Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-02
IN THE
REPORT OF SUPT. DUNN OF
STATE SCHOOL FOR BOYS

'In view Of the observations Of the su-
peTintea6snt during the past two years
ana Of Ills belief in the growing tendency
10 make the industrial features o. the
school the principal line o. effort AMI
extension, he would recommend that al
SOME time in the not TOO distant future.
that plans be formulated to increase the
facilities for industrial training al the
State school, states Charles Dunn. Jr.,
superintendent CT the STATE School for
Boys at South Portland. in his annual
reoor, which was filed vita the Cover
no- and Council Monday.
Tie report further says:
I'VE have low the farm and live stock
industry we'll under way. These are both
productive and profitable as well as of
absorbing interest 10 the limited number
u toys that can ind opportunity to take
& personal interest in them; and II IS
believed chat the time Is approaching
when greater attention ought TO be paid
to the thorough teaching q the indus
tral arts TO the extent that all boys Of
sufficient oapactty be given an op2o-tu-
nifty TO participate in them
lit is believed that inasmuca as ali
necessary buildings for the establishment
Of the Industrial plant cal Do erected by
the labor o. the boys themselves under
competent supervision. that there is
possibility OF building hare within the
next Sex years an industrial building
similar, for instance, TO the ore al the
Sockano.ser school. which was built en-
tirely by the labor Of TIE boys. in which
arr IN
cry and equipment for the actual CARY
ing On OF practical industrial training,
thereby giving such efficient instruction
that boys can De sent away from the
school q 1orEInen equipped TO take
their place IN the shops and factories O.
the country and become efficient and
self-sustaining citizens
"I am informed ny the superintendent
Of the Sockanosset School that he has
in the state q Rhode Island more than 2
thousand boys at work in the various
manufacturing establishments, who were
trained at his school Such result as
this is a tremendous asset TO any state,
and is one OF tie strongest arguments
that can be advanced for the establish
ment Of industrial training
IT would. Therefore. recommend that
during the next two years some steps be
taken to thoroughly and practically in
vestigate the expense OF establishing an
Industrial training building at the State
School and tla. plans be formulated and
presented to the legislature or l9i1-l5
looking 70 the building and equipment O:
such a building
Attendance.
Taking up the subject Of attendance
Il is to be noted raat our numbers coz
sideably increased during the latter
part OF the year 1914. The supe-irtend-
ect believes, however, tat norTith-
standing the large number OF commit
ments which have been recently made.
that the capacity q the school IS suti-
Gent for the accommodation o. the num-
Der o. boys who would ordinarily be sent
to US. and that there is 70 present need
Of any increase in the number Of cot
tayes unless with the inauguration Of
a new parole system It might possibly
become necessary TO build and equip q
house for the detention OF such boys Tho
are out on leave o. absence, VINO might
be returned to US in considerable num-
bers for breach OF the conditions OF
I ~
with different seasons Of the year. and
the attendance depends somewhat on ta2
opportunity or lack Of opportunity which
present themselves for the placing cut
of boys under favorable Circumstances
Reasons for Commitment.
The attention OF the school authori-
ties is drawn more and more with each
succeeding year to the probable reasons
why boys are committed to our care
foremost among these is the AGA or az
euuate home SURROUNDINGS and parental
government Poverty in some instances,
and habits Of intoxication and id-eness,
play their full share in bringing about
conditions which make the proper bring
ing UP of boys an inIpossihlity on the
part OF their natural guardians.
On the other hand, there are occasions
when parents with good home surround
ings and with the best intentions. are I'M
able to control and govern their boys,
and the result is, that we have such boys
among our numbers.
my attention has lately been called in
several notable instances to where the
misconduct OF the boys committed to our
J
influence which a certain kind of moving
picture show has produced upon their
minds While giving full credit to the
undoubted educational value Of this kind
Of amusement If properly conducted and
controlled. it Is my opinion that great
deal OF serious harm Is being done to the
boys Of the State by their indiscriminate
attendance upon pictures shows Of a SEN
sational character, such as depict burg
laries, smuggling adventures, murders
even. the portrayal Of which produces its
baneful eject upon the minds Of boys too
young to comprehend the moral turpi-
tude Of such deeds. In this connection.
however, desire to say, that l believe
this condition is beginning to be pretty
well understood by the authorities Of our
towns and that movement is on foot TO
regulate and control the character o.
picture shows which are being presented.
Discipline.
Il desire to repeat what I said a year
ago in regard to the methods Of disci-