Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-20

necessity that there should be a vacant
room or two in each cottage for these
short-period girls.
1.-The average age Of the Us resident
girls is only Is years. six months and %
Of that number have been committed
within the past two years. Practically
all Of these must be with us two years
more, not only to secure their training in
various lines, but for the growth of char
acter and stability of purpose, and suffl-
cient age necessary before they could
reasonably be expected to get on inside.
There is every reason to expect and
to hope that this school should be able to
take care of 200 resident girls. Not that
it is our desire to see great institution
built UP, nor that we believe that juve-
nile delinquency is greatly on the IN
crease, but we believe that child wei
fare-work in Maine is being and Is going
to be still better done. 1t is big terri
tory and there have never been workers
enough for the field. In the past two or
three years the appointment of State
agents for the protection OF children have
increased and through them our commit
ments have quite materially increased.
They can easily care for the normal de-
pendent child but they must have
place for the delinquent girl who needs
to be transplanted from her environment.
If a concerted effort is made in this gen.
Grafton to stem the tide of juvenile delln-
quency, there will be less need OF Jalis
and prisons in those succeeding.
School of Letters
"Our schools have been in session three
and one-half hours day for ~ weeks
with Christmas and Easter vacations.
Considering our serious limitations they
have made good progress under the same
corps of teachers. We have graduated a.
girls from the grammar school depart
ment in the two years. OF that number
26 entered high school either here or Out
side l think that it will be necessary by
another year to provide the second year
of the high school course here as several
bright girls not long resident here will be
completing their first year high at an age
too young to be placed outside.
Il .ish here to emphasize the fact that
it bespeaks an unusual amount of ambi-
ton and desire for high school education
on the part OF our girls as they have to
work their board in families during the
school year and work through the sum-
mer vacation for money for clothing and
such extras as could not be expected that
the school should provide without bring
ing upon itself the charge of discrimina-
ton by the main body of students.
II greatly wish that some of the phil
anthropic people Of our State would es-
tablish fund for the particular purpose
of assisting our deserving girls in their
effort for higher education. Not to help
too much, but little lift now and then,
perhaps to pay a girls board through one
school year in order to conserve her
health for the next years work. Some
thing like this would be a real God-send
the double strain of work at home and
at school.
Moral Instructions
1.-THE religious life of the girls Is we'll
looked after. The girls are required to
attend the local churches on Sunday
morning. They have a Sunday school in
the afternoon at their cottages, and eve
ming services on Sunday and often in
mid-week. I shall be glad when we can
have all the schools meet in one place for
the general exercises of the Sunday
school. and have the classes divided so
that the graded-lesson system can be
used.
1.-THE Catholic girls have catechism
weekly and confessions heard monthly by
Father Carey, the local pastor OF the |
Catholic church.
Concerning Population
The number of girls i'll the custody of !
the school, december l, 1916. was 1855; liv- )
ing at the school, 100; living outside the
school, 65; average length of custody OF i
A5 girls in the school during the past two !
years, four years, four months and II
days; average length of time 1853 girls had
lived at the school before being placed
out, two years, six months and II days, /
number of girls never placed out. S. !
The average age of the girls now in
custody is 16 years, three months and -
days. The ages of the girls are as fol- !
lows: Eight years. one; 10 years, three;
II years, seven; II years five; Is years,
Is: IA years, 20; Is years, 35; 16 years. 90
II wears, 20; IS years, &c; 70 years, %; %
years, nine.
During the past two years the largest
number of girls were committed from the
city of Bangor and 81 were committed b.
cause of danger of falling into habits OF |
vice and immortality. OF the 80 girls COM !
mitted to the institution during the past !
year Is were natives of Maine.
OF the girls outside the school during |
the present year. % are at work for
wages, three are at work for school, |
board and clothes, 10 are at work for
school and board, nine are being boarded !
and attending school and IA are in proba-
ton with parents or other relatives and
not attending school.
National Guard Notes.
Lieut. Col. Frank G. Mauldin, C. A.
c. fort commanded of Fort Mckinley,
Portland, is detailed for general re-
cruiting service and is making his |
headquarters at Fort Slocum, N. Y,
and assumes command IF fb,< ooS+ ,rd |