5. What value has Christianity in promoting reformation?

Real Christianity in the mind of an inmate would be of inestimable value in promoting reformation. In fact attaining real Christianity would be reformation.-Earl P. Murray.

It has been my experience that most men confined in penal institutions have little or no regard for, and many seriously question the existence of, what is termed Christianity. It is an important matter, and I am unable to see how it would be possible for a man to be reformed solely upon the theory that it did not pay to steal.-J. R. Crowley.

Christianity as exemplified by Christian lives of those in authority, with whom prisoners come into contact, should be a great aid in reformation. A true Christian spirit, shown by daily living, does far more good than sermons.— Helen P. Stone.

There is no influence so valuable as Christianity in promoting reformation, but it must be expressed, not as a mode of belief, but as a mode of life. Christianity proposes to control that life, not by putting plasters without, but by injecting a serum within.-R. H. Tice.

Christianity plays a very important part in prison life in making the individual responsive to prison discipline, and its influence plays an important part in keeping many in the paths of good conduct throughout their lives.Edwin C. Shaw.

Christianity, per se, is a valuable element in character formation, upon which reformation depends.-John H. Brunson.

It depends on what is meant by Christianity. If it is theology or sectarianism, it has little or no value. But if Christianity is made life itself, it has positive value. The type of Chrstianity that puts the emphasis on sin and the need of salvation, on heaven or hell, does not reach these men. But a straight appeal from the standpoint of the suffering caused others, parents, wife, children, does get the heart and conscience.-L. F. Smith.

6. What relation does reading matter have to the school idea?

Reading is of the greatest importance in supplementing and completing the program embodied in the school idea. By reading books the man is brought into intimate relationship with the best minds, thereby widening his interests and enlarging his ambiton in life.—Earl P. Murray.

Reading matter is closely related to school work. Recent investigations bring out the fact that we have underestimated the importance of reading. One of the very best things any public or private school can do is to encourage a large amount of worth-while reading. It is my opinion that we should provide a regular reading course for all men in prison.-J. J. Sullivan.

Reading should be under the supervision of the school when the school is made worth while. It should be steadily encouraged. The library should be carefully selected and freely used. Reading matter supplements and stimulates the school idea in every way, and without it the best results can not be obtained.-Edwin C. Shaw.

There must be the opportunity for wide reading. Give the men the very best reading matter, and try to develop a taste for the best in all lines.L. F. Smith.

Reading good books offers one of the best means of reaching many who have become embittered, and of giving them a different attitude toward society.— Helen P. Stone.

A properly selected and supervised course of reading places before the men the highest American ideals in a quiet, unobtrusive way and most effectively.— John J. Brunson.

7. Who should control prison libraries?

The prison library, as a part of the school equipment, should be controlled by, and should be under the supervision of, the school. As the reading of the inmate offers opportunity for the molding of the minds of the men whose minds have been neglected, it should be closely coordinated with the school work.

The reading of prisoners should be intelligently supervised. Without this supervision the reading chosen by many inmates might prove more damaging than helpful. The cultivation of a good taste in art and the development in the men of a love for good literature are desirable features of such supervision.-Earl P. Murray.

The prison library should be under the control of a trained librarian, and should be closely connected with the prison school. The reading of prisoners should be supervised to a certain extent, more by suggestion, however, than by actual selection of reading matter. It is a good plan to have a brief review of a book given when it is returned.-Helen P. Stone.

The prison library should be in the absolute control of the educational authority in the prison. Such a person should have a free hand in selecting the books and in formulating rules for their use. This should include supervision of all reading done in the institution.-J. R. Crowley.

The prison library should be controlled by the head teacher. The reading of prisoners should be supervised, providing the supervising is done by one who has sense enough to know book values and men's reading needs.

Books and periodicals have a close relation to the school idea. The educative effects of reading matter are strongly marked. It either follows in sequence and thus strengthens the impression of the taught lessons or it follows a contrary course and weakens the teacher's work. The school should be a wise mentor in developing power to read.-R. H. Tice.

