Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 24th December 1853, Edition 2 of 2, Page 4, BEFOKMATOKY SCHOOLS. A- conference was h...

Page 4
Page 4
4 of 24

On this page

  • Text (3)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      The President's Message. The Canada Stea...

      settled conviction shall pervade the entire union , that nothing short of the highest tone and standard of public morality marks every part of the administration and legislation 6 f the general government . Thus -will the federal system , whatever expansion time and progress may give it , continue more and more deeply rooted in the love and conndence of the people . - , ,. " That wise economy , which is as far removed from P ^ simonyas from corrupt and corrupting extravagance—tha ' single regard for the public good , which will frown upon all attfmpts to approach the treasury with insidions projects of private interest cloaked under public pretexts—that sound fiscal administration which , in the legislative

      depart-, ment , guards against the dangerous temptations incident to overflowing revenue , and , in the executive , maintains an unsleeping watchfulness against the tendency of all nationa expenditure to extravagance—while they are admitted elementary political duties , may , I trust , be deemed as properly adverted to and urged , in view of the more impressive sense of that necessity , which is directly suggested by the considerations now presented . " . . This remarkable Message winds up with a brief , but kindly notice of the death of Vice-President King , and an expression of trust in the wisdom of Congress .

      1228 The Leader, Ebatur^ A^, —**^^M^^^**...

      1228 THE LEADER , EBatur ^ a ^ , —**^^ M ^^^** " ^^*^ - ^ W ^^ i ^ W ^^^ BI ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ *

      Befokmatoky Schools. A- Conference Was H...

      BEFOKMATOKY SCHOOLS . A- conference was held at Birmingham on Tuesday , for the purpose of promot ing the establislunent of reformatory schools for young criminals . The committee by whom the conference was convened ( induing Lord Calthorpe , Sir J . Pakington , M . P ., Lord Lyttelton , the JEarl of Denbigh , the Bishop of Worcester , Sir B . Peel , M . P ., Lord Leigh , & c ) , make the following statement in their circular of invitation ;—

      " The propositions which the conference of 1851 laid down as tne basis of their discussion , and the resolutions which they passed , have , we believe , in the main gained the general sanction of public opinion . Legislation , however , has not taken place , and there is much need of continued impalse being given to it by a repeated public attestation of the increasing urgency and importance of the subject , * while it will also be highly advantageous that the additional experience and more matured convictions which have been acquired should be collected , compared , and recorded . Throughout England private experiments have been , indeed , meanwhile rapidly increasing in number ; bat such efforts , however praiseworthy in themselves , are and must

      be wholly inadequate to the great object in view , while unassisted by legislation . Scotland has also established local reformatories in six of her chief cities , and one of them , Glasgow , has obtained an act authorising local taxation for the purpose . The increase of crime , and loss of honest industry thereby occasioned in this country , are lamented by all ; yet still have we to regret that England remains almost the only civilised country in which the Legislature deals with the moral destitution and crimes of children by means of imprisonment alone , and hesitates to establish the remedial institutions which other nations have learnt to reckon among primary provisions for the welfare and safety of the community- The fact that transportation , as a chief means of secondary punishment , is now ceasing , aggravates the perplexity and mischief arising from this national neglect . Since the last conference a most useful and extensive

      inquiry into the condition of criminal and destitute children has been carried on by a Select Committee of the House of Commons , and a Mil for securing the supply , maintenance , and efficient action of reformatory schools throughout England , was introduced into Parliament at the close of the last session , and only withdrawn , after its second reading , upon the assurance of the Government that they would take the matter in hand early next year . It is ovident , however , that the Government will be materially assisted in fulfilling this promise , if supported by sustained public interest and watchfulness . "

      The gentlemen composing the conference assembled at Dee ' s Hotel , and Sir John Pakington was elected to the chair . Not the least significant fact was the array of letters of sympathy and support read at the outset from the Bishop of Worcester , Lord Lovaine , Mr . Matthew Baines , Lord Stanley , Mr . Henry Fitzroy , Lord Bad nor , Lord Brougham , the Speaker of the House of Commons , Mr . Joseph Hume , M . P ., Mr . W . Miles , M . P ., the Bishop of Oxford , Mr . Cobden , M . P ., the Mayor of Ludlow , the Mayor of Glasgow , Mr . Mowbray , M . P ., Mr . Houghton , of Dublin ; the Dean of Salisbury , Mayor of Warrington , the llecorder of London , and the recorders of several boroughs .

