Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-08-24
LETTERS FROM The PEOPLE
Superintendent Barss Writes OF the
Fitness Of Vermont Industrial
school TO Receive Homeless
Children.
To the Editor of the Free Press:

Vermont INDUSTRIAL school to receive
homeless children and the superin endent
has, on several occasions, been asked to
write some facts concerning the school
for some of the papers.
About seven years ago the manage
ment, under the control of the penal
board. started a program of remodellng
buildings then on the plant and building
additions throughout. This program was
pushed nearly to completion when the
fire of 1914 made it necessary to start over
again and also made 1t possible to lay
the foundation for modern institution.
The last fiscal year, July. 1915, to July,
1916 is the first year during these seven
in which the school could be said to have
functioned normally. This being so, it
seems to be the part of wisdom nov.
through your columns, to give the public
the facts.
The new buildings, while not elaborate,
are adequate and comfortable. The
childrens homes are light and airy;
equipped with comfortable dormitories.
dining rooms, congregate Easements and
reading rooms with adequate libraries
and games The reading room is an
innovation in institution life and is not
| found in many of the modern institutions.
| Inc population mas increased from n
! daily attendance for 1907 and 1905 Of 10;
| to daily attendance the first six months
Of 1916 Of go The institution buildings
| have increased from three to ten, besides
| power house and pump house. A central
heating and lighting plant has been added
which supplies heat for all the buildings
and light is produced on the place for
buildings and streets.
Fifteen thousand gallons of water are
pumped daily and steam is kept con-
| stantly on the fire pump. Power and
steam are provided for laundry. sewing
room, etc. Coal water and light in 1907
and 1905 for three buildings totaled about
$1,000 coal, water light and power for
1915 and 1915 for eleven buildings as-
gregating nearly 10000 cubic feet of space
cost about $500
a modern hospital has been established
second to none for its size chapel and
gymnasium have been added which have
claimed the approval of all who have
seen and used them; a new campus which
will meet all requirements for many
years is being constructed at the present
time by the boys and officers providinc
football, baseball and track facilities. a'
well as an outdoor play ground for the
small children.
A graded school system has been in
augurated and an educational atmosphere
developed which is Just about to blossom
into promise for the future This yea
two of the girls from the institution will
be taking training as nurses In two o
the State hospitals; one Of the girls Eoe
back to the second year at Northiielc
Seminary. Northned, Mass; two OF thu
boys enter Mount Hermon at the eam
place: one boy has just finished fou
years apprenticeship course in the Cen
trail Vermont Railway shops and start
, course in the Wentworth Technica
school. Boston; one girl enters Middle
bury College: between fifteen and tWent,
will be in attendance at the Nergenne
, city high school doing second. third ant
fourth year work. while over twenty vii
he doing freshman high school work a
the institution school. The eighth grad
class which prepares for the high sohoc
f work will also be large.
c An honor system has been estab
. lished which has developed tho spiri
, of individual honor to the point wher
i've of the six cottages during tho las
year have been unloc',ed except tn
room where the food was kept In tn
boys cottages tho night watchma
n goes through the dormitorics four G
1--WE times each night. but bctwee
, these trips, with their shoes an
=, | clothes by their bedsides, these boy
>, are at liberty to get up and leave tn
building at any time. restrained onl
= by their sense of honor. The girl
~, cottages are as open as those of til
. boys. During ten weeks of the yea
open. although it is not intended thu
. that should be so. When two boys pre-
~ sumcd to leave that cottage it We
=, closed again, but of the five cottag,
y Just spoken of containing from 10
. 2iO children at different times durin
u the year only two beled their clai
; to honor by leaving the dormitory du
ing the night.
; The spirit of cooperation Is prosel
: to the extent that. during the year
'' construction succeeding the fire whc
new buildings were being built. Il
'e boys and officers, beside doing tho o
~ binary school work. earned $4,000 fro
Is the contractors and completed col
struction work. the labor cost of viii,
u was estimated by contractors at ov
= $4,000. Some of the most compcteI
rs Judges in the United States of instt,
tions of this type visited the scho
'e during the last year Their statemen
~ on leaving it were most catering
10 the children and hattoring to Il
n board which has outlined the scho
IL policies and managed it's affairs.
er In point of food. clothing. housin
education, social and religious adva
H. tages, the school need not fear cor
II, parison with any school in the Ia: