The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-06
Farmers in Kansas Furnish Few
Boys for State School.
One-Third of the Pupils There
Are Negroes.
TAUGHT TO DO THINGS
Special Effort Being Made to
Introduce Manual Training.
Superintendent Charles Having
Success With Reform.

DIR. Herbert L. Alkire is holding a
series of clinics at the Boys Industrial
school north of Topeka. He is work.
Ing in cooperation with H. w.
Charles, superintendent of the institu-
ton, to make a systematic record of
the deficiencies in the eyes. ears,
noses and Threats of the pupils. Such
physical lackings often accompany
mental and moral shortcomings, ac-
cording to Mr.. Charles theory. 1t is
his plan to remedy the latter partly
by effecting cure of the former af-
ter the boys who are so afflicted have
been located.
Accordingly the doctor and a class
of students will examine the boys
every Tuesday and Thursday after
noon until every one has come under
their observation. From six to ten
are examined on those days in a room
fitted up for the purpose in the gym
nasium building.
boys in the school. AS there are
$4,000 boys of school age in Kansas
this means that there are less than
one in one thousand in this institu
ton. In other states the percentage
is much larger. In the school here
the larger cities. One-third of them
are negroes.
However, no distinction is made in
the treatment of the members of
school, unless it is absolutely neces-
sary, no reference is ever made to
cause for which he was sent. Mr..
Charles and his assistants convey at
all times the idea that the youths are
there mainly to learn good citizen
ship and how to make a living hon
estly when they leave.
Rows learn the Trades
With this idea in mind Mr.. Charles
has built up a manual training and
Industrial department, which includes
courses in joinery, carpentering, tail
oring. printing, gardening and dairy
ing, besides instruction in baking and
the shoemakers trade.
This is turned into practical and
economical use. While learning the
trades mentioned. the boys do consid
cradle of the carpenter work reces-
own shoes and uniforms, do a great
deal of the baking, dairying and
farming, and also print many of the
blanks used in the schools correspon-
dence. A monthly magazine, 1.-The
Boys Chronicle" is also issued by the
printing plant. This department, of
course, employs those who have had
the best education before entering the
school However. a system of in
struction which comprises work from
been established, for the most part
since Mr.. Charles has been in charge
of the institution. The studies are
arranged very similar to those of the
regular graded schools under the
charge of interested and efficient
teachers.
And the body as we'll as the mind
is looked after. A room in one of the
buildings IS equipped as a gymnasium.
Enjoy the Gymnasium
Do the majority of the boys enjoy
this part of their life there? Well; if
you saw the zest with which they per-
formed all sort of flip-flops. and
tumbled over the mats in obedience
to the instructors suggestions, you
would think that they did. The gym
nasium work is made regular feat
ure of their course, and the lads seem
to take especial pride in doing their
stunts we'll And if you think that
such feats do not require exercise of
will power and thinking machinery.
just try a few of them yourself any