On this page
-
Text (1)
-
REFORMATORY MOVEMENT. 293
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.
-
-
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.
«» O^R No Portion Of The Human Race Has ...
one aspect , a place of detention for juvenile delinquents , more partaking merciful , of of course its character , than the ; under prison another , but b , y it compulsory is a moral confinement hospital for
the young *; under a third , it is an asylum for worse than orphans , ¦ where they are to be _nurtiired and prepared to go forth into the world
alone , provided with the means of earning * an honest livelihood , and defended from the evil of the world by a deep religious principle in the heart .
The Christian woman who devotes herself to this work must endeavour to combine these elements ; she does not indeed go forth
to the high-ways and byeways to seek the lost and outcast children to save them , but they are brought to her by the hand of the law ,
and she receives each one as led to her hy the Saviour , makes it her own , gives it a mother ' s love , and devotes herself
to save it . _Thoug-h she desires to bind the children to her by cords of love , yet in the wild and undisciplined condition of many of the
children there must be an admixture of the prison element of compulsory power , but this must be so wisely and lovingly administered
as to be felt only where absolutely needed . There must be a deep study of human nature , practical experience , and a strong religious
element , to heal the diseases of the spirit ; and finally , all the household arrangements must be so made as to secure health of body and
mind , intellectual education , and training "to useful work , which will properly prepare the child to go forth , after due time , a good and
useful member of society . We must have in the school a good Matron , a good School-mistress , and a good Industrial Teacher . But where are
these to be found . The Matron who has been _acciistomed to an ordinary public institution , with an established order and excellent appliances ,
is completely at fault , and driven from all system and regularity by the lawless conduct of girls who have hitherto been a law unto
themselves ; the School-mistress who has controlled and taught without difficulty , and with credit to herself and her scholars , a large number
of ordinary children , finds herself here completely powerless , where a number of daring girls who have grown up without control set
their wills in defiance to hers , and she is perhaps induced to resort to a severity which entirely defeats its own object . The Industrial
Teacher is equally at fault , for she has been accustomed to teach those who wish to learn , and can do it well , but is utterly unable to
guide the irregular impulses of children who will only do what they like . It is evident that a high and special training is needed for
such schools , or rather that persons of peculiar power only can work efficiently in them , and that these may not have had the actual
training and . experience necessary for their several departments . Hence the necessity of women of education and independence to
work in Reformatories with the paid officials , sustaining them in their work , bearing the brunt of extra difficulties , and infusing a high
spirit into the establishment . Such ladies should besides be prepared to enter into business details , and even if they have the aid
of gentlemen in the more public and official work , yet they should
themselves understand it , and _Tbe able to do it on emergency . They
Reformatory Movement. 293
REFORMATORY MOVEMENT . 293
-
-
Citation
-
English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), July 1, 1858, page 293, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01071858/page/5/
-