The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-05-30
LEGISLATIVE REPORT ON
THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

In making its report to the legisla-
ture on the Ocala Industrial School,
the committee, consisting of Messrs.
J. w. Watson, w. w. Phillips and E.
T. Wilson, said:
We found the conditions of said in
stitution very satisfactory from a
health and sanitary point of view,
also the inmates were in a healthy
condition, apparently satisfied and
with no friction existing between
them and the head of the institution.
We found their sleeping quarters,
dining room and kitchen in an ex-
ceptionally well-kept and well-order-
ed condition.
Satisfactory sewerage connections
are maintained and very seldom, if
ever, cause trouble.
On examination of the building we
found it to be in a very good cond1-
ton with the exception of what might
be termed a cellar room under the
front porch. This we found was used
for a general storage and junk -oom
and it was in bad state of repairs.
We found thirty-seven girls, rang
ing from ten to twenty years of age,
as inmates of the institution. The
sleeping quarters are entirely too
crowded and with poor ventilation,
and in the opinion of your committee
this particular condition should be
remedied at once.
We also found that the room known
as the infrmary is an exceptionally
small room located on the western
side of The building, with practically
mo light or ventilation, and it is the
opinion of this committee that larger
quarters should be provided for this
particular feature of the institution.
Your committee, after having thor
oughly gone over this building, realiz-
ed the increasing demands for such
an institution, and have come to the
conclusion that it would be best to
either abandon this home for delin-
quent girls or Immediately take steps
to enlarge their building, so that they
can be properly taken care of in a
more healthy atmosphere.
1t is the further opinion of your
committee that a commercial course
should be established at this institu-
ton for the proper training of these
girls who may be sent there, so that
they may be properly fitted to meet
the problems of life after having
been dismissed or discharged from
the institution.
Under the existing conditions there
is absolutely no provision mad,
whereby the proper educational ad
vantages can be given, looking to the
future welfare of the girl after sht
has been discharged, Or to equip he
with a practical business education
whereby she can be enabled to make ;
living after leaving the institution. /
: is the opinion of your committee tina
this is a vital need in this particula
school, as we find at the presen
time a girl comes to the institution
; stays from six months to three years
and without having learned any mean
of support, she is discharged from tn
institution, and of necessity is com
/, PEELED to return to the same condition
that existed and which caused her t
be sent to this institution.
Your committee was glad to not
that literary teacher is employed a
the school, and that the girls are re
ceiving a primary grade instruction
which is proving of benefit to all.
Your committee finds that there
an indiscriminate policy pursued b
the officers of the state of sendin
q girls of all ages to this institution
{ As stated above, we find girls rangin
! from ten to twenty years, and it
: the opinion that different arrange
ment should be made for the childre
being kept separate, and that th
mingling of the two ages should b
prohibited. We also find trivial Of
y fenses that should be corrected 6
. home, are sending girls ten an
S twelve years old to this institution
= and in our judgment there are a nun
5 Der who are there today withoI
Iightfully belonging there, and "
o believe that the fault lies with ii
: probation officers throughout IL
: state, and in many cases directly wit
n the parents.
We would recommend that a sy
/ tenn be adopted whereby all the exis
e ing conditions could be eliminate
: and the institution be put upon a be
} ter standing along the above lines /;
e enumerated
A careful examination of the e.
penditures of the said institute
l. shows that the management is e
y deavoring to spend the moneys of Il
state in an economical way, and viii
your committee has no special or
,e icism to make along this line, still
Ig is their opinion that with the a
distance of the state farm. which