REFORMATORY SCHOOLS. The first institution to which queen Victoria gave her name was a reformatory for girls, established at Chiswick in 1834, under the mane of the Victoria asylum. It was the first of its kind in England; but as early as 1788, the germ of the reformatory movement may be traced in the working of the Philanthropic society, which established a sort of farm-sell: on the family system, for the reformation of depraved and vagrant children. A second school was established at Warwickshire in 1818, but was suffered to (lie for want of support, as was the third, set on foot by caps. Brenton in 1830. Capt. Brenton was the first who took his stand on the principle, that DO child under 16 should be sent to prison, but to some place where training might be pro vided in industry and virtue; and the girls' school at Chiswick originated in his influence, and was worked on his plans. On his death in 1839, reformatory efforts ceased for sev eral years in England—the institution of the Philanthropic society at St. George's in the fields a mere refuge for the destitute. But its chaplain was the rev. Sydney Tur ner, since the well-known inspector of prisons and reformatories, and his attention was directed to the reformatory movement abroad, where its principles were flourishing in the school of Mettray (q.v.), founded in 1839, and the Baulics Haus (q.v.) at Hamburg. In 1847 the St. George's institution restricted its care to boys charged with or convicted of crime; and at length, in 1850, broke up and removed to Redhill, establishing there, On the family system, the greatest reformatory in England. From this time the progress was rapid and sure. In 1852 several schools were opened: Hardwicke court by Mr. Baker; Kingswood, by Miss Carpenter; Stoke farm, by Mr. Joseph Sturge; and Salticy, near Birmingham, by Mr. Adderley. Government then determined to legalize the sys tem. Three parliamentary committees having pronounced against the imprisonment of children, the reformatory schools act, 17 and 18 Viet., was passed in 1854, followed by amending acts in the three succeeding years. One of the first principles of the move ment was voluntary agency, and this agency was still retained. The act sets out iu its
preamble. " that'whereas reformatory schools have been, and may be established by vol untary agency in various parts of the country, it is expedient that more extensive use should be made of these institutions." The state certifies the school to be fit for its purpose ; provides that, on conviction, after a short imprisonment, not more:generally, than 14 days, the child shall enter the school, and remain for a term of years,.under the sole man agement of its conductors, paid for by the treasury at the fixed rate of Os. per week. A portion of this is recoverable from the parents, if they are in a condition to contribute to the child's support. Counties and boroughs may furnish from their funds money to aid in the establishment of reformatory schools. The results of the schools have been regu larly presented to the public in the reports of her majesty's inspector, who has often traced to their operation the late marked decline in juvenile delinquency, which was pre viously rapidly increasing. By the end of 1856, 34 schools were in existence; 11 were added in 1857; and in 1860, the number in Great Britain was 59. At the close of 1877 there were in England 54, and in Scotland 12 reformatories. The number of inmates (including those out on trial) was 6,665 in 1S75, 6,614 in 1876, 6,853 in 1877 (being 5,935 actual inmates). The total amount of money expended in the year 1877 on these important institutions was £139,825. The average cost per head for food and clothing was: English boys' schools, food, £8 is. 3d.; clothing, £2 9s. 5d.; English girl's schools, food, £7 12s. 10d.; clothing, Os. 8d.: Scotch boys' schools, food, 4:7 Os. 2d.; clothing, £2 9s. 7d.; Scotch girls schools, food, £6 12s. 10d.; clothing, 4:1 195. The education commission said of these schools: " Upon the whole, none of the institutions connected with education appear to be in a more satisfactory condition." It has, however, been urged that chil dren should not be sentenced to reformatories on a first conviction, as it was 'becoming the rule to do, and that all children under 12 should be sentenced to an industrial (q.v.) school instead, See JUVENILE OFFENDERS.