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•education, entertainment, and religious instruction. These are the means whereby we of the Borstal staff seek to assist the lads under our care to rehabilitate themselves. Direct psychological treatment is very difficult, and except in skilled hands is liable to do more harm than good. It is our experience that in the Borstal environment the great majority of lads seem to -work out their emotional conflicts so that when the time for their release ■comes they are invariably more stable, more integrated in their personalities, and better equipped to face the rigours of life in the community. Prior to the war every Borstal inmate was examined by a member of the psychiatric staff of Seacliff Mental Hospital and much valuable help was -given toward the understanding and treatment of inmates. It is our hope that before the end of the coming year this service may be revived. Administration,.—lt is no easy task to administer wisely an institution for delinquent youth. There are many difficulties that are not always recognized by the general public. A lad must be led, not driven. His spirit must not be crushed by destructive criticism or by harsh discipline. His imagination must be appealed to and his co-operation gained. His will to make good must be enlisted, and he must be encouraged to have faith in himself and be given assurance that he has the power to make a right adjustment to society. He must be subjected to discipline, but he must be given sufficient freedom in which to develop confidence and strength of character. He must be built up in health of body and mind. He must learn to be a •good worker and to be happy while at work. He must be guided and trained "to participate in sport and be helped to develop an interest in a hobby or ■some spare-time activity. These are some of the things that we strive to do for a boy who comes to Borstal, and with many lads we meet a ready response. Programme for the Year 1945.—The following is an account of some of "the activities carried on as part of the institutional programme for the year:— Occupational and Vocational.—One of the most important functions of the institution is to provide suitable work for the inmates and to teach them •good work habits. The average length of time spent in the institution is about •one year. In this short period it is not possible to teach a trade, so that we concentrate mainly on healthy outdoor work, which is calculated to build up the stamina and physique of the lads and accustom them to regular work habits. The largest number, of inmates is employed on the institution farm, which covers some 2,000 acres. The lads are engaged in dairying, pig and sheep farming, ploughing, crop-growing, shearing, harvesting, fencing, ditching, and all kinds of farm work. The officers in charge of the various parties are •qualified instructors and provide the inmates with practical and theoretical training in the various farm activities. Attached to the institution there is a blacksmith's shop, a carpentry and plumbing shop, a bootmaking shop, a bakery, and a well-equipped laundry where a certain number of boys become acquainted with the elements of these trades, and in some cases develop sufficient skill to follow up the work 011 release. Other inmates also work under the direction of a tradesman painter, .and, a fairly large number are employed in gardening activities. Wool-classing and Agriculture Classes. —These classes, which have been •conducted for many years, are held on a Saturday morning to give an opportunity to those boys who intend to take up farming as a vocation to a theoretical knowledge of modern farming methods. The classes are •conducted by Mr. T. Matthews, an agricultural instructor attached to the Education Board. The Reginald MacKinnon Trust donates £lO
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