Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-29
State School for Boys.

Members of the committee on state
School for Boys and Industrial School
for Girls. Tuesday afternoon, heard the
requests of Supt. Charles Dunn, Jr., and
President L. C. CARL of the former insti-
tuition fer appropriations that will allow
the extension of the work. Two resolves
are before the Legislature asking for
money for the state school.
The first of these calls for s10.l50 for 1875
and $500 for 1914 This money is to be
used in painting, extending sewer and
purchase of land and buildings for discip-
linary work and the salary of parole
officer TO look after the outside boys.
At the request of Senator Allen, chair
man of the committee. Charles Dunn, Jr.,
superintendent of the school, told of the
work and what is needed at the institu-
ton He said there are now 1854 boys
in the school, which is close to the aver
age of inmates at this time of year The
largest he has known TO be there at one
time has been 1ss, while there were ii3
when he became superintendent two years
ago.
When boys have been put out on leaves
of absence or parole, the policy has been
to put out as many as come in. This
gives the boys in need of discipline the
full advantage of the institution. Inc
school is crowded with over 165 boys
In it.
MIR. Dunn said that SO boys have been
sent out from time TO time on parole i'll
the families of citizens OF Maine or in
their own homes. The only way the
, school has kept in touch with them has
been through the system of quarterly re-
ports. but these had not been found sat
isfactory and were often wholly unre-
| liable, for the parents or guardians, or
the boys in filing out the blanks would
color the facts or else deliberately mis-
represent them.
| at has been apparent to the superinten-
: dent and trustees" said Mr.. Dunn, THAT
there should be an enlargement of the
supervision of boys outside. In other
states and in the case of the Industrial
School for Girls in this State a parole
officer is provided. His duty is to go into
the homes of the boys and thoroughly in
vestigate their condition and SURROUND
ings, see about their morals and their ed
ucation. We have found cases where the
people who have the boys had but one
desire, and that was to get all they could
out of the lads and give nothing, ever
little food. in return"
The superintendent said the trustees
We're asking for the extension of accom-
modations for the care and discipline Of
such boys as the parole officer found Were
doing badly, some of whom might have
fallen into vicious and criminal ways
The most of my troubles" said Mr.
Dunn. come through the bad influence
of these returned boys
He gave several instances to illustrate
his point. when boys like that come in
they put the very devil into the rest o
them" said he. He said these returned
boys should be put to work under an en-
tifely different regime from the others
He pointed out that the institution il
charged with the care of these boys ane
must have some place to look after them
Asked to give his idea of the place
wanted. superintendent Dunn said ht
hoped TO get a place not far from the
schol farm preferably, that would b'
apart from the general lines of travel
1t would be under the supervision of the
superintendent of the state school.
would omit the school, said Mr. Dunn
and provide just the barest comforts