£Ui)ctU. Information Concerning the Stonewall Jackson Training School By J. W. VANHOY BOARD OF TRUSTEES. J. P. Cook, Chair., • ^ Concord D. B. Coltrane, Treas. Concord Mrs. I. W. Faison, Secy., Charlotte Dr. H. A. Royster, Raleigh R. O. Everett, Durham Ceasar Cone, Greensboro J. J. Blair, Wilmington Mrs. M. A. Jackson, Charlotte Mrs. W. H. S. Burgwyn, Raleigh Mrs. W. N. Reynolds, Winston-Salem Mrs. D. Y. Cooper, Henderson Mrs. G. P. Erwin, Morganton Miss Easdale Shaw, Rockingham Mrs. A. L. Coble, Statesville PURPOSE, SCOPE, RULES, AND NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL. The many inquiries that come into the Superintendent’s office from parents and others, seeking information about the School, make the issuing of this little book a necessity. From the many ques¬ tions asked we learn that there are many well informed people who do not know the purpose of the institution. How Created. The Jackson Training School, as it is commonly called, is a State institution and is maintained largely by the State of North Carolina in the same manner that it supports other charitable and penal in¬ stitutions, which is supplemented largely by The King’s Daughters, and donations from public spirited citizens. The School was legally authorized and created by the legislature of 1907 and its powers and duties set forth in Chapter 509 of the Public Laws of 1907’ ^ amended by Chapter 955 Public Laws of 1907. Purpose. The purpose of the School is quite clear- 1 ly set forth in the Preamble to Chapter 509 Pub. Laws, 1907, which reads as follows: “Whereas, it appears to this General Assembly that there are in this State many youths between the ages of seven and sixteen years who violate the crim¬ inal laws, and that while such youths should he detained and punished and taught the doctrines, of religion, good morals and how to work., it would he to the best interest of such youths and ex¬ pedient that they he not associated with older and more hardened criminals.” Section five further states; “That all inmates shall, if possible, be taught the precepts of the Holy Bible, good moral conduct, how to work and to be indus¬ trious. ” Management. The school is under the control of a Board of T rustees, consisting of fifteen members, a portion of whom are to be appointed by the Governor so long as the State appropriates not less than $5000 to the maintenance of the School. The remainder of the Trustees are elected by the Board and vacancies filled as provided in Chapter, 509, Sec., 6 Pub¬ lic Laws 1907: Superintendent And His Staff. The direct management of The School is delegated to a Superintendent, elected 2 by the Board of Trustees. The Superin¬ tendent lives at the institution and has direct supervision of all the affairs of the School. He is authorized to employ a staff of competent assistants. Authority Over Inmates. The Superintendent is vested with the same authority over the boys com¬ mitted to the care of the school that “a parent under the law has over his own child.” Section 14 provides that all child¬ ren “ Shall be instructed in such rudiment¬ ary branches of useful knowledge as may be suited to their various ages and capac¬ ities. They shall be taught such useful trades and such manual training as the board may direct.” The School, therefore, is open only to boys of the state, under 16 years of age who have been convicted of some viola¬ tion of the criminal law and who have been legally committed by a judge or other presiding officer of a criminal court. Section 2, Public Laws of 1907, says; “Said Trustees may in their discretion receive therin such delinquent and crimi¬ nal children under the age of sixteen years as may he sent or committed thereto under any order or commitment by the Judges of the Superior courts or the Re¬ corders or other presiding officers of the city or criminal courts, and shall have the 3 sole right and authority to keep, restrain and control them during their minority, or until such time as they shall deem proper for their discharge, under such proper and humane rules and regulations as may he adopted by said trustees. ” It will be observed that the question of the reception of boys even after they have been committed to the school is in the discretion of the authorities of the insti¬ tution, which authority in practice is ex¬ ercised by the Superintendent. Also the matter of the parole or discharge of boys is vested in the same authorities and ex¬ ercised in the same way. The law au¬ thorized the detention and control of the boys committed here during their minor¬ ity, if such is deemed best for such boys. Parents and officers of the law who wish to secure admission for boys at the Training School