      The proceedings were mainly of a formal character . Sir John Pakington opened them with a long speech narrating the various steps which have been taken in the House of Commons , and out of it , pointing out that while reformatory schools exist in Scotland , throughout the continent , and in the United Stutea , there are none in Kngland . He went deeply into the evidence taken before the select committee last session : — " The able men who addressed tho conf ' crcnco of 1851

      dwelt with much force upon the uimtncsH of a prison for tho correction and treatment of tho child who hud been led into crime . Tho ovidenco given boforo tho cominiltoo tended to contain thin view , and to hIvow that when a child had boon convicted of crime tho wuy to ruin him wan to hoik ! him to prison ; while , if they wished to redeem and to hhvo him , they would Bond him to school . Tho English Hyntom wan , wlion a child had transgressed tho law , to punish him ; ami the question thoy had to consider wan , whether , when a ohild had transgressed tho liw , wisdom and policy did not combine to touch , them that tho proper way to treat such a

      child was to reform and to educate him . ( Cheers . ) Their choice lay between punishment and kindness . They did not ¦ wish to hold out any absurd idea that children were to > be exempt from all punishment . They knew , on the highest authority , that children must be corrected , and he thought there was no danger of misapprehension between ^ the necessity of correcting an erring child and the necessity of dealing with a criminal and destitute-child upon sound instead of upon false principles . The evidence showed that in all the reformatory establishments proper punishments were not dispensed with , but that kindness was the rule . The Bev . Dr . Guthrie , of Edinburgh , stated , that in the House of Kefuge in that city they had hardly any punishments at all . He would now allude very briefly to the portion © f the - . _ . ¦ — . ¦ ¦ h ^

      evidence which showed what success had attended ; the efforts that had been made . A hundred cases of children who had been in the Glasgow establishment had been traced and closely investigated , and it was found that there were 70 cases of complete reformation . In Edinburgh similar results had been attained ; at Mettray , in France , the proportion of reformations was 85 per cent . Of 4397 boys and girls received into the New York House of Kefuge , previously to 1849 , it was believed that 3-4 ths had been saved from ruin and reformed . Of the condition of the 2250 received at the House of Refuge at Philadelphia , previously to 1849 , as favourable a report was given . Another matter for the consideration of the conference was the question of cost . He was convinced , from what had taken place at that meeting , and at the conference of 1851 , that the feeling of those who

      took an interest in the subject was—* Here is a great and paramount duty to be performed , at whatever cost . We have a great national duty to discharge , from which , as a nation , we ought not to shrink . ' The scheme they contemplated was not only wise and benevolent , but it was eminently economical . The cost of criminals , including the expenses of their trials , commitments , and maintenance , and the value of the plunder they obtained , was far greater than the expense of reformatory schools . He admitted that they were not totally destitute of such institutions . The Government had given them one at Parkhurst , and benevolence had given them another in the Philanthropic Institution . The last establisliment had done much good for a long series of years ; the Parkhurst establishment was

      comparatively new . Although , then , they had not utterly forgotten their duty , they had not performed it in the manner which became a great nation . There had , however , of late been other exceptions . In that town , owing to the benevolent exertions of Mr . Sturge , and through the agency of Miss Carpenter , aided by their benevolent Recorder ( Mr . M . D . Hill ) , some small institutions of this kind were struggling into existence . Still , until Parliament stepped in , until they had adequate control and inspection , and an improved criminal law , they could not see these institutions working as they ought to do . He hoped that from this day they might have an adequate supply of reformatory institutions springing into existence , fostered by the aid of a paternal Government and the benevolence of a Christian people . "

