OF land is nearly three and
half miles In length. Near the center is IN
industrial building. where provision 1
made for laundering, blacksmithing, paint
ms carpentry masonry, printing. tailor
ms. shoemalipg, etc. Near this there ar
grist mill, creamery. fruit evaporator
cold storage plant bakery and storeroou
and remote from all the other buildings 1
slaughter house.
All OF these buildings have NOT bee,
finished. but they viii be when the presen
legislature makes another appropriation 10
the work. About the industrial buildin
are the cottages in which live the bow
who work there. The tougher, less hons
fui boys are assigned to this building
Freedom for Boys.
The farm colonies are located on eitbe
side OF the Industrial colonies. To each
assigned the cultivation OF u farm Of a
least hfty acres. The boys have the Ereai
est freedom. They may not leave theI
own farm without permission, but With
the limits Of that farm they go and com
as do boys At home.