The chaplain, subject to the indorsement of the administration, should control the library.-L. F. Smith.

9. Should school sessions be held in the daytime or in the evening? There are no objections to school work in the evening.-Edwin C. Shaw. School sessions should be held in the daytime. Man's mind, rested and refreshed by his night's rest, is more receptive and is at its best during the morning and early day. In the evening the mind, as well as the body, is fatigued by the exertions of the day, and, as has been shown by trial, the degree of school work is decidedly inferior.-Earl P. Murray.

School sessions should by all means be held in the daytime. Lessons may be prepared in the evening, but all sessions should be held in the daytime, when the pupil is most vigorous and when all the surroundings tend to better work.-Helen P. Stone.

I have never heard a satisfactory reason given for conducting schools in prisons in the evening. The value of the work to be accomplished, the type and character of the men, their age, the severity of the artificial light, all stand as reasons why the only proper time for a school session is in the daytime.-J. R. Crowley.

Regular school sessions should be held in the daytime; special schools should be held at night.-R. H. Tice.

Both. Conditions in the prison may be left to determine this. Sessions held in the daytime are to be desired, and may be conveniently and advantageously arranged by having the prisoner attend school one-half day and having him given industrial employment one-half day. Night school should be held only where school can not be held in the daytime.-Edwin C. Shaw. In the daytime.-John B. Brunson.

10. Should foreign-language books and periodicals be allowed in prisons?

I am opposed to foreign-language books and periodicals in the prison school. Our own English language will keep us busy enough.-J. J. Sullivan.

Foreign-language books should not be allowed in prison schools, as only English should be taught. The foreigners take little interest in learning our language and customs if their foreign literature is easily available for their reading. This applies especially to those men attending the prison school. Men cultured in a foreign language and advanced in years, not being able to master the English language and not required to attend school, can derive pleasure and profit by reading in their native tongue, and I believe they should be allowed the privilege.-Earl P. Murray.

I believe that no books or papers in foreign languages should be allowed in the schools. The schools are for the teaching of English, and the making of good Americans; that purpose will be defeated to some extent by the introduction of a foreign language.-Helen P. Stone.

Because of the number and variety and kinds of reading matter available in the English language I am opposed to admitting foreign books, newspapers, or periodicals of any kind into any of our penal institutions. A large number of the prisoners are either illiterate or unable to read and write the English language. Experience has taught us that the direct method of teaching English is the only correct and proper one. The use of foreign-language publications retards the school idea in prison.-J. R. Crowley.

Foreign languages as a rule have no proper place in our prison life. Foreigners should be taught all that is good in American life. Americanization may well be the aim in part of the prison scheme, and for this reason it would be unwise to encourage foreign languages. It would not be necessary to entirely eliminate foreign magazines and papers if the reading were properly supervised.-Edwin C. Shaw.

Foreign-language books and periodicals should not be allowed in prisons for general circulation.-R. H. Tice.

Yes; within certain limits, and particularly so in the field of fiction.-John B. Brunson.

11. To what extent has correspondence instruction proved practicable and profitable in prison schools?

Only to the few men in prison who have exceptional ambition to improve themselves and an unusual degree of perseverence is correspondence instruction practicable or profitable.

Some men will succeed with these courses; but the majority of inmates, lacking the inspiration of and the personal touch of the school and teacher, will neglect to apply themselves to their work and will receive no practical benefit from such efforts.-Earl P. Murray.

Correspondence instruction has done some good work in the prisons. Unfortunately a great many of the correspondence schools are irresponsible.-J. J. Sullivan.

Correspondence instruction may be beneficial to the more advanced students, for whom the regular school makes little provision in additional instruction along the lines of work which they intend to follow when released.-Helen P. Stone.

