Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-01-08
School For COnvicts
Soon to Start at Pen


Over l50 convicts at the Oregon state
pen have already registered for instruc
tion in the prison school which is to be
started in the near future under the
direction of Warden Minto and Frank
Davies. A well lighted room in one
end of the old foundry storeh0use 80
by so feet in size has been partitioned
off to he devoted to the uses of the
prison students. Fifty-four seats and
desks have been ordered and each desk
viii accommodate four students.
Warden Minto says that the instruc-
tion for the first will be of decided
ly elementary nature and will be along
the lines of the old-fashioned school
which laid particular stress on the three
(" RS, reading. 'riting and 'rithmetic
with spelling and general lectures. No
text books will be purchased for some
lime until it is found out how much in
terest the men are taking in the school
and at oil times the instruction will be
largely from biackboards and actual
dcmcns.rn
The periods will be short, an hour or
two dnily in actual class room work.
There is nothing compulsory about the
school and it has been originated simp.
ly for the betterment of some of the
men who wish to improve themselves.
Out of the $40 men now confined in
the pen about five per cent can neith-
er read nor write and number of 9TH
ers have had but little schooling. 1t is
expected that some of these will take
advantage of the opportunity to learn
to read and may take up courses later.
If the men show the proper interest in
the work it is expected that the next
legislature will be asked to make an
appropriation for the school to purchase
laboratory equipment and to establish
work shops for training in various lines.
At present, however, it is the plan to
experiment with the prison school idea
to find out If it is practicable in the
Oregon state pen and to spend as little
money as possible in the experimental
stage.
There are five or six college grad
yates confined in the pen and ahout
three of these will be used MS instruc-
tors under the immediate direction of
Mr.. Davies. In the past convicts have
often taken courses I'm correspondence
schools while in the pen and have learn.
ed.useful tradeslinside the prison walls
Several at present, Mr.. Minto states,
are showing special interest in electric
itv and. should others show interest
along these lines to warrant it, equip.
ment may be purchased for their better
instruction.
II is to be remembered that in tho
state prison are men of all ages and
mental capacity. Some are graduates
of noted universities and others ere of
the ignorant peasant tvpe of foreigner
and the task Of classifying these men
into grouns for the brat educational ad-
vantages is real problem for the pris.
on instructors.
The teaching of mature men whose
minds run to other things than educa.
tion brings ont dnestions that never
trouble the American pedagogue end
the convicts' school promises n wide
range of endcavor for its promoters.
The duties Of the men will he so ar
ranged that. they may have time off
during the day for school work and
most of the studying will be done in
their cells. Forioutside men in road
gangs and such il is expected that a
few transfers may be made to allow
them to attend school. Convenient
vacations" may be declared during
the busy seasons, as for example, dur.
ing flax pulling time.
While we can accommodate $50 con.
viets in the school" said Warden Min.
to today, 81 do not expect this many
will take the instruction and many who
once start will drop out. However, If
find that only rs or 100 men have been
actually benefited and their chances Of
making good on the outside are really
improved by the school l shall consider
It success.