Omaha daily bee., 1912-01-21
ESS
Boys Travel Alone on Honor


Boys Travel Alone on Honor
The acme of faith in boy was reached, II was
thought, few years ago. when the superintendent
then in charge fit to have boys committed to
the school make the journey from the place Of
commitment to the institution unattended by
officer. further step is in practice today. Even
bad boy, one who is not yet on his honor
month, is granted a furlough of one or two weeks
duration. He is allowed to go to his home
visit and returns better boy. Since the inaugural
ton Of this plan two years ago there has not been
a boy who has failed to return from such fur
lough There have been many instances OF escaped
boys voluntarily returning to the institution some
arriving at or o'clock in the morning.
While all these changes seemingly denote laxer
methods than those employed under the penal
system that aped the penitentiary. 1t is paradox
ically true that the methods more vgilant
than formerly. Instead OF allowing the boys to
spend the nights in the dormitory bedrooms alone,
where soundless orgies might be possible. addi-
tional night watchmen have been employed to the
extent of having one in each building.
Inmates Live Families
The inmates are divided into five families or
grades. At the head of each grade living in the
grade cottage is the grade manager. His duties are
multifarious, having general supervision of those
under his charge; seeing that each inmate deports
himself in a proper manner; that each maintains
proper cleanliness Truly task, for these are
American boys He is their teacher, giving regular
class room instruction. He looks after each inmates
diet reports all of Sickness that the re-
quirements Of the attending physician are carried
out looks after their clothing as a mother would
keeps daily record OF the department of each and
reports any infringement of the rules and regula-
lions to the superintendent He is held responsible
by the superintendent for the discipline of the
members in his cottage. All Of this he does for
the bountifuI stipend of 1856 month. Where it
is possible to secure manager with wife and no
children the wife holds the position of house
matron she fills in the lack of feminine love and
foresight by such touches here and there as her
maternal instinct prompts in the alleyia,ng of dis
comfort in the lives of boys in her cottage. She
has general supervision of the cottage doing that
''and-so-forth" element OF homework which takes
SO much Of woman's time without any apparent
result; which, being translated into Nebraska
English may mean going back and forth"
The inmates of the cottage sleep in the DOR
mitory, located the second floor, more for pre-
caution than for convenience general undressing
room outside of the main bedroom is provided
with hooks. on which the boys hang their clothes
By night and their nighties by day.
All Dine at Same Time
Boys assemble in the morning in time for
breakfast, which is served at the general dining
room in the industrial building All inmates dine
in the same room simultaneously, under the super
vision of managers. After breakfast the boys 90
to their details and school is called
Permission is grapted for a short NAV AZ he