The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-06-03
PRISONERS LEARN
BY MAIL COURSE
Larger Percentage Finish
Than in Civil Life.

lie, according 70 On1c1aiS OF Cne VA
tiOnal Society Of Penal Information.
William B. Carver, secretary in charge
Of the educational work among pris-
Oners, recently explained the society's
aims as follows:
1--WE desire to assist prisoners to get
on their feet after they complete their
terms. Through the agency Of the Vel
fare League association we supply
correspondence courses TO prisoners in
New York state, in order to increase
their earning power and develop in
them the habit Of initiative and con-
tinuOus effort I~nseparable from intel
ligent studies" said Mr.. Carver. Our
statistics show that from 50 to 90 per
cent Of the prisoners taking the courses
complete their work. an average far
IN excess Of those people who take
correspondence courses I'm civil life.
"PrisOn work should be looked upon
rs an educational matter, aside from
the idea Of punishment OF retribution.
Prisoners hate the word reform 90
we call it social r~e-educatiOn.' We
try to develop social tendencies, to en-
courage unselfsh service and manly
acknowledgment.
1.-THE fundamental factors we have
struck in u employment work are
that the prisoners previous training
does not tend to form habits Of cOntin-
uous effort, and that many are poorly
prepared to take their part In the life
Of the community.
Prison Schools inadequate.
1.-THE prison schools are inadequate,
They teach men to read and write and
give a little arithmetic. Prisoners, are
mot obliged to attend, but many 60 to
avoid the work in the shops The
prison classes are often run by inmate
teachers, who give little enthusiasm,
and supply no vocational training.
"Our society furnishes courses to q
limited number Of men. At present we
have A still taking curses out Of 81
whO applied, and in most cases COM
pleted their work. Most Of these mea
are in New York Observation-Disclosures
prison at DannemOra, Auburn, Sing
Sing, and Great Meadow at COmstock
but we have one federal prisoner at
Fort LeavenwOrth who Is taking
a course in advanced English.
Most Of the men prefer the courses
issued by the Massachusetts state d.
vision Of university extension, under
the department Of education, whose
courses are chiefly practical, includ-
ing such crafts as steamitting, sales
manship and traffic management. How
ever, ten or twelve Of our men are
taking courses given by Columbia uni
versity. One man is studying jour
nalism; two are studying advanced
English; one, a former engineer, is
studying technical German. One Of
our students is taking a course In
higher craftsmanship from La Sale uni
versity, Chicago.
We receive most enthusiastic letters
from our students. One student Of
steamftting worked his way up from
: the coal hole to the boiler al
Dannemora. Before he entered he
was a common labOrer. Another boy
twenty-seven years old, with sever
years already spent in various institu
lions and a term till 1888, is studying
the modern gasoline engine. One o.
our graduates took a course In sales
manship, and just wrote the societ!
that he had secured a job. AnOthe
man, confined for ten years, writes
that he has memOrized every page o
his lessons on traffic management"
Limited by Money.
The funds for this work are supplie
by the Welfare League association, 2
West Forty-third street, and 1t wa
stated that the number Of applicant
for correspondence courses was limit
ed by the amount of money at thel
disposal. Every prisoners applicatio
must be Endorsed by the head teache
at his prison, and is then forwarded I
the Welfare League association fC
action. According to their funds, the
order the course from either COlumbl
or Massachusetts. and the rest is
the hands Of James A. Meyer, directs
Of the Massachusetts extensiC
courses, and Of DR.. James G. Egbe
OF Columbia.
It is hoped to extend this work fro
New York into neighbOring state
Through the work thus arranged Il
prisoners are becoming part Of the e
~ucatiOnal system; education is Ovs
coming the ignorance which leads
crime. In it's work among releas
prisoners the Welfare league b
helped 1916 men, getting jobs for 8
Of them. These men came from
states; some wanted advice. soE
medical assistance. bat most Of the
merely wanted to report progress q
obtain encouragement.
The executive committee Of the
ganization includes: Thomas Mott
born, former warden Of Sing Sing, v
sponsored the Mutual Welfare leagy
Of prisoners at Sing Sing and Aubu
prisons, president; Frank Marsh
knight, chairman; Paul W. Garrs
secretary and treasurer; John J
SchieRelln, George W. Kirchwey, Sp
Ger Miller. Jr, John J. Motley. empl