Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1848-07-27
THE ANNUAL EXAMINATION.


OF the pupils at the Virginia Institvtion for
the education of the Deaf and Dumb aud of
the Blind, took place on Friday and Saturday
the 26th and 27th of MAY.
Rev. r. w. Bailey and like Powers, esq.
who were requested by the Board Of Visitors
to act as Committee OF Examination, have
furnished the ensuing Report:
Tothe Board Of Visitors Of The Virginia
Institution for the Deaf aud Dumb and
Blind:
GENTLEMEN Having at your request at
tended the examination Of the pupils in the
Va. Institution for the Deaf, Dumb aud Blin',
on the 26h and % inst, we take pleasure
in testiiylng the qualification we derived hon
the exercises of The occasions; a qualification
no doubt common TO all VINO were present
and witnessed the evidences of proficiency on
the part OF the pupils, and thorough and ac-
curate instruction on the part Of the TEACHERS.
The first day was appropriated TO the ex-
animation of the deaf mutes. Each class was
ca He'd up in succession and examined by its
proper teachers. Exercises in the use Of words,
in tn. structure OF sentences, in Geography,
Arithmetic, Natural History were proposed
by the Teachers and Others, and written out
by the pupils with surprising facility and ac
curdcy. The handwriting, too, was good
and their orthography perfect. And it was
| delightful TO see the eager interest depicted
on thsir counenanCes, AMI 10 witness their
grateful pleasure in the acquisition of know
| ledge. The exercises were varied by excellent
| Instruments and vocal music from the blind
pupils and by the reading of original letters
and compositions written by the deaf mules.
These compositions were particularly inter-
| esiing from the artess simplicity with which
every thought and feeling was expressed, and
| the gradual increase of mental development
! whidh they exhibited.
On the second day, the blind pupils were
examined. First; they read portion OF SCH j.
ture without mistake and almost without
| hesitation. Glasses were then examined IN
History, Geography, Arithmetic, Algebra.
Geometry and French; and on all these sub
lects, questions proposed at random. either
BY the teachers or others, were aus ered with
readiness and accuracy. In Arithmetic, the
multiplication and division Of numbers with
five or six places OF figures, complex questions
in fractions, interest. discount. and the ex-
traction of the square and cube root, were
solved mentally and without difficulty, while
the solution oil quardratic equation and the
demonstration OF a long. proposition in Geome
try seemed to present no difficulty. In
French, the questions were rapidly asked and
answered in that langua e; thus furnishing Tie
best evidence OF proficiency.
The easy and respectful manners of the
pupils, their promptness in every thing, and
their personal neatness and propriety, es-
pecially in the Female department, reflect
high credit on the Domestic culture bestowed
ami on the young Ladies personally.
In a word, no one present could doubt for
a moment that this noble Institution, under
the efficient government of its Board OF Vis-
tors and the admirable instruction of its corps
of Teachers, is fulfilling the high ard holy
purpose for which it was established in she'd
ding the blessings of knowledge and religion
GA its unfortunate inmates and preparing
them for usefulness and happiness in alter
life.