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are more indebted for all that is valuable in New England character, than to any other source whatever. It is my opinion that the rest of the instruction should be confined to what is practically useful in common life, such as reading, writing, common arithmetic, geography, common field surveying, &c.

I offer these few hints with diffidence and without apology, because you request it, and remain,

With great respect, your obedient servant,

Hon. A. D. FOSTER,

ROBERT RANTOUL,

S. H. WALLEY, JR.

SIMON GREENLEAF.

Commissioners, &c.

Letter from DANIEL CHANDLER, Esq.

SOUTH BOSTON, Oct. 9th, 1846.

GENTLEMEN, -The following answers to the several interrogatories contained in the circular you have done the honor of addressing me, are respectfully submitted.

1st. In answer to your first interrogatory, as to a plan of construction, &c., I herewith send you a sketch of the lower floor, and front view, of an edifice, which seems to me best calculated for the purposes contemplated.

2d. As to "the limit of age, beyond which none should be admitted," I should fix it, as a general rule, never to exceed seventeen years; although I think great discrimination should be practised, in admitting boys over fifteen or sixteen years of age.

As to whether "former character should be taken into account, &c.," I consider it to be a question of great importance; experience having taught me that boys, (especially large ones,) who have been accustomed to vicious habits, are very likely to have a demoralizing influence upon their companions, espe

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cially those who are younger and well disposed; consequently, the injury done to others, far outweighs the benefit they would be likely to receive themselves. Therefore great caution should be used, in admitting large boys of known bad character, or, in a short time, the number of the incorrigible will accumulate to such an extent, as to render the institution difficult to manage, without resorting to more of a prison discipline, than is desirable.

Therefore age, size, and local circumstances, must be considered in determining the question. By local circumstances, I refer to influence of parents, former companions, and to local temptations, whether in the city or country.

3d. "Should the institution be for lads only, or should girls be admitted?" It is my opinion, it should be for lads only : or, if girls are admitted, they should occupy an entirely separate building, at a distance from that for the boys; for I find, by past experience, that where the sexes are in the same building, or even at a short distance from each other, they are continually forming schemes for improper communication, which has a corrupting influence upon both.

4th. To the question, "whether there should be a distinction as to the classes of offences, &c.," it is my opinion, that the first juvenile offence, however great, does not furnish sufficient cause for the abandonment of all moral means: as the misdeed is quite as likely to have been the result of incautiousness, or surrounding influences, as from a disposition so vitiated as to render reform hopeless. Therefore, repeated and highly aggravated offences seem to me to form just grounds for distinction.

5th. As to whether "commitments should be made by courts alone, or by others," it is my present opinion that the courts should have jurisdiction over that class of cases called juvenile offences, except at times when the courts are not in session, or in towns where no courts are held; in which case, it might be well to extend the jurisdiction to justices of the peace, with the right of appeal, &c. In some cases it might be desirable, (if constitutional,) to have a private examination, to which only those interested should be admitted, which would enable a boy

to enter and enjoy the benefit of the institution, without the degradation of a public trial.

6th. As to the accommodations, &c., I think ample provisions should be made for from two hundred and fifty to three hundred; as is indicated by the accompanying plan, or sketch : which number I think will fully accommodate the State for the present.

7th. Respecting "what provision should be made for such boys as shall be discharged from the institution," I think great care should be taken to secure good places, (for such as are not given up to parents or friends,) at some mechanical or farming business, to which they should be indented during their minority: the managers acting as their guardians, always keeping in mind what seems to me very important, that is, the selection of a business, or trade, suited to the inclinations and taste of the boy.

In the selection of situations, other things being equal, preference should be given to those situated at a distance from the place where the offence was committed; that they may be removed, as far as possible, from all evil associations connected therewith.

It would also be desirable for the managers to have power to apprentice lads in towns situated out of the State; likewise to send large boys to sea, without indentures, when they are of that class that cannot be recommended for apprenticeship; for it has been found, in all institutions of the kind, that there are some admitted, who prove to be so viciously inclined, and hardened in crime, as to endanger the peace of society, should they be apprenticed.

Thirteen years of practical experience, in the supervision of a similar class of boys, at the Farm School, and House of Reformation for Juvenile Offenders at South Boston, has fully proved the fact, that a much greater proportion of the cases where boys who have gone out from those institutions have fallen back into their former vices, are from among such as have been put to places in cities, or large, compact villages, where they are, to a certain extent, unavoidably exposed to many temptations; hence the propriety of removing them, as far as possible, from all scenes or places of the kind.

8th. To the question, "what shall entitle to a discharge,” I should say good behavior, -good in that sense, that they have thereby secured the confidence and respect of those placed over them, and likewise good evidence of a complete reformation in character.

9th. As to the "general management of the institution," &c. 1st. Discipline. Much depends upon a well conducted, judicious plan of discipline or mode of government, without which no benefit will result, but rather evil. Bringing together a large number of boys who have long been addicted to bad habits of life, will, without proper discipline is maintained, enable them to corrupt each other. No code of rules can be adopted in enforcing discipline which will equally and invariably apply in all cases; it requires tact, discrimination, foresight, and sound judgment in the disciplinarian, to adjust it to the capacity, circumstances, and state of mind of the boy. It should be, as far as possible, like that of a well regulated family,-mild, but firm and persuasive. All should be treated ordinarily with equal kindness and attention; thereby showing a special individual regard for each.

I find few boys so constituted as not to be influenced by kind treatment; it is likewise the most effectual means of obtaining another very important object, -that of a cheerful and respectful obedience, which, for all the purposes of reform, is incomparably better than any compulsory mode.

I judge from the fact, that since the abandonment, in most instances, of corporeal punishment at the House of Reformation, at South Boston, and the substitution of a milder and more persuasive means, the general conduct of the boys has very much improved, and the care of supervision changed, from a comparative task, to that of pleasure. Physical force will produce temporary obedience, but nothing but the moral education of the heart can produce a permanent change of character, -all modes of discipline which fail to accomplish this, are worthless. I am not to be understood as meaning that there are not instances where corporeal punishment should be used as the last resort, but, when used, it should be for the double purpose of correction and example.

2d. Employment. All who are in health should be fully employed during six hours of the day; principally at shop-work, gardening, or farming. All boys when first received into the institution, should be put to shop-work, as affording a better opportunity of learning their character and disposition, also being less liable for escapes and better calculated for discipline, than farm work; which can be done by the best class of boys, as they are found to be trustworthy.

3d. Trades. I judge, from experience, that shoe-making, chair-bottoming, and brush-making, are some of the trades best suited to the circumstances and condition of this class of boys.

4th. Instruction. This is your last interrogatory, though not least in importance. Under this head, moral instruction should rank first. All the boys who are able to read, should attend daily to the reading of the Bible, acknowledge God before and after meals, and all, both officers and pupils, should attend morning and evening prayers; likewise the Sabbath school and meeting on the Sabbath. They should be taught strictly to observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

As education and employment bear an important part in the reformation of juvenile offenders, the time of each week-day should be divided as follows, viz.: Six hours for work, three in the forenoon and three in the afternoon, -four hours for schooling, two in the fore-part and two in the after-part of the day, where they should be taught the same branches of a common school education, that are taught in our public

schools.

I have the honor to be, gentlemen,

Your humble servant,

DANIEL CHANDLER.

To the Hon. A. D. FOSTER,

ROBERT RANTOUL,

SAMUEL H. WALLEY,

Commissioners, &c.

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