New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-14
VISIT TO THE STATE SCHOOL FOR
IDIOTS.
From The Albany Journal.

few wears since, the country people in the neigh
Aorbood Of the old Bulls Heal tavern, on tbs Troy
road when they were told it to be fitted up as q
scbooI house for Idiots shook their heads and pretty
generally agre that folks who thought natural fools
could be taught anything were but little better than
natural fools tbemfelves.
The school was opened, however, and has gradu-
sIy rsen in popular favor until now the old Bills
Head has got too small 10 accommodate the large
number Of pupils for whom applications pouc in from
all parts Of the State. The State, to whom no snau
portion Of the crecit OF making inc experiment De-
longs, is now erecting large Asylum a. Syracuse,
where the purpotes OF the Institution can be more
fully end effectively carried out.
The present building stands little out Of the city
limits, few rods back from the turnpike. It'll
plain uDpretending brick house. Inside 1t looksvefy
much lik any other boarding school. Ii you visit il
TO zee its operation, DIR Wilbur tskes you fret into
small BUILDING discOnnt cted with the main one. This
room YOU al first perhaps, conjecture TO be gymna
,ium for two ladders up to the ceiling, while
fbird Ia laid across horizontally, connecting them,
and under il is a mattress There are two square
tables around which sested perhaps dozen boys
and girls Of Elk TO sixteen years DID, apparently play
ING With the blocks, colored balls, printed cards, &C.,
that lay on them. young man al ore, snd young
woman al The other, talking TO the children con-
silently in loud but CHEEKY Kindly tones as II sl,na
whatever il is. Tie pupils DO rot have the wasn't
stare nor the low retIeang foreheads, nor exhibit
the personal neglect you expected. One or two have
uDprtpofsessiDg faces and three or four are cross
eytc. but ne arly all look intelligent and all are neat,
rome quite pretty. You are a novelty 10 them and
they follow you with gratifed eyes; most of them
laughing heartily. This is the first in tcation they
give you of being idiots for were they and
sible they would understand that visitors are not al
ways q matter Of rejoicing.
There are the newest corners. Here are one or
two as ,et scarcely taught to their senses
That lirls eyes wander rtstlessly everything in
the room, but waive your handkerchief before them
and she will notice it. teparate il in her Wis.,
ion from the of objects that fits before her dull
Al. - 4 -
hardly pay more attention lit than to post. Put
al iciole, red hot coal In his hand. and he would
scresm with PAIN but he would not know enough to
tmp bis hand over 10 let il drop. Throw yonder
club of him, and he would not lift finger to
himself but would laugh iDsAnely as it struck him
down, and never know wba. hurt him. desperate
task indeed TO tesch these eyes 10 see ears 10 hear
and behumbed brains to think.
The teacher hangs one Of the boys on the ladder by
the hands. He has but to let go TO drop few inches
ron the soft bed underneath. But be has no sense
to teach him that. He clipgs tightly to the round,
Al perhaps cries at the ain the act gives him, but
be does not move. The teacher puts his arm rouad
him and lifts him up, lifts his hand places it on the
next round ard cheers and encourages him In kind,
loud voice. Then the other hand. Aud So after re-
pested lessons it is at last almost forced upon his
suggisb mind, that he can use his hands and feet to
reach the floor.
Another, who has been come months at the Insttu-
ton is called TO show his requirements. His delight
runs over out Of his eyes and he breaks into broad
grin at the opportunity He up the ladder down
Il, under it, over IL, backward, forward, head fore
most, feet foremost, and finally throws himself INTO
the teachers arms, with an exulting burst Of ire
pressible laughter. He has been taught to do only
what can be taught to dogs and cats but with less
natural intelligence than they il is wonder that he
can be taught at all.
Another means of rousipg and fixing the dormant
faculty Of attention is by throwing from hand to hand
. stick as boys play "catch Two who have be-
expert at this engage in it, with nervous strain
ing OF every muscle that denotes what tremendous
mental effort the simple act requires when such intel
leets are called upon TO perform II.
The little circle sround the first table are being
taught to put, first one white, then one red bead al
terDately, upon . string. Then two white, and two
red, &c. They do not learn il immediately, nor in an
hour, nor day, perhaps not in week or month. |
But when they DO learn, they have gained an idea of
nambtr-the first in ali their lives And when they |
have learned t-such extrav agant JOY When an |
ea deer enter their poor darkened brains it is like
The thought that occurred to the Greek philosopher in
his BATH making him leap out, half dressed, and
"found it, Nowhere is there pupil tina, is so
grste to you for new thought as this poor idiot
that has never learned the use Of thoughts at all.
Thus TIE system proceeds. 1t begins with TIA
simplest Of ell impressions-the very foundation
Here is row Of circular blocks OF different sizes and
the ia row of holes into which they respectively
ft The idiot is taught to put each in its appropriate
place, and thus he maxi his first comparison and gets
lis first idea Of There is act Of red green blue
ytIo and white balls and cups. To fit each ball to
its proper cup leads him TO comprehension Of dfeI
in cclor. Another Get Of various shsped blocks
beach him form.
" hen be has advanced thus far, be can be taught |
10 recognize word printed on card. But he re-
cognites 1t as you do face, by its general aspect,
not by lie component parts. Upside down. or right
ace up, II Is all the same 70 him. BY degrees, he
brought nrst to know lite meaning then its separate
seuefs, sno men 70 trace ton the black board. Waen
he can DO this he has reached the threshold which
ordinary CHILDREN stand when they first so to school.
his education is much Ike theirs, only
and a
mo genileness.
Next you pass into the msin school room, where
Two dozen or more are assembled. Some are sitting
Il their decks and books. Al one end OF the room l.
clsss spelling simple words ard at the other. an
';ktr alas, raInirg place. IS they pointed oat.