The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-09
REPORT OF REFORM
SCROOLCOMMIT TEE

; At the close OF the Investigation of
the charges of incompetency against
Superintendent II, II Thomas Of the
State Industrial school last week
Chairman Harry Joseph of the inves-
tigatIng committee invited the citi-
zens' committee. who furnished the
charges against superintendent Thorn
as to visit the institution and make
such suggestions as we're deemed
/ proper TO the committee for the recti-
! fication of conditions at the reforma-
I tory The committee, which is COM
, posed OF Mrs, J. NJ Bishop. Mrs. Kate
S. Hilliard and Rev. Noble Strong
Elderkin. have visited the school and
after a thorough inspection of every
) department have formulated a report
submitting certain recommendations,
! A copy OF the report follows:
Ogden, Otah. July 3, 1909
To the Hon. Harry Joseph, President
Board OF Trustees. State Industrial
School, Utah
Sir. In compliance with your re-
quest the undersigned visited the
school on the afternoon of June 80 and
herewith report said visit, together
with suggestions asked for;
In general We found a lack OF Sys-
! tem neatneSs and cleanliness through
out, excepting the printing Office, IL
brary and SupcTintendent's apart
ments. The impression OF the whole
is OF a badly conducted 15-cent lodg-
ing house We mention specific IL
lustrations: The Soiled, defaccd and
grimy walls and broken plaster OF the
dormitories In both buildings. A
coat OF calcimine is needed throughout
halls, closets, pantry and kitchen,
nearly all bedsteads are in need of en-
amel. no beds are properly made i'm
boys dormitory. The hospital or sick
room in main building Is a disgrace
enough to drive to despair or suicide
an invalid Of any refinement. 1t Is
probable that not many inmates come
from homes of refinement. but 1t is
the duty of the state TO teach the ele-
ments or essentials Of decent living.
To do this requires that those in
charge shall know and care for the
real refinements Of life In this con-
nection We suggest that you inquire
into the standing of Mrs. Colvin. t1e
regularly employed school nurse. We
submit that no woman who habitu-
ally uses Drofanc and foul language.
and who lives in the surroundings In
which member of this committee
found Mrs Colvin, Is fit to have charge
of the sick All old residents OF 0g
den City know of Mrs. Colvins abso-
lutte unftness for the position
Throughout the main building de-
fective plumbing was noticed; a trail
of ill-smelling suds from the laundry
pipes was noticed; water standing on
floors in boys toilet and various other
places. The plunge room was too hot
for possible use. even il steam BATH
were desired, probably from the same
reason that the school room. during
the investigation, was kept as hot as
steam could make it. because of the
inability to shut off heat without re-
moving radiators. Speaking of the
plunge room. it was noticed that the
only provision for shower bath is
such as lets the water from the shower
run directly back into the plunge pool
The reason for the usual arrangement
for shower outside the pool and the
mandatory requirement for shower
bath before entering the plunge is
obvious. We recommend a change
The cook made excuse for filthy
bins, shelves and drawers for the
reason that a man from the outside
was treating for cock reaches: the
innrmerable dead reaches we're proof
of the good quality OF the powder, but
also strong evidence Of the usual lack
of cleanliness We do not think the
omission of one daily scrubbing could
account for the condition of the kitch-
en-, and the fact that a number of
boys dirty hats reposed In the midst
of the cooking tins seemed 10 have
no legitimate excuse, OH cloth for
kitchen shelves would be an improve
ment over the bare. mice-gnawed and
unclean pine boards, We also suggest
the the cook be sent To visit the
kitchen for the Deaf and Blind school,
or that of the Weber academy. or Of
any well conducted kitchen. We can
not understand why, because he cooks
for reform school boys. the kitchen
should be less clean that the above
mentioned kitchens. particularly as he
has an ample detail Of boys to help
clean. We feel. however, that the real
blame here as elsewhere attaches to
tho general supervision.
We visited the cells and were ap-
palled TO find them but six feet by
seven feet, with one narrow wooden
bunk, when we recalled that four boys
We're confined in one cell. We were
glad To find that the two new under
ground cells, begun while DR.. Conroy
was president Of the board, Dad not
been completed but are used as store
rooms; but we condemn the storing
of flour In damp basement In the
girls cottage the room where the flour
was kept was decidedly musty. Some
water was on the floor of cell In the
girls cottage. even at this season
We hear good deal OF the Whit
tier school Miss Dale might have
told that the girls rooms at the Whit
tier arc things of beauty, each with its