48 



REPORT — 1859. 



Turning, on the other hand, to the statistics of the Industrial Schools, it 

 appears that in the first year, with one school in operation, the number of 

 juvenile commitments fell from 61 to 30 ; that in 1843, when the managers 

 were constrained to reduce the number of scholars, the commitments again 

 rose to even more than in 184-1, viz., to 63; that in 1844 and 1845, when 

 the school was restored to a certain measure of efficiency, the numbers fell 

 to 41 and 49, while subsequent returns show that each year after 1845, the 

 number of schools and scholars being greatly increased, the number of com- 

 mitments went down and down, — 28, 23, 15, 15, 14, 6, — the lowest number 

 which has been attained, and of whom only 4 were natives of Aberdeen. 

 The- number has subsequently increased, and seems to stand now at about 35, 

 — about half the number when no such school existed, — but last year, 1858, 

 the number fell to 15. 



During the first five years after the school was in full operation not one 

 child who had been in attendance there was committed to prison, or fell into 

 the hands of the police for any offence. From 80 to 100 children were in 

 constant attendance ; they were the very children who formerly had furnished 

 the annual supply of youthful offenders, and yet from among them not one 

 recruit went to join the ranks of criminals, and about 70 had been placed in 

 permanent situations, and were from time to time reported to be self-sustain- 

 ing and doing well. 



These immediate results were more satisfactory than could have been 

 anticipated, or could reasonably be expected to continue ; for no one need 

 expect industrial schools to mould every neglected outcast, who passes a few 

 years under their training and teaching influences, into a steady, consistent 

 christian man or woman for life : they, however, greatly cheered the friends 

 of the institutions as they gradually became manifest, and they encouraged 

 them to extend their operations. 



While the schools were progressing there were long and very anxious dis- 

 cussions as to whether or not it was desirable to lodge the children in con- 

 nexion with the schools, and only a small majority decided in the negative. 



As this is a vital question in the management of industrial schools, it may 

 be well to state briefly the facts and arguments on both sides. 



In favour of providing lodgings in the school-buildings there were two 

 principal arguments, both very obvious: 1st, that by thus retaining entire 

 possession of the children their moral training would be carried on before 

 and after school-hours ; and 2nd, what was regarded as still more important, 

 that thus they would be preserved from the contaminating influence of their 

 homes, where it was to be feared that the moral lessons learned during the 

 day would be neutralized by evil precept and worse example. 



