Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 9.djvu/28

 14 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

The building has a frontage of 275 feet and is built in three sections the center or administration building, extending back 77 feet, and a wing on each side 76 feet long. The building is so arranged that the girls may be separated into groups of twenty or twenty-five, and each group or "family " is placed in charge of three matrons, who teach them the various household arts. There are six " families " in this building. For several years all the girls (as many as 130 in 1900) had to be taught in one schoolroom, but during the past year a school building, brick, two stories high, has been erected at a cost of $16,000; and two additional cottages have also been built and are now occupied. The family plan prevails throughout. Each family has its own dining-room, kitchen, and laundry, and the girls, under the direction of a matron, do all the work. Each girl has her own room, cozily furnished.

The girls attend school half a day and do housework the other half. Only two teachers are employed, and this necessi- tates larger classes than are desirable, especially as these girls need a great deal of individual attention ; but it is claimed that the girls make remarkable progress in their studies, in spite of this drawback. The chief offenses for which girls are sent to this school are immorality, larceny, and some for burglary.

As they come largely from the slum districts of Chicago, we are not surprised to learn that nearly 50 per cent, are afflicted with some venereal disease, and almost as many suffer from some stomach trouble, caused by inherited weakness, lowered vitality, bad food, narcotics and alcohol. With strict attention to cleanliness, nutritious diet, judicious exercise, regular hours, and watchful care, the girls are gradually rehabilitated. These girls when received are now placed in the (new) hospital cot- tage where they receive special attention before being trans- ferred to the other buildings.

The discipline is firm, but not harsh. It consists chiefly in deprivation of privileges, which is sufficient in most cases ; but where this fails the girls are placed in solitary confinement, and in extreme cases corporal punishment is inflicted.

There were 369 girls committed to the institution between