Sivut kuvina
PDF
ePub

has been hampered in its work by lack of funds. For this reason the valuable data in its office have not been worked up and studied. From time to time, as opportunity offered, studies have been made of a certain number of cases. Among these have been a few groups of inmates of the Indiana reformatory at Jeffersonville. That institution receives young men, principally first offenders, between sixteen and thirty years of age. Recently, for a special purpose, a short study was made of certain points regarding the last five hundred inmates received up to and including May 31, 1901. The facts brought out verify in a striking way those of previous investigations. It is generally recognized that the family relations of a majority of the inmates of such institutions have been disturbed. One or both parents are dead, or they live apart. Their children have not had the benefit of proper home training. The largest proportion are notably deficient in education. Of the 500 studied, 66, or 13.2 per cent., are reported as illiterate; 251, or 50.2 per cent., had not reached the fourth grade in the public schools; and but 26, or 5.2 · per cent., had reached the high school; 282 of all noted were natives of Indiana. The proportion of illiteracy was less in these by almost one-half, and a greater number had passed the elementary-school work. To be more specific, of those last mentioned, 22, or 7.8 per cent., were illiterate; 123, or 43.6 per cent., had not reached the fourth public-school grade; only 13, or 4.6 per cent., had reached the high school.

The stooping shoulders, awkward arms, and shambling gait of these young men indicate plainly that they are deficient in physical training. The training of the hand has been neglected; 406, or 81.2 per cent., claim to have no trades. In these busy times when there is demand for workmen, 252, or 50.4 per cent., state they were unemployed when the crime for which they were sentenced was committed. Not one claims to have been under the influence of good associates. Evil associates lead to bad habits. While it is not claimed that those shown were the cause of crime, it is interesting to note their relationship to it. Three hundred. and twelve, or 62.4 per cent., use liquor; 374, or 74.8 per cent., smoke cigarettes; 409, or 81.8 per cent., use tobacco in some form. On the contrary, it is shown that they have not been to any very great extent under those influences which are considered refining or helpful. Many have been deprived of proper home influences. Two hundred and eightysix, or 57.2 per cent., have not attended Sunday school. Only one of the 500 examined claimed to have belonged to the Y. M. C. A. It should be stated here that no value is claimed for some of these latter figures. I do not know that it will be shown that they have any value. They are simply taken for purposes of experiment in order that they may be tested.

The offenses committed by these 500 persons may be classified as crimes against persons and crimes against property. It will be observed that 88 per cent., 440, of them fall under the latter class, leaving 12 per cent., 60,

under the former. As has been intimated, this is but a tentative presentation of this subject. Similar studies have been made with substantially the same results. One is impressed that there is something notably lacking in these young men. They lack home training; they lack mental training; they lack physical training; they lack manual training; they lack moral training.

The striking need is the training of the mind, the morals, and the muscles. It is the effort of our reformatories, so far as they can, to correct these deficiencies, and in addition inculcate self-control. That they are doing a good work is shown by their histories. This is the work of reclaiming the fallen. Why not train properly those who have not fallen? What can we do that has not been done for the prevention of crime? That is the word for us to remember-"prevention." "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Does it not impress you that something may be wrong with the present attitude and efforts of the home, of the school, and of the church toward the young? Can we not stand at the end of childhood, where the grist comes out, and learn something? Is there not something in the facts that appeals to you, teachers, whose lives are devoted to the elevation of all childhood? Shall that not cause us to question our theories,

our methods, and our results?

The last quarter of a century has witnessed notable changes in the treatment of the young who have committed crime. The ten years just closing have been especially conspicuous in this way. Indiana has endeavored to keep pace in this work with the more progressive states. Not long since one of our most experienced penologists, a resident of an eastern state, said to me: "I have watched with pleasure the progress of Indiana's institutions in the last few years, but that which has interested me most has been the laws that you have passed that will be preventive of crime." We then spoke of the child-saving law, the child-labor law, the compulsory-education law, the board of guardians law, and of the curfew ordinances. It was recalled that the administration of almost all of these measures was under the supervision of one central board. As we realize that these laws for the protection of unfortunate childhood, of the orphan or ill-treated child those requiring school attendance, those for the regulation of children at night—all strike at some of the causes of crime, we feel the force of his remark. How efficient they will be depends upon public intelligence and public sentiment. If our people know these things, will they not do them? In addition, two great factors in the proper training of the young are beginning to make themselves felt. They are manual training and physical culture.

I have been asked how I believed existing conditions would be helped. My reply has been that the work will first be taken up by our schools. They represent an organized force, active and alert for every

a proper These are

advance. Next the churches will give it their attention. Finally, thru the influence of both of these and of charity organization place for uniting their efforts - the homes will be reached. the social unit, and the message will come to them one by one.

When the school, the church, and the home shall fully understand the facts, and the urgent need for renewed effort along every line that may possibly be used to save the boys and girls, the figures will have a different story to tell. I have faith to believe that this result will be accomplished. In my own state I feel that it is working with mighty power now. I have great confidence in our people. I have faith in men and women. I believe in you teachers who are called upon to teach the children of the people. With such faith I need not assure you that I expect our children to get much more than their parents received. I expect them to be better than their parents. What I expect for my own children I expect for all children.

DEPARTMENT OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

SECRETARY'S MINUTES

FIRST SESSION.- WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1901

The Department of Secondary Education met in Room 230 of the Central High School, and was called to order by the president, William J. S. Bryan, principal of the high school, St. Louis, Mo. In the absence of the secretary, the vice president, Miss Nettie Fillmore, of Cincinnati, was called upon to act as secretary.