      The conference was then successively addressed by Lord Shaftesbury , Mr . C . B , Adderley , Mr . Monckton Milnes , the Reverend Angell James , Mr . Joseph Sturge , Mr . M . D . Hill , Mr . Jelinger Symons , and other gentlemen . The following resolutions were adopted with unanimity : — " That , before proceeding to the consideration of ' Legislative amendments imperatively called for in the national treatment of morally destitute and criminal children , ' this conference avails itself Of the earliest opportunity to express its cordial adoption of the opinion of the select committee of the House of Commons , appointed to inquire into'the subject , by whom it was declared that a large proportion of the

      present aggregate of crime might be prevented , and thousands of miserable human beings , who have before them , under our present system , nothing but a hopeless career of wickedness and vice , might be converted into virtuous , honest , and industrious citizens , if duo care were taken to rescue destitute , neglected , and criminal children from tho dangers and temptations incident to thcirposition . " " That , properly to efiect tho great object contemplated in the preceding resolution , this conference is of opinion that the country requires legislation for the encouragement of reformatory schools for children convicted of crime or habitual vagrancy , and that such schools should bo founded and supported m the manner pointed out by tho resolutions of tho committee of the House of Commons—viz ., partially by local

      rates , and partially by contributions Irom tho btato . " " That , in the opinion of thia conference , every encouragement should bo given to reformat ory schools , supported by voluntary contributions , for tlfo benefit of destitute and criminal children ; and that power should bo given to Government , and to counties and boroughs , to contract with tho managers of such institutions for tho education and maintenance of criminal children therein ; such institutions to bo under Government inspection . " " That powers should be created for sending children convicted of crime or habitual vagrancy to reformatory eatnblishmonts , for sufficient time for their reformation or industrial training , or until satisfactory sureties bo found for their future / rood conduct .

      ' That powers nhoulil be conferred in certain" caswa to apprentice boys on their leaving reformatory schools , or to adopt other inciiBurcti for enabling them to commence a course of honest induHtry . " That , as n check to any possible encouragement oflbml to parental negligence , a portion of every child ' N costofmuiiitonnncH at ; a reformatory nchool should bo recoverable from tho parents . " Mr . Hill , Q . C ., announced that , in addition to the 200 / . originally given by Lady Byron for tho best ossay upon tho subject of tho Itoformntion of Juvenile Oilbndein , her Ladyship had , in consequence of tlio oxcollcnce of the essays produced , sont another 100 / . Matters of formal business followed ; and , tlianlcp being voted to Sir John Pakington for his

      conduct in the chair , theaaeetihg broke up— -aitbouph in fket , onty- adjourned until tfie public meeting in the Town-hall , at seven tfdbck . g m A meetmg at the Town . Hall was held in tftp evening , and fully attended ; , but the p ^ oceedin ^ were remai & able only for the sanction given by th public to the views put forward by . the coafer « nce ¦ .. A _ » -. ( Ab & - ^ ^ _ _ . ' ^^^^^^^^

      Practicax Edua&Ftolt For The'poor Last W...

      PRACTICAX EDUa & FTOlT FOR THE ' POOR Last week , there was an . examination of candidate * and schoolmasters at the Wolvesley Traimhg . ' School and . of schoolmasters from the dioceses- of Winchester and Salisbury , for certificates of merib flam , the Go vernmexBt inspector , Mr . Brookfleld . When it was completed , Mr . Brookfifcldi heading the student * and schoolmasters , met Lord Ashburton- at Winchester and heard from him a plan he had to propound for teaching " common things . " Among tiie auditors were tie Dean of Wmchesteiy Archdeacon Wigram the Rev . ' -S * Best , Dr . Wilson , and . Canon Wbodrbofe * Lord Ashburton ' s speech , on the oeeasion , was so admirable and so full of interest , that we reprint the fullest report of it that has come to hand . Lord Ashburton announced that , at the- examinations forregistration at Easter , 1854 , the following' prizes would beawarded : —A scholar ' s prize of 8 J ., for tha most extensive knowledge- of common things ; two teachers ? prizes of 157 . and 7 ? ., for the xnosi effective teaching ofi common things ! The competition would be open to ma , le « students who hail finished their training at the Diocesan School of Winchester and to male teachers of schools open tos instruction in the counties of Hants and Wilts . SinuW prizes , of similar , amounts , to . the female students of Salisbury Training School and the female teachers of schools open to inspection in Hants and Wilts . In the adjudication of the scholars ' prize regard would be had to the extent of knowledge disi-tiotrail ixritli / Mit rDTomnna 4-n + Via ' . y \ f \ motp ' t \ F AATnniiininnfinn it liV Vt

