The Dolores star., 1914-06-26

r1 HE FIRST organised effort in this country
IAII 10 deal with the complex boy
! :: !: !:
III II problem and TO solve II made In
IL Boston The Farm and Trades school
III Thompson's island, Boston harbor
IL which recently celebrated Its centennial
IL anniversary, was the result
This school has done remarkable
work and has set the pace for all In.
~ stitutions Of . like nature which have
been established In various parts Of the country
The FIRST meeting to effect organization for this
school was held ON March 81, 1914. Boston was then
but town. In II were boys bereft by death Of one
or both parents. and outside Of the work carried
by the various charitable organizations. ade-
Quate relief was available.
In the beginning the management provided princL
pally shelter and food. An asylum was established
IN the West end. Boys from I'VE to twelve years Of
age were gathered there and were sent to the pub
lie schools for education. Six years later larger
quarters were secured at the North end In the for
msr residence Of the colonial governor Sir William
Phpps
AZ soon after the age Of twelve ~ was possible
the boys. following the custom Of the day. ap-
prentced To farmers or tradesmen in other parts Of
the state and there the responsibility Of the school
for the time ended.
Meanwhile another institution was organized
which conceived its object to be something more
than providing shelter II felt the boy. to attain
better results IN manhood should receive industrial
IN 1882 secured . charter. In few months the sum
Of $4,000 raised In Boston for the school and
Thompsons island, containing 157 acres. bought
for $1,000.
Two years later the asylum at the North end sold
its property there. and making a union with the
Boston Farm school, removed to Thompson's island.
For nearly threeQuarters Of century the name was
the Boston Asylum and Farm school, and agricul.
ture formed the basis Of the educational system
With an isolation that made conditions almost
ideal for carrying out Its purpose. little attention
was attracted 10 the school. and II quietly pursued
It, unique work % private school for worthy boys
Of limited means.
About ten years ago. more truly to describe its
present functions the name was changed by the
legislature TO the Farm and Trades school
The school n supported by endowments tut.
ttcn fees and subscriptions Its vested funds
amount to nearly 100000. but the income from
this source and tuition leaves Q deficit OF nearly
$4,000 . year. which Is made mp by subscrip-
tons. Tuition fees amount to about $1,000
year. The annual expenses are about $4,000
Provision Ia made for 100 boys. whose eiigibil.
ity for admission requires them to be between
ten and fourteen years OF age Of good moral
character. In fair physical condition and who are
not lower than the sixth grade In grammar school
Recommendation required from the family
physician n clergyman and from three four
persons Of recognized standing In the community.
Admissions are made four times year Only
boys whose recommendations are satisfactory are
admitted and. n on trial. q boy proves 10 be un.
fitted for the school he II not allowed to remain.
After admission the school furnishes everything
needed for the boy-clothing. shelter. subsistence.
medical attendance and trade opportunities and
moral discipline.
The school aims to NJ the boy for higher pur
suits. and. upon completing the course At school,
10 place him either In q higher school or In
position for which he seems adapted.
A. the general farm work necessarily In.
ciuded some Instructions In certain trades and