Boys Reclaimed by Borstal Plan of Craitsmanship

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 28 December 1936, Page 10

Boys Reclaimed by Borstal Plan of Craitsmanship

N' i’JTTNGH AM, Bug.—Real success i' marking the experiments of English prison commissioners to reclaim prisoner.* and turn them to useful careers. An outstanding* example of this work is the Borstal Institute of Lowdhani Grange, Nottinghamshire,’ where there are none of the bars and bolts of the ordinary prison, ami to which former inmates, re-established in society, ask to <"■ allowed to come back for a visit just like other young men take their friends proudly back to their old school. Camp in the Woods. Borstal detention is for persons aged fromfrom 10 to 23. The writer, visiting Lowdhani recently, saw lads who had been convicted of delinquencies going out for walks together in the neighbouring countryside. Rover .Scouts were enjoying their leisure in a camp in an adjoining wood. Actually once or twice a mouth, 12 boys, dressed in civilian clothes, are allowed to visit the adjoining city of Nottingham on .Saturday pveniig. They spend three hours in the city without, supervision but have to report at a given hour ami return together. A committee of the boys assists iu choosing those to whom this privilege is allowed and it is said that never has a lad not prove.! worthy of this trust. Join Groups of 12 As >oon as the boys arrive al Lowdham. the governor explains to them personally that they will have a chance of living up to a new attitude and traditions. 'I hi \ are placed in one of three houses which have been built by boy a during the lasi live years under the supervision of skilled bricklayers, carpenA new boy is put into a group which contains about 12 boys altogether an r ‘ is under a leader, a buy chosen by the house master because he shows qualities '•t moral courage and powers of leade*’ ship. As each House montains only about 60 boys, the house masters, who are most carefully selected, the house matrons and the staff learn to Know every boy personally. All Start as Labourers. 1 rades learned by the boys include bricklaying, carpentering, plumbing, electric light fitting, hot-water fitting, smithing, painting, cooking, baking, farming, and gardening. The boy starts as a labourer. After a month’s successful trial he becomes a novice, thence rising to apprentice junior, apprentice senior, and finally to Improver.