(b) The schooling should be intensive under reasonable averages calculated to assure evenly-progressive skill.
(c) The every-day curriculum should be inclusive of the needs of the last unit of the mass. Segregated-group treatment, other than for positive deviates, subtracts from, much more than it yields to, in a general scheme of schooling that is rationally prescribed and prosecuted. The positively abnormal should be sent, originally, to institutions essentially fitted for their care and repair.
(d) The tramp mind should not be permitted to tramp. In accordance with all of visible signs, plus those brought to the surface by means of mental research, the subject should be harnessed to the task of doing some one thing well. The greater the task, the more binding the reason to so harness him. The average prisoner is the victim of the desire for variety of activities; he has a very decided distaste for buckling to and staying buckled. Hence, the first step in his social reclamation must be to break him of the mental habit that impels him to spread himself uselessly. He “gathered no moss” because he was “a rolling stone.” Get that into his head from his initial institutional pace.
(e) Common belief has it that a compulsory measure should be the last straw at which to grasp. Diametrically to the contrary, it comes about in legions of cases that compulsion, even drastic compulsion, is the only weapon to hand that will make any impression on certain of self-willed, self-centered, singularly refractory prisoners, who had been indulged in mock heroics, and who devise deviltry even while they are changing from citizen to prison garb. At once is the time to read to such their prison lesson, predicated in penal law. If it can be done through kindly admonition that carries from the heart of the mentor, by all manner of means do it so; but don’t commonize the mentoring in the face of repetition of serious infraction of reformative measures by your man, else he will spurn both mentor and measure; this, the rule. It remains for the mentor to spot and allow for the exceptional case, such, for instance, as one whereof the offender had known little other than kicks and cuffs out of life. With such an one, persevere with the soft pedal much as the Christ would have persevered in like circumstance.
The point is that much too much of “sob-sister” stuff has been written and spoken about compulsion as applied to the instinctive and habitual social wolf; about him who began life by abusing his mother, and who will probably end up in the electric chair, unless timely action is taken to disabuse his mind of the notion that his individual will is law.
Isn’t it true that most of the worth-while things men have done, have been done against grain that howled betimes for easier going? If it is true, then have done with petty piffle about compelling repeating felons, who just won’t have it any other way; felons who figure on foraging on society by its leave, else shooting to kill. In any event, plan for notable preparedness throughout the prison curriculum, then hold the prisoner, under his commitment paper, until he shall have made at least a mighty good try for himself in agreement with the plan.
(f) The “plan” should refuse, utterly, the going fad and fallacy to the effect that the prison régime is best which is productive of the least friction; that measures which please, amuse, and keep recidivistic felons good natured, are the ones to be sought.
True enough, the prison scheme that produces undue friction is at once suspect. Better, for example, a bit too much than not enough of amusement and recreation, so that they are free of the prurient and the pug; but neither should cross educative measures, and both should merge, as nearly as possible, as both are merged under a factory schedule in free life. Essentially, play and amusement should be held strictly subordinate to the cardinal aim, which is to make skilled unskilled hands and brains. The responsibility for undue friction that issues out of execution in line with that aim should be met squarely with remedial measures, whether they hit inmate or officer. Reform work is that last of the world’s work that should be retarded by the man who does not take seriously a high calling.
Some sniff at the “high calling”; albeit endeavor cannot be at once more scientific and awesome than raveling the mental twists, and remodelling the faulty clay of humans. Because that mighty task is turned over in so many instances to those whose contributions to correction consist in nothing more tangible than cross-cutting saws they tooth about it, explains in appreciable degree America’s recidivistic criminals, who hold all records for flippant lawbreaking.
(g) Gone about in the right way, it is positively helpful to appraise lawbreakers for their mental, moral, and physical restrictions, each one of which contributes to the other. Particularly as to borderline mental deviates, their prospective social service will quite reliably reside in the manner in which analysis is made of their handicaps provided: very clear distinction is declared as between their congenital limitations, and encumbrances of environment and bringing-up by which their social sense and social development were arrested, while they were being clamped to anti-social habits of thought and action. And provided: negation is not nurtured in order to strike an average, or to confirm questionable theory.