I have not found correspondence lessons practical nor profitable as a general thing. There are individual cases in which they are carried out with profit, but it is the quality of the men that makes them valuable. All such lessons must be closely supervised. This refers to the courses given by outside correspondence schools. I have little confidence in their utility as carried on in most cases.-R. H. Tice.

There are instances in which correspondence courses have been of value. In the past two years one instance of this was found in the Ohio penitentiary. In the main, the prison school ought to take care of its proper duties.-Edwin C. Shaw.

My experience with correspondence courses of instruction in prison has not been sufficient to make it possible for me to make a positive statement regarding them. But it is my opinion that they are of value to the men in putting within their reach instruction and training in subject matter not otherwise possible.-John B. Brunson.

For individuals who have had college or university training, it is possible to get some help through correspondence instruction. However, since not one in a thousand of the prisoners in this State has had college training or its equivalent, and since the average school instruction of prisoners is less than five years, it is my opinion that correspondence instruction has no place in our penal institutions.-J. R. Crowley.

In this institution those taking correspondence courses have found them very profitable, though a small percentage of the men have availed themselves of the opportunity.-L. F. Smith.

THE EDUCATIONAL VALUE OF FLOWERS

Many men and women in prisons have a great love for flowers, and it seems possible to utilize this emotion as a moral force. The head teacher in the women's prison, Auburn, N. Y., has been accustomed to take flowers to the school, and the women have enjoyed them very much. These women have been allowed to work in the garden connected with the prison, and have appreciated the opportunity to cultivate and care for flowers. Warden Lawes, of Sing Sing, has made a valuable contribution to the improvement of life in that prison of ill repute by beautifying the open court within the walls with flowers and shrubs. An inmate skilled in that line takes great pride in looking after this flower and plant garden, and all the men enjoy it.

Such appeals to the aesthetic nature seem to be open to helpful and unlimited utilization in dealing with men and women in prisons as well as outside. The influence of the beautiful in nature and art can not fail to be beneficial to the moral life of individuals.

RELIGION AS AN INFLUENCE

It is not common for social workers to put sufficient emphasis on religion as a reformative influence. The efforts of chaplains in

prisons are too often perfunctory, and lacking in faith that they will accomplish much of anything. It is not apparent that many chaplains win the confidence of the men or are personally helpful to those who are in desperate need of sympathetic friends. A great opportunity seems to be largely frittered away by many of those placed in most intimate relations to fallen men and women. Only men of genuine religious and missionary spirit should be placed at such vantage points in the moral struggle as are held by the chaplains, teachers, and guards. Real prison reform must be based on a religious conception of the problem, and a determined and persistent effort to improve the religious life of the prison communities. The most superficial study makes it evident that the heart must be reached in order to secure the reconstruction of the character. A godless world will always breed a wicked and lawless people, inside and outside prison walls. The gods that men make can never save society nor reform men and women.

It is indeed deplorable to have unworthy political considerations enter into the appointments of chaplains for prisons. It is a supreme tragedy to have an unworthy man as spiritual adviser.

THE REFORMATIVE VALUE OF RECREATION

Mental and moral diseases have their seat in the emotions, and can be reached and remedied most readily at their source, and in their incipiency. Joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, work and play, each has its influence on human character. Recreation is as essential to mental and moral health as to physical well-being. Hence a scheme for promoting reformation must include rest as well as work, relaxation as well as exertion, humor as well as serious thought.

THE NEED OF COOPERATION

Efforts to get men and women to reform need the hearty cooperation of inmates, officials, and all the social forces that exist within the walls. Nobody can save a fellow man who does not wish to be saved. Throwing out a life line accomplishes nothing for those who will not grasp it and make strenuous efforts to save themselves. Unless the prison officials do their part to create it, the proper atmosphere in the prison can not be secured. A hostile public, by its attitude toward the movement and its actions regarding it, can neutralize all efforts to promote reformation. All the social forces must work together, and in harmony, to accomplish the purpose sought in the prison schools. The task is beset with obstacles at best and is practically impossible of accomplishment without proper coordination of all the factors.