      LtlChJ VUj ir ^ kilVUV 1 V 4 V 4 WMVV vuu £ TV * Tl * JI VUUUUUU 1 . VUllUg 11 , In the adjudication of the teachers * prize , knowledge would only be regarded in so far as it might be used in teachicg an elementary class . Such were the prizes which he ventured to offer for their competition . But they were entitled to know more , they had a right to know the objects which he had in view ; they had a right to be assured tbaHie-had not lightly and inconsideratel y taken upon himself the part of interfering in their pursuits . The first person , whom he consulted on the subject was Mr . Brookfield , and they saw him now by his side , cordially assisting him with his approval and co-operation . He had further consulted the Dean of Hereford , and was happy to say that he had already announced prizes of the same nature in the county of Hereford .

      in conjunction with Dr . Henry , of Haffield . Sir J . Kay Shuttleworth had also given him his advice , and he bad reason to believe that he and Miss Burdett Coutts , Lord Lansdowne , and Lord Granville , intended to offer similar prizes in their respective localities . He had , moreover , the sanction of the councils , of the Diocesan Training Schools of Winchester and Salisbury , as well as the cordial approval of the Bishop and Dean of Winchester , and of the Bishop of Salisbury . It was with confidence , therefore , that he turned to them and craved their assistance in this good work of diffusing among the people a knowledge of common things . They could show , not only by their lessons in school , but still more powerfully by their example out of school , how the garden could best a «

      cultivated , how the dwelling might bo most efficiently aEu economically warmed and ventilated , upon what principles food and clothing should be selected , how chronic , ailments might be averted by timely attention to premonitory symptoms and recourse to the physician : They could teach the measurement of work , the use of tho lever , the pulley , and the windlass . They could , in short , expound those methods , suggested by ever-advancing science , by which toil might be lightened and subsistence economised . All this was capable of being taught , and well taught . Why was one nioper oi a family a bettor economist than another ? ' Why cou ' . . livo in abundance where another starved ? Why , in similar dwellings , were the children of ono parent healthy , or a - other and ailing ? Why could this labourer do win

      puny case a task which would kill 1 m fellow ? It was not Kick nor chance that decided those differences ; it was tho patiom observation of nature that suggested to some g ifted minus rules for their guidance which had escaped tho hccdlessnctw of others . Why should not those rules , eystcmatised oy science , and illustrated by their didactic powers , not oa n « parted to the pupils of their schools , to enable youth to snu at once with the experience of age : or , if this wcro not in « cases possible , why should not all bo taug ht betnnt » »» read those lessons in . the book of Naturo from wW £ some had derived such unauestionnblo advantage r

      member that it waa by daily uso of tho P Y ? " If nature that man fed and clothed and housed « im * V Ho employed fire in a hundred ways , for a liundrea i poses ; why should ho not bo taught the j loctrmo ot nt" ^ For come purposes ho might learn to use it ' * ' * , » ., r . ve . might learn to uso it for more . Again , ho passed tno long day in tho application of tho mechanical povvprs , j should ho not bo instructed in them also ? It was true w princes in this land wcro ignorant of them , as weu «» 1 ^ wants . In ' this progressive country wo . nog lcctpd " , knowledge in which thoro was progress , to dovoto . o ^ only to thoao branches in which wo wero scarcely , » . .,

      superior to our ancestors . In . this practical com Q t to knowledge of all that gives power over nuturo / vvaM jn bo ¦ picked up by clmnco in n man ' s way . througli | J f 0 " rmod tliia religious country , the ' knowledge of God ' fl wpvK ^ , I no nnrt of tho education of tho peop le —; io part oyo ^ education of . a goiitlcman . But thoro was still , anoin ^^ wdomtion which ho would fain place boforo tnoni ' . etc ,, I ledge of tho principles on which- ho had . to act wpuiu ^^ to tho lubour « r and to tho mechanic his dully »> " aH t 0 was it that gavo mich a mat to our national g"i |! " - oiia ? divert men from tho duo proaecution of tneii f 0 Otl > nH I Then ! waw at least m muoli labour in cricket » u » < i ( 1 ( liti ou us ill ploughing or c / irpentcring ; but thoro cain »» v e ]) Ui- I to the kbour , that wfiich extracted . all that it hud oU l

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 24, 1853, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_24121853/page/4/