A MODERN DOTHEBOYS HALL.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2755, 21 January 1882, Page 2

A MODERN DOTHEBOYS HALL.

T.". ~ i ,j People would scarcely imagine that a. semi state of slavery could exist in : a school under Government and School Board inspection without something of it leaking out. Yet the orders that have just been issued from the. Home Office for closing; St. Paul’s Industrial School in the Burdett road, Bow, :have not come a moment too soon, and would not, indeed,' have been issued now had not the attempt Of some of the inmates to set the place oh fire brought about a hearing and a disclosure at the Police Court, resulting, as T have said, in the shutting up of the establishment. Mrs Swor,j a lady* member :of . the' London School Board, took up the, cause, of the unfortunate lads and insisted oh, the inquiry, which, though stifled by certain parties, has been sufficient to stop ‘ th e evil. Thid class Of school was instituted 20. years ; ago in order to save poor children on the verge of crime from absolutely falling away, and .to give them a start in life under better auspices. That this object is attained is in the majority of cases undoubted, and St. Paul’s school is an exception: to the general run. The birch and handcuffs seem to have been constantly in use, and we are told of ah unhappy child whose duty it was to make sacks, but who on one occasion when suffering from illness failed to make up his.tai© of work, and [thereupon being severely caned, with a singular obstinacy actually died the next day ! We are told-also, that frequently blackbootles got into the gruel or soup which formed their meal, and that the governor grimly observed that' blackbeetles were good for boys! So hungry were they, according to their evidence, that they actually stole the|scraps put down for the house dog! Of course the officials flatly contradict these stories, and that bad boys will sometimes exaggerate is certain, but making every allowance the fact remains that, driven to desperation, the children attempted to set fire to the home, and that their appearance justified their complaints. At any rate, the Home Secretary believed their tale of woe, and highly commends Mrs Swpr for her philanthropic efforts.