Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1953-02-20
Bill Created Following Reports From
Committee Headed By Charles bussey

separate nterraca board for the boys industrial school
Wrghsvle The bill sponsored by Charles Busaey and
the Veterans Tor Good Government organization and intro
by Max Howell of Pulaski county The commit
headed by Mr. Bussey with Rev. Fred T. Guy Dr. W. E
OByant of Pine Bluff, l. r. Gaines j. c. Cook of Wrghs
vile Booker Day and Earl Davy visited the school and re-
ported the following findings
On visiting the it found that home cured
meat being eaten by rats dirty bed mattresses were being
stacked around the the building dirty and meats
and other food commodities openly exposed to filth that
had accumulated period OF time In the hospital TWO boys
bed with dirty clothing and had not had the atten
ton Of the The dormitory filthy with pillow
the black greasy pillows The sheets also dirty
In the domtory for smaller boys the condition the same
the other domtoy The beds had been soed and were
made up without clean linens There had been fire in the
building the night before the visit and it stated that the
boys locked in the building No criticism was offered a.
bout the condition the dining hall The school and
reaional hall visited No recreaonal facilities were
found The 40 boys the class under the supervision OF
larger boy dressed dirty clothes On visiting the
laundry the committee found there laundry facilities
whatsoever The boys were beating the clothes putting
them into old pots The committee reported AL in ALL for
management found the Boys Industrial school Wrghts
vile, Arkansas to be in deplorable condition.
The following recommendations made y to hire
full time do night supervision to check building every
thirty minutes y hire good vocational agriculture and
training teacher teach all boys trade and vocaton
- to build shop equipped with hand tools to accommodate
fifteen or twenty boys tne ~ overhaul all plumbing
campus add least bath tubs and repair all show
ers 81 that the doctor visit the school at least twice week
81 that be cleaned and all food commodities be
arranged that idea of good keeping could be
boys that in school, y that when boys enter the
hospital should bath clothes that
sick person should 81 that the boys doory be clean
ed old pillows be burned and hired look after
the cleaning; 81 that hired full time check all boys at
tme 10) that large laundry washing machine be
purchased the laundry the school, We think this
would eliminate dirty clothes well keep the beds
in fair sleeping condition.
The following proposed education and rehabilitation
gram for the boys was submitted:
Obectves-
One of the first detectives any for
the rehabilitation of delinquent boys of our society is
the establishment of sound designed to make better
citizens them when they leave such institution This
be done acquantg them with the fundamental tenens of
which would make them their
responsibilities prepare themselves decent living
and take their places in our American democracy
Since unfortunate young boys the institution
result of offenes against society and for which such
minds be entirely blamed is important in in
that the environment which they receive this train
ing be conducive reshapng their outlook life than
the immediate environment which they found home To this
end the surroundings at the rehabilitation Wrghtsve
must offer them this chance redirect their thinking and
in which they live.
educational program the institution is the soundest
method through which these detectives may be obtained The
teaching of the basic tools that is, reading writing and arh
metc along with such other courses cvcs
appreciation for religion music and the inclination of other
values which makes for better living in democracy.
The vocational could include intensive training in
farm shop gardening orchardng field crops swine poultry
dairyng agricultural Also
mobile and tractor mechanics welding shoe repair electricity
plumbing and carpentry could be part of the vocational side
Of their training.
the needs of educational Organized recreation is
a necessity for young minds and growing bodies.
The health program must provide thorough examination
all students and satisfactory equipment and facilities for the
maintenance of good health among boys.
In addition the program outlined above the history
and foowup phase of the rehabilitation detectives cannot
overemphaszed whereby the large number of epeaers
be substantially reduced good history and fonowup
program could be worked in close cooperation with the
Arkansas Child Welfare division of the Welfare department
After being released from the institution the envronmenal sit
uaton and condition of the boys home would be checked by
appointed by this if the conditions found
to be desirable the boy would be under the and
in the custody of the until the home conditions were
desirable
To implement desirable rehabilitation and educational
program adequate staff of competent personnel be
There be least four teachers to take Of
Of the teaching and supervision for approximately
ninety boys
The detectives of rehabilitation program II the coach
ing Of the basic tools and other for making the students
better citizens p the teaching Of vocational to
pare them living 81 adequate history and folowup
program ~ adequate library facilities 81 health program g.