Music-vocal solo, (a) “Villaneth," Del Acqua; (b) “Song of Sunshine," Goring Thomas-by Miss Gertrude Loder.

The president delivered a brief introductory address, after which he introduced J. Remsen Bishop, principal of the Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati, O., who spoke on "The Function of the High School of Today."

Discussion of Principal Bishop's address was opened by Stratton D. Brooks, high school visitor of the University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.

Following the discussion the president appointed the following Committee on Nominations, to report at a special business meeting to be held at 2 P. M., Friday, July 12: F. P. Moulton, Hartford, Conn. J. H. Harris, Orchard Lake, Mich.

F. W. Barrows, Buffalo, N. Y.

The department then adjourned to meet in the various rooms assigned for roundtable conferences in accordance with the following program:

English Conference, Auditorium; leader, J. H. Harris, principal of the Michigan Military Academy, Orchard Lake, Mich.

Latin Conference, Room No. 311; leader, F. P. Moulton, instructor of Latin, High School, Hartford, Conn.

Commercial Studies Conference, Room No. 118; leader, Thomas H. H. Knight, Girls' High School, Boston, Mass.

Botany Conference, Room No. 217; leader, Lewis Murbach, teacher of biology, Central High School, Detroit, Mich.

Chemistry exhibit, Room No. 4; physics exhibit from St. Louis, Room No. 117.

SECOND SESSION. THURSDAY, JULY II

The department met at 2:30 P. M.

Music - vocal solo, "Staccato Polka," Harshell-by Miss Lois Inglis.

An adjournment was then taken to the various round-table conferences in accordance with the following program:

Zoology Conference, Room No. 217; leader, Franklin W. Barrows, teacher of zoology, Central High School, Buffalo, N. Y.

Domestic Science Conference, Room No. 302; leader, Miss Abbie L. Marlatt, teacher of domestic science, Manual Training High School, Providence, R. I.

Algebra Conference, Room No. 311; leader, George W. Evans, teacher of mathematics, English High School, Boston, Mass.

Greek Conference, Room No. 307; leader, Isaac N. Judson, teacher of the classics, St. Louis High School, St. Louis, Mo.

German Conference, Room No. 301; leader, Joseph Krug, teacher of German, Central High School, Cleveland, O.

Physics Conference, Room No. 117; Carl J. Ingerson, teacher of physics, High School, St. Louis, Mo. Round-table discussions on secondary studies, 4:30 P. M.

Chemistry Conference, Room No. 9; leader, C. E. Linebarger, teacher of chemistry, Lake View High School, Chicago, Ill.

Geometry Conference, Room No. 218; leader, Alan Sanders, teacher of geometry, Hughes High School, Cincinnati, O.

History Conference, Room No. 230; leader, James J. Sheppard, head teacher of history, DeWitt Clinton High School, New York, N. Y.

Physiography Conference, Room No. 212; leader, William H. Snyder, teacher of science, Worcester Academy, Worcester, Mass.

Physiology Conference, Room No. 212; leader, James E. Peabody, teacher of physiology, Cooper High School, New York city.

French Conference, Room No. 305; leader, Charles M. Gubus, teacher of French, Central High School, Detroit, Mich. NETTIE FILLMORE,

Acting Secretary.

THIRD SESSION.-FRIDAY, JULY 12

A business meeting of the Department of Secondary Education was held in Room 230 of the Central High School at 3 P. M. The meeting was called to order by President William J. S. Bryan.

In the absence of the secretary, J. H. Beazell, principal Central High School, Detroit, Mich., was appointed secretary pro tem.

The first business was the report of the Committee on Nominations, which was as follows:

For President-J. Remsen Bishop, principal Walnut Hills High School, Cincinnati, O.

For Vice President- W. F. Webster, principal East Side High School, Minneapolis, Minn.

For Secretary- Miss Clara A. Pease, High School, Hartford, Conn.

The secretary was instructed to cast the ballot in favor of the nominees, and this was done. The president then declared the above-named elected as officers of the Department of Secondary Education for the ensuing year.

The following resolution was introduced by Mr. C. F. Adams, Central High School, Detroit, Mich., and adopted by the department:

WHEREAS, A recent ruling of the appraiser of the port of New York, relative to the importation of scientific apparatus, duty free, for the use of schools and colleges, has so changed the previous classification as greatly to limit, if not entirely prevent, such importation; and

WHEREAS, We believe such ruling is not in conformity with either the spirit or the letter of the law and seriously cripples the work of the scientific departments of our schools;

Be it resolved, That we, as representatives of the teachers of science of the United States, enter our earnest protest against such ruling as working a hardship to the educational interests of the country, and respectfully request that it be reconsidered and, if possible, changed. Be it further resolved that this protest and request be forwarded to the secretary of the treasury of the United States by the Secretary of the National Educational Association.

(Signed)

CHARLES F. ADAMS, Central High School, Detroit, Mich.,
Chairman of Committee.
A. W. AUGUR, Lake View High School, Chicago, Ill.
HERBERT C. WOOD, East High School, Cleveland, O.

A resolution was offered tendering the thanks of the department to the principals and teachers of the Detroit high schools, and to the local committee, for the work done by them to make the meetings a success.

The last business was a vote of thanks to President William J. S. Bryan, and the other officers of the department, for their efforts in the way of preparation for the meeting and for the successful execution of the plans.

The meeting then adjourned.

J. H. BEAZELL,

Secretary pro tem.

« EdellinenJatka »