The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1854-01-16

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The reports of the Trustees and of the
I several Superintendents, furnish full infor-
nation of the condition and wants of the
benevolent institutions.
i The repairs and Improvements at the J,u-
natic Asylum which were authorized bv an
preparations, at the last session of the
General Assembly, are nearly completed, and
promise to add greatly to the comfort of the
Institution.
The great increase of pupils in the Insti-
tuition for the Deaf and Dumb, requires that
additional room should be provided for
them.
! A personal examination of that Institu
ton has satisfied me, that the time has ar
rived for the erection of new building.
with adequate room and suitable accommo-
dations.
The site of new editice has been sub
ject of frequent discussion. 1t has been sug-
geSted by many, that the Institution should
be removed into the country, and the pres
ent buildings and grounds which are now
almost III the heart of the city, eventually
sold. To this proposition, the present and
late superintendents have been strongly op
posed. Their experience in the education
of the Deaf and Dumb, gives great weight
/ u
them rest ON educational grounds.
would submit to your consideration. the
propriety and justice of giving to the Board
of Trustees a suitable compensation for
their services. The labor which they are
required to perform, and the responsibility
imposed upon them, are too great to be per-
formed gratuitOuSy.
There is class of persons, with equally
strong claims upon our sympathies, who do
not seem to be embraced within the range of
the beneficial operations of these Insiitu-
tions. | allude 10 the inbecile and idioic,
of whom there is said to be large number
in the State.
Idiocy and insanity, until lately were
confounded, so far at least as efforts were
made for their amelioration and relief The
proper distinctions are now observed, and
each class is found amenable to different
modes nr treatment .....
Idiocy is understood to consist in an i'm
paired condition of the powers of the mind,
and an entire want of the reasoning facul-
ties. Persons thus afflicted are not respon-
bic for their acts, and must necessarily, there
fore, become public or private charge
Possessing muscular force, some traces of
memory and the powers Of imitation they
are capable of being trained to perform
many OF the necessary duties of life.
Our common schools, from their universal
diffusion, located as they are in every neigh
borhood, distributing their healtfful infiu-
ence to every family, should always be re-
garded as among the very first objects of
legislative care. They have not inaptly, at
times, beon styled " the peoples colleges"
and are certainly the palladium and most
effectual defence Of our free institutions
! The New Constitution makes it imperi-
tive on the General Assembly, "to make
such provisions by taxation, or otherwise
as with the income arising from the School
Trust Fund, will secure thorough and eff
cient system of common schools throughout
the State
! In accordance with this requirement of the
! Constitution, the last General Assembly,
with almost entire unanimity, passed law
re- constructing our educational system-
elevating its standard, extending its useful
ness, and imparting TO it greater degree Of
efficiency.
| 1t is claimed by the friends of the system
thus created, that the new features engraft-
ed upon it, are decided Improvements in
perfect accordance with the educational
progress of the age, and the educational de-
mands of our rapidly increasing population.
In republic, like ours, founded as it is
on the virtue and intelligence of the people