Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
TRAINING SCHOOL
TO ENLARGE SCOPE
Boys win Be Given 0ppor'
tunity for SeIf-Expression
and SeIf-AdiuStment.

training for useful citizenship, will soor
be given opportunity for self-expressior
and self-adjustment commensurate with
their mental aptitude
The National Training School fol
Boys, on Bladensburg road northeast
now under a new administration. Will
utilize a 100000 congressional appro-
priation during the forthcoming SUM
mer to build and equip a group OF IN
dustrial training shops, as part OF 9
program of furthering vocational and
academic training correlation at the ma
tional institution.
Col. Claude D. Jones. who was ap-
pointed superintendent of the National
Training School from the Colorado
Training School for Boys last July, an
nounced this week that architects plans
have been completed for the new units,
the naturalization Of which will con-
stitute a major development in recent
policy adopted by the institution. The
theme of this policy is that the Ma
tional Training School for Boys SHAH
be "a place for training boys for useful
citizenship rather than place for pun
1Shment.'
Will Ask Bids Soon.
Contracts for the construction Of the
shops, bids for which will be asked this
May, and construction will go ahead
Immediately thereafter. The buildings,
which will be arranged in the forma-
ton of a gigantic H" will conform in
general architectural style to the is odd
existing structures that comprise the
Government institution
Additional living quarters also are to
be provided in a new dormitory build
ing which will be erected at the same
time as the shops. At present there
are eight cottage buildings, or dormi-
tories a chapel, hospital, administration
building school building, shop building
and one or two other smaller buildings,
in the school group.
With the building of the new shops,
additional shopwork courses will be in
troduced and the staff of instructors in
creased. The new shops will be divided
into three groups, the first TO house the
drafting, electrical and decorating
courses: the second to include general
woodworking carpentry and millwork,
and the third to be equipped for metal
work. automobile mechanism and
plumbing. The group will include also
a print shop, and 1t is planned that the
schools organ, The Bait" shall APP
pear in more elaborate form than the
mirneographed sheet organized on the
campus during the vast year.
SkuuSHtS W AHhSh "OAAs
Contractors who will erect the build
ingS will not be required to finish the
interior, as the development on the in
side will be undertaken by the students
The locating of machinery, erection of
partitions, etc, will be included in this
work.
"It is our purpose to give the boys
coming to us such well balanced pro-
grams of activities as will enable them
- s,.&- 49, - L., ~
supporting. law-abiding individuals but
with a spirit Of social service worthy
OF a good American citizen" is Col.
Jones doctrine.
There has been established at the
National Training School recently a
department Of research, equipped to
furnish scientific objective data regard
ing the boys background. educational
achievement, mental ability and any
mental completes existing As a result
Of recent studies by this department, 1t
has been developed that of the approx
nately 500 inmates Of the school, the
average mentality Of the boys Is that
OF sixth grade pupil. This despite the
fact that ages vary from IL years TO %
years, striking an average of II years.
Boys From All Sections.
The boys committed to the National
Training School are sent from all sec
tons Of the country, including approx
mately 40 from the District of Column
bia. The largest number from a single
State at present are from North Caro-
lima, which sent g. Kentucky has Al:
West Virginia. 46, and Illinois, 81 1t
Is estimated that approximately 80 per
cent are sent 10 the institution for
violation of prohibition laws, about 40
per cent for auto theft, and others for
violation of the postal laws, incorrigibil-
ity and truancy. The annual turnovers
OF inmates is about 800.
Despite the fact that the site of the
school, resting on the ridge of the 300
odd-acre tract that once was Fort Lin
coin in the Civil War days, is as open
as college campus, escapes and run
always during the past few months have
been comparatively few. Punishment 70
the disobedient is not Of physical
nature. Solitary confinement in ade-
Quate quarters or deprivation Of priv
leges is the penalty assessed
The privileges" include motion pic
lures, shown every week; athletic activ-
tiles. participation in organizations
such as Boys Club Glee Club, etc, and
other extra curricula activities.
Adaptability Considered.
II is the purpose OF the governing
board of the institution to provide
working conditions best adapted to the
ability of the respective boys. Pre-
vocational training is provided for the
boy who has not discovered the direc-
ton Of MS greatest interest or the type
Of work TO which he is best adapted.
The range OF activity at the training
school will cover, in addition TO the va
rious shopworking branches also farm
ing and agriculture, barbering. tailor
ing and cobbling. At present the school
has its own farm, with field crops. live
stock and dairy. A barber shop, with
the entire school as its clientele, was
recently inaugurated. Even instructors
patronize it, fearless of the razor that
may waver dangerously close TO their
vital organs, welded by an inmate
student
The entire school has been reor-
gained in somewhat of q military fash
ion, with individual battalions and
companies governed by officers. An all
of contentment seems TO prevail over
the institution as the boys go about
their duties and indulge. when the time
comes, in their recreational pastines.
The institutions president is F. II
Duehay while Warren F. Martin is vice
president. The board OF trustees in.
cludes Gen. Herbert B. Crosby, justice
c. n. Robb, Sanford Bates. Robert V
Fleming, Newbold Noyes and D. J. Cal.
lahan. The present personnel, includ-
ing instructors and supervisors, mum.