The N.Z. Times FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1907. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 6325, 27 September 1907, Page 4

The N.Z. Times

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1907. INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.

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The report on industrial schools recently presented to Parliament indicates a reassuring state of things in this important branch of the Bducation Department- The various schools and receiving homes are spoken of in the highest terms by the various medical officers who paid them official visits of inspection. In all oases the '• children are said to be well clad and well fed, and the dormitories were fonnd to be clean, well ventilated, and comfortable. A notable exception to this generally satisfactory state of things is indicated in the report supplied by Dr Byrnes, medical officer for Burnham, who, whilst making no remark on the efficiency of the staff, which we may therefore conclude to be satisfactory, supplies some trenchant criticism as to the equipment of the' school. It would seem from Dr Byrnes’s report that “the dormitories are\over-crowd-ed in a very unwholesome manner.” Now, as regards any school whore boys reside together, few statements could carry a more sinister significance than this. Where the dormitories are overcrowded, it is most difficult for the management to secure that healthiness of physical and moral tone which is the first essential in the bringing up of boys. A ad if this is difficult even with the best class of boys, what shall ho said of an industrial .school where these undesirable conditions exist? Nor are the dormitories at Burnham the only defective part of the arrangements. There is no sick-ward, no surgery, \ and no dispensary; the kit-

dhen and offices are small and dark; and the staff are cramped for room. In short, a building which was constructed thirty years ago for fifty young children is now being made to servo for twice that number of boys and young men. Fortunately, there is a plentiful supply of pure water: but it is time, for the credit of our industrial school system, that in other respects accommodation was provided at Burnham which would make it possible to conduct the school on tho best hygienic linos. There has no doubt been an advance in the treatment of industrial school children of recent years. In the matter of classification especially, very desirable reforms have been made. Not only have boys and girls been housed in separate institutions, but a classification has been made as far as possible of children who require and children who do not require reformatory treatment; further still, of those children who are fitted for boarding out and those who are not so fitted- The receiving homos of Wellington and Christchurch are not residential institutions, but receive children for disposal in various ways—infants and young children for boarding out, and older girls for placing out at service. The Auckland and Cavorsham Industrial Schools receive girls who do not require reformatory treatment, whilst tho Woraroa Training Farm at Levin receives boys of the same typo. The Burnham Industrial School and tho Oranga Home, on the other hand, receive respectively boys and girls of viciods tendencies who, therefore, require reformatory treatment. It is h noticeable fact that tho only private industrial schools in the colony are those conducted by tho Roman Catholic Church; and the number of boys and girls in residence seem to be as nearly as possible divided between the Government schools and these private schools. On the other hand, those hoarded out are almost entirely from tho Government schools. The total number ou the books of all the schools for 1006 was 2075, of whom 1370 were dependent on public funds for maintenance. For the support of these 1370 children the sum of £3477 8s 6d was recovered from parents, being at tho rate of £2 10s 9d per head of the total number. Co-operation between, the Courts, the police, and the Education Department has resulted in a large increase of the amount recovered from parents for the support of children in the industrial schools. Some Magistrates apparently hold that undue pressure is brought to bear by the Education Department on parents, with tho result that receipts under such Magistrates tend to dwindle. In one case whore the - Magistrate held such lenient views the receipts dwindled to £125 in that centre; but when a Magistrate succeeded who held sterner views as to the responsibilities of parents the receipts rose steadily till j they now stand at £620 for the year.. The department is clear that as time goes on it becomes more evident that the system of boarding out children in foster-homes, is tho most beneficent way of providing for them. This being so, it is a pity that the sustained, prosperity of the Dominion should make it increasingly difficult to find suitable foster-homes for destitute children- This, we are told, is more especially so in the case of infants.