The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-18
Boys at Industrial School Make
Splendid Record.
Not a Boy Has Broken Parole
in Two Years.
TOTAL OF 1909 CARED FOR
Every Youth Is Regarded as
a Good Boy.
Capt. w. P. MacLean Is Super
intendent of Institution.

Honor is the prevailing character
istic of the 1908 boys now under su-
pervision Of the Boys Industrial school
of Kansas, according to Capt. W. P.
MacLean, superintendent of the school.
TN the two years that I have been
connected with the school," Captain
MacLean said, mot boy has broken
the honor that he is expected to show
when sent out from the school with
out supervision to various parst of the
state on various missions. Every boy
is put on his honor on such occasions,
and we have not had a case when
boy failed to be back at the school
at the appointed time.
Regarded AS Good Boy.
mo matter what boys past rec
ord may be-" Captain MacLean con-
tinued, ''he is received and regarded
as a good boy until he proves himself
bad by his conduct in the school. The
effect of such an honor system is
shown by the fact that 30 per cent
of the boys who come to the school,
supposedly as young criminals, and
who go thru the school, make good
afterward. In this way the school Is
the turning point in the boys life.
The public school has failed for this
type of boy because it does not hold
his interest. These boys do not want
to be doctors, lawyers or preachers,
but craftsmen and men who work with
their hands"
There are SO6 boys regularly en-
rolled in the school at the present
time. according to Superintendent
Parole is granted after a boy has
earned 1000 merit marks under the
schools merit system. After paroled,
the boy remains under the supervision
of the school until he is l 6 years old.
Less than 10 per cent of the boys who
1a1 oh fnT vrT- "a hi q
conduct or return to the school for
misconduct. According to the 1920 re-
port of the institution. rs per cent of
the students the school are white,
while rs per cent are colored-
Teach Twenty-One Trades.
Twenty-one trades and subjects are
taught in the school, Captain MacLean
said. These include cooking. laundry
work, engine room work, canning, tall
oring printing, shirt-making, basket
making. rug weaving, shoe-making,
cabinet making, electric wiring, black
smithing, band music, singing, gym
nastics, military drill, farming, pour-
try raising and dairying. The boys
make their own shoes and clothes and
the ice. light and power used by the
institution is made within the school.
The school is managed entirely on
a merit basis, according to Superin-
tendent MacLean. Good conduct or
work in each subject gives a boy red
marks. while misconduct of any kind
gives blue marks By earning 1000
red marks the boy earns parole. For
fifty red marks he is given week
end visit home No boy has ever
failed to return to the school when
given such visits, Mr.. MaoLean said.
The Kansas Industrial school
should be made purely an educational
institution, rather than a penal insti-
tut on in the opinion of Superintend-
eat MacLean. I'VE are managing the
school on such a basis at the present
time. and it has proven to be the most
successful system. The state should
take care of its backward, truant and
crimes, rather than wait until they
have the stigma of a criminal attached
to their records. The industrial school
IS the best place to rehabilitate the
backward boy. and parents should
recognize this fact and not hesitate to
send their boys to such a school.
Caused by Home Conditions.
THE cause for the conditions of
this class of boys IS also clearly evil
dent. Ninety-five per cent of the boys
come under the jurisdiction of the
school because of home conditions and
influences. Ninety-five per cent of the
same homes never improve, and for
this reason the boys should be kept
here until they have learned a trade
and can make their own living
The Boys Industrial school, first
called the State Reform school, was
established in 1879. Since its estab-
1ishment a total of approximately
$500 boys have been admitted to it.
The equipment of the school includes
a water system, lighting system and
heating plant.