Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-16

affliction could be taken there Tor ex-
animation by alie1tsts and care and
treatment before being committed to
hospital for the insane, and that
the work now done, or supposed to be
done, by the local boards on insanity
be done by the trained experts in this
psychopathic hospital. He would have
the superintendent do more to inform
the public as to what is being done
for the insane and to advise against
humbuggery and fakes. He would en-
gage in an educational campaign
among the people with view of pre-
venting insanity and to familiarize the
people with some Of the fundamental
principles which will aid IN such pre-
vention.
Education Of tho Hand.
Education Of the hand and develop
ment Of the mind are urged for those
of the citizenship Of the state who are
committed to prisons or reformatorles.
This is the view OF E. A. Cromer, SUI
perintendent Of the school at the state
reformatory.
There are over 100000 persons in
prison in the United States, he told
the board OF control at the quarterly
conference. The largest number are
this vast number about Is per cent are
absolutely illiterate and large num-
Der practically so. At least 20 per cent
are without trades and of the remain
ing 80 per cent many are not capable
of earning livelihood as journeymen.
Mr.. Cromer stated that by the acad-
em.c methods of the public schools too
. many are educated for the so-called
higher positions, Somebody must be
taught to do the fundamental work OF
| the world Tho average physical age
| of those in prison is p years; the av-
erage mental age II years and 4
months. More than half are below nor
NAL.
Every dollar invested for education
| al purposes in Iowa prisons has shown
! a reasonable return" Mr. Cromer stat
| er. However, until wye have more
equipment citizen teachers and more
trade schools, we come somewhat short
of measuring up to the modern idea
OF reformation and are plainly begging
| the question 1t is more difficult for
boy TO learn trade today than 1t ever
was. Only a few shops give training
for the apprentice system is thing OF
the past
"There is a large and hopeful class
| of normal minded and normal bodleo
men in our institutions who need spec
ial attention, who should have some
choice in the selection of an occupation
if they are to be happy and successful
To this end every man should have
| omen TO him a school of letters. witt
citizen teachers and modern equip
ment where the courses of study anc
instruction would correlate with the
farm every possible trade schoo
which the state could afford.
"A united system should be worked
out whereby the instruction in ever,
shop would be dovetailed into that o
the school, giving the student com.
plete and systematical training no
only in the science and art Of his trade
but giving him larger view Of things
so that he would be capable OF reflec
ton on the meaning and importance
of his work and it's relation to al
mankind. 1t costs the state far NOR
in the end to permit her charges t
relapse into crime, thereby incurrint
the expense Of repeated conviction ant
Imprisonment, than to give at least
common school education with indus
trial training even at considerable ex
pense."