The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-06-10

Inc opinion tnaL many people nave
of the "Redwing Reformatory'' Is
that it Is place where the boys are
put behind big stone walls and that
there is guard with gun walking
around to see that the boys do not
escape; that when a boy is put there,
his hair is clipped, he is made to
wear stripes, fed on bread and water,
and that he is whipped into submis-
sion.
AS matter of fact, the place is not
a "Teformatory" at all but a trailing
school and hospital, it is out in the
open just as any private school, the
boy wears ordinary clothes. has plenty
to eat, and corporal punishment Is
very seldom resorted to.
The Minnesota State Training
School for Boys is situated at Redwing
overlooking ole OF the most beauti-
ful spots of the upper Mississippi
river. 1t Is composed of ten or more
principal buildings well spread over
we'll kept grounds. The Main build
ing contains the offices and also has
rooms for number OF boys The Cot
tages are where the remainder of the
boys live in companies. There is an
ordinary grade school building, where
the common branches are taught just
as they are in any public school.
There is one building for shops, a
with gymnasium.
1t is a home for delinquent boys
who have no home, or who have been
allowed by their parents to do any
thing they pleased. Boys are taken
there and given training rather than
allowing them to fall into life Of use
lessness and in all PROBABILITY into
a life of crime of some sort. 1t is not
a penal institution, but an opportunity
school for boys If peculiar mental
ity who, if taken while at or before
the age Of adolescence can be trained
II allowed to live an irresponsible life
are very likely to be a hinderance
to the welfare of the country.
When a boy is found to be incor
rigible and is headed in the wrong di-
rectioL, the quicker we get him the
BETTER" said Mr.. ]. T. Fulton, Super
intendent Of the Institution, when
asked as to the ACCESSIBILITY of send
ing boys there. Mr.. Fulton is a
man who believes that many of our
criminals could have been changed in
to good citizens if .--.y had been CIV
en- the proper training when they were
young.
The discipline of uhe boys is good
hundred boys who are divided up and
segregated into as many different
classes as, possible. They are divided
up into companies which are under the
supervision of an officer. When they
work, they are in charge of another
officer or instructor as boys in any
company may work in any shop or at
ally other job.
The boys are under supervision ev-
cry hour of the day and night. There
is an officer in charge while they are
working and at meals; while they are
having recreation, and from the time
they go to bed until they get up. in the
morning. This Is done to prohibit any
contamination by the boys who are Of
the toughest sort and who know every
thing of vice that there is to be known
Telling dirty stories and dirty prac-
tices are watched too closely to be-
come harmful 20 any of the better
class of boys. There is some one to
take them from work to play and to
meals.
To make more sure of this problem,
the younger boys are segregated from
the others as much AS possible. When
a young boy is sent there it does not
mean that he is to learn OF all the bad
things that have ever happened Of
sort Of thing, but they do not spread
it to every one else that is here.
There is no doubt but that the prop
er place for boy to be brought up Is
in his home and not in an institution.
But this is only true when that nome
has good moral influence upon the
boy. There are many homes that do
not have this. This Institution is no
place for well nearing sensitive b "
who has the misfortune to fall into
some petty trouble at home. 1t is
the boy who has mentality that nat.
ural]y leads him to do such things that
needs training to guide him in the
right direction. Or it is the fncorrig-
ible boy who has no respect for any
one, not even his parents, or the boy
whose parents will not or cannot dis
cipline him that needs to be shown the
necessity of some obedience. When
a 10y is brought up to disrespect
authority at home, in school, and at
play, it is only natural to expect him
later to have the same disrespect Cor
the laws of the community.
This is bad place for good boy,
puI SOOu pldCS LUZ q pdu Wy
stated Mr.. Fulton frankly when dis
cussiIg this question. The need of
more strict authority in the homes
from which these boys comesis very
evident.
Because boy comes from we'll
to do parents and lives in a big clean
house, is no sign that he lives under
moral influence in that home" admit
ted Mr.. Fulton. The home that per-
mits boy to idle away his time be-
cause there is no authority to make
him do otherwise is not a moral home.
If boy does not happen to be of the
proper mentality this sort OF life is
likely to lead him into trouble later.
Yet these same parents resent very
much if some one else intercedeS. On
this question, Mr.. Fulton again ex-
pressed himself:
Parents have no right to consider
it disgrace to have their boy taken
away from them. The disgrace is
there already. In allowing their boy
to become such that he must be taken
away" This may also be applied to
teachers who merely keep him out
OF mischief" but who accomplish moth
ing else with him. 1t is such tea
cher as we'll as the parents that is
doing the boy great harm. II the
boy is allowed to waste his time dur
ing the time OF adolescence, he is like
to do so the rest OF his life.
1t is this sort OF thing that the