Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-28
Annual Report Of State
School for Boys,
Conditions at Names Reform
atory Institution Satisfactory.
Election Called for Ships Company ,
Naval Reserve, March 4.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Thursday, April 2, at 10 A. M.

The annual reports of the trustees.
superintendent, treasurer and teachers
of the State School for Boys at South
Portland were submitted to the Gov
ernor and Council Thursday. The num-
Der of boys in the school at present is
1873, one less than in 1906; 43 boys are
out on leave or indenture, and five es-
capped during the year. The discipline
of the school for the past year has been
excellent. With the exception of one
isolated case of diphtheria, in which
there was a good recovery, the school
has been practically free from conta-
gious diseases and the health of the
inmates as a whole has been good.
Thirty-nine different boys were COM
mitted during the year and 43 were al
lowed to leave on trial. Commitments
were made for the following offences:
Larceny. 20; truancy, four; common
runa way, two; assault and battery,
two; malicious mischief. one; intoXica-
ton, one. Commitments by counties
were as follows: Ardrqscosgin, two;
Aroostook, two; Cumberland, 10:
Franklin, one; kCnnebec, three; Knox,
one; Lincoln, one; Oxford, three; PEN
oracot, seven; Somerset. one; Waldo.
two: Washington, two; York, four. OF
the above commitments 81 were ma
tives of Maine. The ages of the boys
committed ranged from eight to 10
years. Some interesting facts connect
cd with the moral condition of the boys
arc As follows: Thirteen had intcnl-
perate parents; six had lost their
tatner and II had lost their mother; IL
had relatives in prison; five had step
,yarents; u were idle: 81 were much
neglected.; 80 were truants: q were
Sabbath breakers; SO were untruthful;
20 were profane.
The annual report of f. p. Went
worth, superintendent of the school.
says in part:
The general progress of the boys dur
ing the year has been gratifying. The
change from a congregate to a cottage
school has revolutioniZed the spirit as
well as the plan of the institution In
the building of character, repression
may be necessary at certain times and
places. but it's method is destructive
rather than constructive. 1t may COM
pei present obedience and secure pres
ent safety, but it cannot inspire the
nedTt, Will Iplty purposes iio' Si'e''N
impelling motives for right action. In
the earlier days of this school barred
windows ard walled Fairgrounds
may have been absolutely necessary,
but they are so no longer, and their
abolition has greatly benefited the
school and largely increased its use
fulness.
Cottage life allows more freedom,
more spontaneity, more opportunity OF
individual self-eXpression. Moral char
acter is developed by expression. not
repression 1t is true that this greater
liberty affords greater opportunity Tor
misconduct, yet it is far better to SUI
fer any occasional lapse from right
than it is TO deprive the great majority
of the boys of the inestimable prlvi-
legc of battling against temptation.
against conditions specially designed
to assist them in achieving moral VIC
tories. Strength comes from THIS IN
ward conflict.
"Furthcrmorc, our experience here
demonstrates that while the larger
freedom allowed has greatly increased
the opportunities for misconduct, IL
has at the same time greatly reduced
the actual amount of transgreSSion
The physical restraint of bolts ana
bars is rot to be compared with the
restraint exercised by conscience.
when received into the institution,
the bows are assigned to their cottage
homes, where the master, matron and
teacher do their best to improve and
develop the lads under their control
So far as practicable. the boys arc
in
character, physical development. etc
Tho bows receive school training under
the teachers of their respective cot
tagcs: industrial and manual training
in the various departments of the
school-the farms, barn. kitchens. tailor
shop. laundry. mechanical school,
shoe shop. etc; religious instruction.
in the daily devotional exercises at the
cottages. and in the chapel services
and Sunday school instruction on the
Sabbath: while the uplifting influence
of the Institution permeates every de-
partment and makes itself felt con-
tinuousiy and constantly.
The play grounds with their sports
and games; military drill, excursions
holiday exercises and entertainments,
etc, all assist in the development OF
the boys. and in their physical anu
moral training. During the summer
months our farm. barn. gardens and
grounds furnish ample opportunity
for the employment of all the boys who
can be spared from their other duties:
indeed, the opportunities greatly ex-
coed the number of boys.
Farm labor is very attractive to
these boys. and it is peculiarly bene-
ricial to them. both physically and
morally. 1t also teaches them an en-
plOymeHt which lies at the foundation
of our Welfare. and by which they can
make a good living when they are
thrown upon their own resources
Many Of our boys go from the school
into the country where they find good
homes and congenial employment amid
surroundings more favorable than
they would be likely to find in the
city. The most of the farm work is
done by boys detailed from the several
cottages under the general oversight
and direction of the farmer