The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-07-05
Former teacher Volunteers Impressions
About Conduct of Industrial School

can give little besides impressions as
was not in a position to obtain many
facts. but If the honest convictions OF an
unbiased person will be of any use TO
you, | am only too glad to make them
the four higher grades In the boys de-
partment from January 1908, and while
there was firmly convinced that the in
stitution was not fulfilling its duty TO
the inmates. As TO the physical sur
roundings OF the boys, l cann1 say much
From my school room window I often
watched operations In the serving room
The food looked cheap and unappettzing
and the noon meal the only one ! saw
was said TO be far ahead OF breakfast
and supper. visited the wards and OBJ
served that the bedding was dirty and
the cots old and uncomfortable, The
school room was miserably ventilated
poorly seated and greatly crowded. There
were fifty boys, many OF them men In
size, crowded into one small room halt
OF them in double seats with aisies
been done to make the room attractive
While | had reasons TO believe that the
boys were not cared Tor physlc2lly: l
moral improvement and that because Of
the low morals OF the officers. The lat
ter were with one or two exceptions;
In appearance than many OF the boys.
| ate my noon meal al the officers ta-
Bile mot then being familiar with the san
ltation of the kitchen), for several weeks,
and so became quite we'll acquainted with
their attitude towards the boys; With
the exception OF two, of your Witnesses:
never heard an officer speak kindly OF
n boy. They usually refer TO them as
"darncd kids and often addressed them
In those endearing terms. The officers L
believe understood where my sympathy
lay, and therefore controlled themselves
to some extent when ! was about. How
ever l often overheard them using tones
and language which no gentlman would
ever use.
Upon one occasion l saw an officer
strike boy In the face in the most in
ts,,,r 1
observe al first hand the effect which
the personality OF the superintendent has
into the office because ! desired TO have
| him rcprimanded in kind and fatherly
way" as the superntedent htd informed
me that he had always administered his
colorlcss and his teeth chartered through
out the Interview Notwithstanding that |
ished. The talk to the puaklng lad was
devoid OF point and effectiveness. but !
had my convictions confirmed as to that
kind OF fatherly attitude
| | had reason 10 believe that the off,
| GERS used tobacco. for the smoke often
came through the open windows. In gen
| cral 7 know the officers to be men fully
| incapable of inspiring wayward boys 10
lead good lives, they know so little of
goodness themselves | had little first
| hand knowledge of the punishment In
| flicted. but believe the penalties TO be out
Of ali proportion TO the offense, | know
OF one boy, cripple. who was deprived
kept in the cell for two weeks, his offense
| being the writing OF note. In addition
| to these punishmcnts. either of which
| was sufficient / had II from good author
| ity that he was beaten by two officers.
| / read the boys note. II was very i'm
moral but If teacher had Inflicted half
| the torture mctcd out 10 that cripple lad,
| he would have been ousted from his posi-
| tion and have lost caste In his commun-
et!ucatlonal work OF the institution.
| though 10 visitors the contrary might
| seem true No work had ever been given
above the ffth grade until January. 1908.
although there were many boys who mao
| completed higher grades. | found the
| BOYS for the most part bright capable
and willing TO do fair amount of work.
but under the present system they cannot
| he properly instructed. Having been out
| OF school some Of them for several years,
| they need @ great deal of Individual at
| tcntion and that cannot be given TO each
! of fiftY BOYS in four hours. the timu de-
voted 10 school work. Moreover the sal
| arv paid was not such as would TEMPT =
| compntent teacher to remain long, But !
| believe that what the boys of the state
| Industrial school are suffering for, is not
| examples and influence or real men. not
men in appearance only, but Intelligent
! broad ndnd. sympathetic men. As long
ee the institution commands none SUCH
r. cannot but fall Of its object There is
mo personal element In anything that ]
rove written. ] was treated with courtesy
,Lrouohout nv stay. am writing because
~ lie Sthc boys and feel trnlt they are not
getting a square deal. nor ever Will un-
dor The present management Yours re-
spee''''''' STELLA HIBBARD.