Evening journal., 1917-02-07
TRY new METHODS
IN REFORMING BOYS
Industrial School Managers
Show Officials What is
Being Accomplished
YOUTHS WILL GET
MONEY FROM SOIL

Changes Of an important character
affecting the boys at the Ferris In
dutsrial School already made or about
20 become effective were made known
10 the members OF the Levy Court
and a few other visitors who inspect
cd the institution yesterday upon the
invitation of the board of managers.
That the school was doing a good
work in retaining hayward youth
was known to the members OF the
party in a general way, but It needed
Just the thorough inspection of the
property and the lucid explanation Of
the present aims and purposes OF the
Institution as outlined by Dr. William
II. Kraemer, second vice-president,
yesterday to acquaint the visiting
party with the full scope Of what is
being done at the school.
A new superintendent was placed
In charge Of the school last Novem-
ber-Dr. T. II. Davies, who had been
assistant at the Delaware State Hos
pital for the Insane at Farnhurst for
,thireen years-and there was also a
reorganization Of the board Of man
ayers at the meeting held last month
and Dr. Kraemer was given an oppor-
tunity to put to the test certain
methods for the betterment OF the
boys he had been studying for some
time. DR. Kraemer IS the physician
in charge at the New Castle County
Workhouse and has made an exhaus-
tive study of criminals and the latest
methods Of reclamation, and ably
seconded by Dr. Davies and a SYM
pathetic board of managers. he has
already instituted many modern ideas
Of reform and secured the financial
backing which VIII enable him to test
out others.
The aim OF the school henceforth
will be TO mould the boys who are
sent there, mainly from New Castle
county, into law-abiding, self-respect-
ing members Of the community into
which they viii be thrown when re-
leased from the school. Training of
an educational. industrial and agri-
cultural nature will be given them,
and every opportunity will be offered
the boys to make men OF themselves.
The Ferris Industrial School is a
private institution, but owing to the
lack Of a. State reform school most
charges and their detention Is paid
for by the counties from which they
are committed John Ferris, when
he left the property west Of this city
to be conducted as a refOrmatory for
boys had a vision OF what could be
accomplished IL hayward youth we're
taken in hand and brought under the
right influences, and the hopes OF this
benefactor are becoming reality. Most
OF the money left by Mr.. Ferris has
been used 10 build and equip the
school and only small income
81 100 a year--from property located
in Wilmington Is available for main
tenance. The balance Of the money
must be paid by the State for the care
OF the boys il sends there or obtained
from interested persons who are will
ing TO give Of their money to make
the work Of reform possible.
The visit OF inspection by the Levy
Court yesterday was an annual event
Through an arrangement with the
school this county allows the institu-
ton 40 cents a day for each boy com
mitted there from New Castle county,
the minimum amount paid over each
year by the county being $1,000, and
while a recent grand jury recommend
ed that the sum paid be so cents q
boy. a day, and the minimum towards
the support Of the school $1,000 a
year. no request for additional fnan-
cial help was made Of the Levy Court
yesterday.
In charge of Drs. Davies and Nrae-
mer. the members Of the court, county
officials and a few other invited guests
left the county building at 1916
o'clock. in automobiles bound for the
school Arriving there they were me-
nv Mrs. Davies, wife of the new super
lntendent. and several members Of the
hoard OF managers. and soon after
wards we're escorted to the dining
room IN one Of the new buildings
whore a bountiful dinner was served
The dinner ended, T. Allen Hilles, a
member of the board OF managers, pre-
tented DIR. Kraemer, who gave an In
terestinp account of what has been ac-
.omplished at the school in the way
Of improvements and what the board
Of managers propose doing IN the neal
future. With a practcing physician
IN charge Of the school, the first care
was as to the boys health, and since
March. 1916, Wnen the new hiS1nou'
we're put in operation, every inmate o.
the school has been given physical
and psychological examination so ina
HE work and training each boy was
hest fitted for, IS being given in every
individual case. DR.. Davies has made
The pbvsical examinations, but the
psychological studies were made b,
Professor H. J. Humpstone and Or
william Twitmyer. Of the psychologi
cal department OF the University o.
Pennsylvania.
These psychological examination
showed that there we're three Whit
ana three colored boys at the schoo
who could be termed bright; thirteeI
white and seven colored OF ayerag'
normality; eight white and eight col
pred, low grade normality; thre'
white and three colored border lint