The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-06-02

That tse state reform school at Mar
aaIlna' Is wei conducted and the in
mates we'll cared for and nronari,,
sralned, is the statement Of Il II
Sherrbi general secretary of the Y M
=. A., OF this city, who has iu.t -
s1rned from Mariana. Tn fact NJ
anerrlh says, the institution IA 4 modal
1ne' considering the fact that the state
-st. - tio Iol oeen very liberal in it's appro-
etiations' and has made no provision
Ior the education of the inmates ax-
cepLlng what training they car vec,,ra
"a the snops and on the farms thoueh
snose an charge are doing what thev
ean 70 give the boys an education.
nr' Snerrin was seen yesterday az
,l osInoon ny journal representative and
ashsu Tor his opinion regarding the
institution and the manner in which ~
Is being conducted He repIed.
Yes l visited the State Raeory,
Scnooi at Mariana, but / exprassl1,
toio those good people had no infans
@ @sion ol writing them up so You will
m,. re ce,,1 70 GEAR the blame. had heard
s sullSoinpIinentary reports and nv in
perest In boys prompted the visit. -
On the whole, / was decidadlv
pleaseo' whatever may be lacking in
the equipment the state has sunnI,ad
! am convinced there is nothing lack-
ing IN sympathy and genuine interast
!. me Weltare OF the boys on the part
ants MS ASSIST
~ would be hard to And a mora
suitaoie or more beautiful location for
THIS school. The grounds con+sI,,
some SIX hundred acres, with possibly
one hundred in cultivation and TIA
remainder being turpentined
TWO SETS OF BUILDINGS.
Inere are two sets OF buildings AL
most duplicates, on twin hills sho,,+
one quarter OF mile apart. one for
MI Mute ooys and the other for negroes
.hn ,g tn,sIVlng garoen on either side ~
the wide avenue leading to school ~,
l, as the white school is called irSsl
Gates good meals a4.a tne 7gfe 9i,grs ~
Jerseys az Schocf No. axnls5v, = u
ne butter and milk a. ed r,,a
S9r Nrs. Booidey, the house mother. a
THE superintendent Mr. Ino MN
ton, Sr, gave me every opportpnitv, to
lhVestigate every detail and conducted
me tnrouSh every corner of the htlild-
lhgs. The sleeping apartments. thong,
SToWueo, We're well ventilated and spot
Iessiy clean. went through three
otonaI.nunlcaung ota rooms where sixty
elgnt negro boys sleep every might n
oounle- decked beds and honexfIv 7
covtdnt smell a thing Offensive. 1-hs
Deos at each place had clean nheats
ana good mattresses and each Inmate
mas clean night shirt on his naii IN
the dressing room,
Mrs. Robinson showed me through
the pantry at No. 2 where 1 Recognized
the same supplies furnished tbe hovs
at NO / and the same neatnesa that
was IN evidence at the white achool
Mr. Vickery, who Is the manager ~
scnooi No. showed me the crops and
Z prize acre OF corn which Is expected
10 produce 100 bushels.
LEARNING AGRICULTURE
Most of the negro boys were EN-.
pioyed in the fields where thew we're
learning practical agriculture under =
successful farmer. I watched the pIow
gang and the hoe hands coming I'm
rom their work and from the games
that started as soon as tools were Iaid
down | judge they were not overworlx-
co. The older white boys also work
In the fields and in the gardens and
with the stock and are thus Rettinr a
very practical and wholesome educa.-
ton, but the state has made littla pro-
vision for schooling. There are a few
desks and an attempt In made to teacN
but We should provide a definite course
or instruction and teachers specially
trained for the difficult task OF teach
Ing these boys who so sadly need the
most careful training
Mr.. Ball. the manager at No 1
showed me the new carpenter shop
which Is being built and told OF his
hopes that some gymnastic apparatus
could be built by the boys under his
direction or perhaps be donated. In
this connection, games, books and
phonograph records would be accept
able.
PHoNOGRAPH CONCERT.
After supper was had a phonograph
concert, sitting UP exercises and then
few stories In the school room,
where / met the FIVE Pensacola boys
who all expressed themselves as con-
tented and 'doin' we'll
Yes, was very much pleased with
the school and especially with those in
charge. This is an institution that
should be better known and better
supported At present IL is conducted
CONTINUED on Page TEMP