Evening journal., 1910-02-11
FERRIS SCHOOL
CHARGES NOT
SUSTAINED

-ytathteeu ftDih fAnt use
before commitment been SO difficult to
manage that their parents or guardians
hAvs given up the Job and then had them
committed for ineorriHibility
II IN this class Of boys therefore
that the managers and officers are
called upon 10 instruot--to care for
to discipline when neceauary---to teach
habits OF industry and most important
OF all 10 return them 70 tho community
which has placed them under restraint
better equipped TO grow into good cit
iKens. We believe that in some indi-
vidual cases brought out by this evil
dence punishment was not innictedin
an entirely judicial spirit and had not
suficientiy in view the main object
which all punishment should have 80
that 10 reformation.
But we do not find that the charge
Of excessive cruelty in sustained as II
was specified in Mr.. Handys letter to
Mr.. Lea. II is our belief that personal
study OF the individual characters OF
the different boys, and following that
study. an earnest effort TO draw out the
best there Is in boy will often be
effective and minimize corporal pun
ishment
We must not forget that many OF
these boys are mentally OF physically
not up to the average standard, either
by the misfortune OF birth or Of bad
surroundings or both. But there is a
large proportion who have elements of
good in their natures and II these can
be developed and encouraged in the
beautiful and healthful conditions Of
their stay at the school there is no rea-
son that they should become undesir-
able citizens. 1t seems to us that near
ly all OF the younger boys committed
are capable OF very great improvement
in every way, but we believe that the
boys who are older when they are sent
TO us and less susceptible 10
the good influences which are
thrown around them have an un-
duly bad influence upon the younger boys.
Under the present conditions at the school
we cannot separate as fully as they shou d
be, the younger from the older boys but II
is possible to make most Of them feel that
we are their friends and both willing and
anxious to help them. The attitude OF
thinking men and women toward the class
which is called undesirable citiens-that
is tho class which breaks the laws and
conventions, which are necessary in any
community has changed greatly in the
past few years.
Public spirited citizens are giving more
10 the reformation and upbuiding OF this
class than 10 exacting from them a pun
ishment for their msdeeds from a desire
to execute vengeance. It is our belief that
we should have this idea constantly IN
view and while physical restraint and
punishment are often necessary they
should be used to prevent future Grim,
and not merely as a penalty for past crime
We have a great opportunity at th'
Ferris School for a practical application
OF the best principles for handling thes'
backward or wayward boys and our re
sponsibility is correspondlngly great.
In furtherance OF this aim we know tn
managers will welcome suggestions 70
the betterment OF the school from all IN
terested persons when such suggestion
are made to them with this object Il
view.
In conclusion your committee wouli
report that we do not find the charge
made by Mr.. Handy in this letter Z
Mr.. Lea sufficiently sustained by tn
influence brought before us.
We do believe. however, that tn
usefulness Of the school viii be in
creased and large proportion Of tn
boys returned to the community II
line to make good citizens II create
effort is made to draw out the best i'm
pulses Of each individual boy.
This Is a difficult problem but OIL
usefulness TO the school will be great
ly increased, IL managers and officer
fully recognize that this should be thei
paramount endeavor.
Preston Lea,
r. Allen Hilles,
Lindley c. Kent.