should observe the fol¬ lowing points carefully: Age Limits. i. If a boy has reached his sixteenth birthday, he cannot be entered. This is prohibited by law and the authorities of the School have no discretion in the matter. Some attempts have been made to conceal the age of boys sent here, and sad to say, sometimes officers of the law seem to have been party to the falsifi¬ cation of the ages of boys sent here. The truth always comes out here and we are forced to avoid dealing with such 4 people. The school can hope to do little for a boy who comes here coached by his parents or by an officer to keep his true age concealed. On account of such cases, we now require a form of commitment wherein a boy’s age is “found as a tact’' by the court to be “under sixteen years.” How Entered. 2. No boy can be entered here in any way other than that provided by law; viz: The boy must be duly tried in a criminal court and found guilty of a vio¬ lation of the criminal law and be com¬ mitted to The Jackson Training School, according to the law creating the School, Chapter 509, Public Laws of 1907. Not a School For Feeble Minded. We have many appeals from parents, pastors, business and professional men and women, asking if a boy cannot be sent here “without any publicity” etc. Others wish to enter incorrigible boys who have not violated the law, and often their parents offer to pay tuition, etc. Others have boys who are mentally defi¬ cient, and we are appealed to for help to bring a hope to these unfortunate boys. We have no equipment whatever for the treatment of any except intellectually normal boys. No provision is made for any boy except the “criminally delinquent” or, in other words the boy who has violated the law and would have to be punished in jail, on the chain gang, in 5 the State Prison, with older criminals, or turned loose on his community again, either course often being bad indeed for the boy. Not a Prison Nor Penal Institution. 3. Boys should not be sent here as a punishment for their infractions of the law. The school is not a penal institu¬ tion and does not attempt to administer punishment to a boy for his past wrongs. They are left behind him forever, so far as the Training School is concerned. The school tries to encourage him to lead a clean life, mentally, morally and physi¬ cally; to form correct habits, keep his word, be obedient and industrious; train his mind, learn a trade, obey God and be a man. His record as an inmate of the School is what makes him a good or a bad “prospect” in the eyes of the of¬ ficers of the institution. Vacancies. 4. Boys should never be sent here nor even committed until a full and frank correspondence is had with the superin¬ tendent. This is necessary for two main reasons. First, room at the school is al¬ ways applied for far in advance of an opening, and those who bring boys with¬ out communicating with the superinten¬ dent will almost invariable have to take them back until arrangements can be made. Second: We must know the 6 class of boys who come here, and the matter of their reception being discre¬ tionary with the authorities of the School, we would rarely ever receive a boy about whom we knew nothing until he is de¬ livered here. This precaution is neces¬ sary for the protection of the institution against impositions by dishonest people, as well as to protect the inhabitants of the school from contagious diseases, etc. that might be introduced in such way. As the institution grows we find it neces¬ sary to use more caution along these lines. School, Shop, Farm. The institution, being a “manual train¬ ing and industrial school,” as well as providing for a rudimentary course of in¬ struction, each boy is sent to school four hours every day in the year except Sun¬ days. At present the population is di¬ vided into two sections, a forenoon and an afternoon section. Half the boys are in school while the other half are en¬ gaged in manual labor. There are two sections each for the Print Shop and for the Wood Shop, also a forenoon and an afternoon section for farm work, two sections for work on the garden and the grounds, the sections being so arranged that every boy can be in the school room half of each day. All work by the boys is done under the direction of a foreman or officer, the plan being that every boy 7 is under the immediate care of an officer at all times. Cottages. At six o’clock in Summer and ear¬ lier in Winter the boys go to their cot¬ tages, 30 to each building, where they are under the care of a compe¬ tent cottage keeper and matron, un¬ til 7:45 next morning, when work is again resumed. Cottages have baths, library, sitting room, dormitory, kit¬ chen, pantry, and officers’ quarters. Boys retire at 8 o’clock and arise at 6:45. A number of “House Boys” are designated to assist the matrons in preparing the meals and keeping house. Devotional services are held daily in each cottage and at the school room. Sunday School is held for the boys each Sunday, and lec¬ tures are given frequently on help¬ ful topics by prominent ministers and others. Course of Study. The course of study given in our school room is practically the same as is given in the public Schools of the State. The work done by boys in school is thorough and practical, a competent teacher having charge of the school all the time. Printing. The printing department is up-to- 8 date and in charge of an efficient di¬ rector and foreman. The boys set the type for The Uplift, which is is¬ sued monthly, and are taught the printing business quite thoroughly. Wood-work. In the wood shop the boys learn the use of tools and how to make useful articles of furniture. A number of machines are operated by the boys and a competent foreman instructs them in the principles of the wood- workman’s trade. Farm. The aim is to conduct the farm scientifically and the boys are taught practical farming and how to care for live stock. Business Training. From time to time a boy is placed in the business office of the institution and given elementary instruction in practical business methods. A num-. ber of boys have been taught short¬ hand and typewriting. The school should be equipped to give a com¬ plete commercial course. Grounds. The grounds and buildings are kept neat and are beautified as our funds and time permit. The boys take de¬ light in helping with this work. 9 RULES OF THE SCHOOL. For the best interest of the boys and to facilitate the discipline of the school the following rules have been adopted, to which the attention of parents, friends, and relatives of the boys is invited and their co-operation requested in the ob¬ servance of the same. Visits By Boys. The boys are not allowed to leave the school to visit relatives or friends under any circumstances before one year has elapsed since the entrance of said boy into the School. This rule may be sus¬ pended by the Superintendent in cases of death or very serious sickness of a boy’s immediate family. After one year, if a boy’s record justifies it, short visits are sometimes allowed him when parents assume the responsibility and expense of his trip and his return to the School. Visits to Boys. To a limited extent, not to exceed one visit a month, parents and relatives may visit the boys at the School, preferably on Sunday. The Superintendent should always be notified of any contemplated visit to a boy. The school is not pre¬ pared to entertain visitors but accommo¬ dations can usually be secured in the 10 immediate neighborhood at moderate prices. Correspondence. Boys are allowed and encouraged to write two regular letters a month to their families. The letters are written under the supervision of the teacher or cottage officer and are inspected before being mailed. Boys receive letters from parents and friends, all of which are inspected by an officer before delivery to the boys. All objectionable communications are with¬ held from the boys. All boys who are able to do so are expected to pay for their stamps. Spending Money. Boys are allowed to have a small amount of money to be spent by them under the direction of the cottage officers. The funds are kept by a custodian and pur¬ chases for the boys made by him on the order of the boys approved by the proper officer. Presents, Etc. Parents and friends may send packages to the boys prepaid and in care of the Superintendent. The institution fur¬ nishes uniforms for the boys both for work and for dress. Hats and caps for every day wear, union suits, shirts, socks, and such small articles of wearing ap¬ parel may be received by the boys from parents or friends. Donations of such ar¬ il tides to the use of all the boys are always accepted with thanks. Donations of Wearing Apparel. One public spirited citizen of Greens¬ boro has given the material for work uniforms for the boys since the School was founded. Sickness. There has been no serious illness at the School since its beginning, but in case of any serious illness or accident to a boy his parents will be notified at once. In case of serious illness in a boy’s family, the Superintendent should be notified and not the boy. The information will be promptly communicated to the boy in the best manner possible. If all the cir¬ cumstances are known to the superinten¬ dent a boy may be allowed to visit his family in extreme cases of illness or death. Discipline. 1 he discipline of the school is semi- mi litary an