Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 July 1919 — IS THIS HOME A HELL HOLE? [ARTICLE]

IS THIS HOME A HELL HOLE?

As Termed by the Republican on Second-Hand Information. Sheriff Woodworth and C. M. Sands, who were up at Plymouth last week, taking? Leonard Clifton, son of Rex Clifton of Parr, to the Julia E. Work training school, brought home a sensational story regarding the improper care and bad treatment of the boys confined in this institution—they did not gee the girls’ department and . therefore do not know anything about how that is conducted, they state. Both wrote letters to the head of the state department having supervision over institutions of this kind, it is said, and it is understood that an investigation of th»» charges will be made. Judge Hanley evidently thought it best not to wait for an investigation and ordered the release of the three boys from this county who are confined there —Ernest Jacks, Leonard Clifton and - Sigman. The father of the Jacks boy, Charley Jacks, the barber, • and Harve Moore went up to Plymouth Friday and brought his son home and- the other two boys were brought home Monday. While this home is a private institution, it is under state supervision and is frequently visited and inspected by the state officers. The Democrat has talked with a Rensselaer gentleman who has made many trips to the home, nearly always without any previous notice of his coming, and he thinks there is very little to these charges. He thinks that it is a model institution and is well conducted. In the first place, he says, one should remember that 90% of the boys and girls sent there are defectives, either physically or mentally, and they do not have th*-ap-pearance of normal, healthy children. The brighter children sent there have homes secured for them as soon as possible, and it is the others that are left. They, of course, have discipline there, he says, and all must admit that this is something that is absolutely necessary; that they have playgrounds, physical exereise, etc., and their food Is good and whelesotme—or was at all times he visited the institution —and plenty of it, but with few nick-nacks. He says that the management has always invited inspection and asks the visitors from the different counties bringing children there to go through the institution; that some 20 cows are kept on the farm which produces its own milk and butter, poultry, eggs, vegetables, etc. He has always noted the cleanliness everywhere and, unless conditions have changed wonderfully very recently, he does not think there is much if any ground for the charges now made. Miss Mabel Atwood, domestic science teacher in the Rensselaer schools, has been connected with the state board of charities and correction, and has frequently visited the Julia E. Work home, The Democrat is Informed, She has also spoken highly of it, we are told, but as she is out of the city at present we haver not the opportunity to interview her in person (on the subject. It is a very easy matter to findfault with thq management of any public or private institution of this character—and in some instances no doubt the criticism is justified—-

but the management is up against propositions that the average layman knows nothing at all about and some things that may seem or severe are necessary to enforce the needed discipline. Every one wants our public wards well taken care of and treated as kindly as possible, and if the Julia E. Work home is not conducted along these lines it should be brought to time. A special investigation by the state authorities will probably do no harm and may do some good. The Democrat does not think it should be designated a "Hell hole,’’ however, as the Rensselaer Republican terms it, without a little fuller investigation.