reform school
/ri'fɔ:mətəri/ Cách viết khác : (reform_school) /ri'fɔ:m,sku:l/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun A correctional institution for the detention, discipline, and training of young or first-time offenders. It is a type of juvenile detention facility focused on rehabilitation and reform rather than solely on punishment.
Usage
The term "reform school" is used to refer to a specific type of institution for juvenile offenders. It is a formal, institutional term. * Historically, many reform schools emphasized strict discipline and vocational training. * The judge sent the teenager to a reform school instead of an adult prison.
Examples
- The novel's protagonist spent his teenage years in a reform school.
- Modern alternatives to traditional reform schools focus more on therapy and education.
- He was sent to a reform school after his third arrest for petty theft.
Advanced Usage
- The term can sometimes carry historical or negative connotations, implying a harsh, punitive environment. Modern equivalents are often called "youth correctional facilities," "juvenile detention centers," or "therapeutic boarding schools."
- "to be sent to reform school": This is a common collocation describing the action of a court or authority.
Variants and Related Words
- Reformatory (noun): A direct synonym for "reform school."
- Juvenile detention center (noun): A modern term for a facility that detains young offenders, which may or may not have a strong rehabilitative focus.
- Borstal (noun, chiefly British): A historical term for a type of youth prison or reform school in the UK.
- Training school (noun): Another historical synonym.
Synonyms
- Correctional institution (for juveniles)
- Youth detention facility
- Juvenile hall (informal)
Related Idioms/Phrases
- While not a direct idiom, the phrase "scared straight" is related to the concept of deterring young people from crime, sometimes associated with programs at or visits to such institutions.
Noun
- correctional institution for the detention and discipline and training of young or first offenders