THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

Otago Witness, Issue 1006, 11 March 1871, Page 18

THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.

Since our last visit to this Institution, the detached building which was in course of erection has been completed, •nd teveral improvements have been effected which are worthy of notice. When the site for the institution was first selected, many persons considered it rather exposed—and it certainly is in a very bleak position — but it has nevertheless been proved to be extremely healthy. It is a remarkable fact that not a single child has been laid up with liokneiß during the last twelve months. Surrounding the building, and fenced in, there are twenty- two aores of land, now completely cleared of flax and sorub, and undergoing the prooeis of cultivation and improvement. There are four acres and a half under a fine crop of oats, and three aorea of potatoes, cabbages, and other vegetables, all of which look remarkably welL Along the frontage to the road, inside of the wooden fence, there is a fine belt of gum trees, in a very promising condition, and on each side of the long road leading from the gate to the building, are ornamental shruba and flowers. The planting of a few of the best kinds of ornamental treea along this avenue, whioh we believe is contemplated, will be a great improvement. The soil is a good strong loam, resting upon clay. The main building iB of brick, but the accommodation, after a year's trial, proved insufficient, and an additional building of wood has of late been erected, which has added materially to the comfort of the establishment. On the occasion of our visit we were taken by the Master, Mr Britton, first to the oohoolroom. Here we found Mr R. H. Oolee, the teacher, engaged in the laborious duty of imparting a knowledge of books. On being asked how the children compared with those in the ordinary common schools, he replied, "Not much inferior ; there is no want of intelligence." The older boys attend- four hours on every alternate day, and the girls two hours, the latter giving two hours to sewing, while the younger children attend daily. The average attendance is thirtythree boys and twenty-nine girls. The books made use of are the Scottish School-book Association's Series. Considering the ages of the children — few of them being old enough to perform much bodily labour — we are of opinion that the time Bpent in the school-room is too limited. And again, regarding the improvements that have been of late made in the system of infant education, we think that these poor little wards of the State should be allowed to enjoy the advantage of the progress made. Instead of the present monotonous Bystem of book-learning, the improved and attractive method of developing their minds by means of object lessons and by means of symbols of natural things, should be adopted. After inspecting the schoolroom, which is well furnished with desks, forms, books, maps, &c, we passed on to the new kitchen, which is furnished with a large stove and a copper boiler, but which should certainly, for an Institution of this kind, have a properly appointed cooking range. The laundry, the bath room, and the dinin^ room, which is of ample size and suitably furnished, were next visited, and we then saw the dormitories for the younger children, which were in the new building. The bedsteads are of wood, without sides, and not, we should think, .altogether comfortable for the little ones. The bedclothes, however, were good and snowy white. Proper provision is made for ventilation, while the whole of the apartments were scrupulously clean.

This institution was opened on the 19 th of January, 1869. There are in it at presents boys and 38 girls, between the ages of eight months and 13 years. 'It speaks well for the management of Mr Britton' ' that there has been only one solitary-attempt to abscond within the last twelve months, and no case in which anything like severe punishment was required... The boys under Mr Britton attend to the various operations of planting, weeding, hoeing, &c, and thus acquire some knowledge of gardening, while the girls under the matron, Mrs Britton, are taught sewing, washing, ironing, &a. The system of labour adopted, so far as the boys are concerned, iB very imperfect, and poorly calculated to enable them to make a Jiving hereafter. Some industrial system should be. introduced which would aid more effectually than the present one in making the establishment self-support-ing, an<J by which the boys would be better fitted for the business of life. However, it is not. apparently intended that the children, shall remain long in the institution, fojr when r th« Master, after having submitted them to a discipline whiohcontemplates, as for an the oriminal children are concerned, reform rather than punish"

ment, considers a child fit to send put, he or she is, if possible, provided With a home in florae family where they may learn industrious habits. In this way, eight girls and four boys have already been furnished with good homes. They remain in charge of the institution, and receive wages which are collected and saved for them by the Master, until the expiration of the time for which they are committed. This " letting out" of children is a very wise provision of the Act for the custody of neglected and oriminal children under whioh the institution is established. As Miss Oobb says, in speaking of institutions of this kind, "To mass boys together in large numbers, with no home influences or habits, and no attt mpt to draw out their affections, is dangerous ; to do the same to girls, is fatal." Children taken from the ranks from which it is well known that the larger portion of professional vagrants, thieves, and prostitntes are trained, are, until they have been subjected to good moral discipline and industrial training, unfit to send abroad to earn an honest living. The massing together, for a time, is unavoidable, and notwithstanding the objeotions raised by Miss Cobb and others to this system, there is no doubt but the drilling and moral teaching of such an institution are beneficial. At all events, it is the duty of the State to arrest inoipient crime, rather than to punish it, and to resoue from bad influences young persons who are without parental care, before they have received the prison brand. As to placing them immediately in an institution for training, where they may receive what they so much require — healthful and kindly family influences — that would be impos sible. We may venture to assert that none of the reformatories or industrial schools as yet established are conducted in the best manner for the true development of the physical, moral, mental, and spiritual natures of children. It is only of late years that much attention has been given to the solution of the great problem of the prevention and cure of juvenile vagranoy and orime, and saving the poor and outcast . children to industry and virtue — " a service," Bays the Secretary of the -Board of State Charities of Massachusetts, " which reaches down to the very bottom of society, affecting not only the condition and destiny of individual life, but the very safety and welfare of the State and nation." This institution is certainly a credit to the province, and its influence will be vast in the prevention of crime, but in some respects its efficiency, as we have already hinted, might be greatly enhanced. In conclusion, we may say that the management of Mr Britten appears to be most efficient. He exeroises a wise and paternal influence over his young charges, and in his efforts to carry out the regulations and objects of the institution is ably seconded by Mrs Britton, the Matron. It should also be mentioned that the only assistants in the establishment, are the school-teacher, a cook, and a nurse. The Institution is frequently visited by the Inspector — Mr "Weldon, Commissioner of Police — and others who take an interest in its progress, and a weekly visit is made by the medical attendant, Dr Burns.