The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-02-18
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS.
What They Have Done During the Past Year,
DC, TO-, 20.


Ths institution ia situated in Barre Massachusetts
and is under the supervision of DIR. George Brown It
WA established eight years ago. and when arst
opeaed was entirely dependent upon private charity for
support 1t has however, for the last Ave or six years
received an annuity from the State rians
In amount, the last report "compared with the
vants Of is children and its liberal charities in other
sepsrtmeats of benevosnce" There are connected with
he institution twenty FIVE children six female teachers
tne matron and governess As bodily exercise il
)ondered OF the greatest Importance in the treaeat
u the children, ample means provided for its enjoy
meat There about twenty acres of land
with tbs asylum for play grounds walks and tillage
Various simple games taught to the proper
control aod play of every muscle, while the whole aim
is to the interest and ince the child frequently
BY boisterous merrmen to throw of the sloh and
inertia which mark the daily life of the idiot.
One hour before the school is devoted to gym
nastic ana initiative exercises under the direction Of
efficient master For this purpose, ladders and other
apparatus prepared in the school room. Besides
these spors useful labor in the garden has proved
able auxiliary in educating both body and mind In
performing these lsbors the smallest child has
taught to do something, whilst Of the larger boys
have become thoroughly acquainted with the mysts-
res OF general tage that they fully competent
work proitaby alone, direct the awkward attempts
OF novices in the business few of the pupils have
manifested from the hrs interest these pursuits
though the larger portion have needed all the
agemen which tact and ingenuity could devise inst
i q love for labor.
The older boys have been also instructed in the care
and Management Of horses, CATTLE &c., whilst the smaller
ones have had their corresponding duty perform
to feed the poultry another the rabbits third the
squirrels, &c. class OF the boys have become so
skilled in the use Of TOOLS and confident in their
powers. that they abundantly qualified to learn
p-din frad nd full of
themselves well by the labor of their hands
There have, says the report been two daily sessions
IN the school room, the morning commencing at A. NJ
aud closing at II; the afternoon from half past p NJ
tilt Both sessions open and close with singing. When
the pupils first entered the school, it required some
time and much labor to induce them to behave with
proper decorum, many having formed strongly rooted
habits Of perpetual chattering whstling, singing, or
frequently STILL constant restlessness changing
the position every minute.
When child had learned to sit still few minutes and
50 control all audible demonstrations great point was
gained Yet the next step still more difficult and
demanded generally much longer period of time, viz:
to FIX the attention upon given object long enough to
gain idea Of what it IT, to what may be APP
Piled stranger to this art of teaching would after
fsw tra have given up the task hopeless and the
teacher here is oftentnes sadly dishearensd But pa
tenty by degrees by tact and judgment
the victory is finally gained An now these same heed
asss noisy truly unthnking children sit quietly their
earaest looks and pleasant faces that they thinking
about what they doing OF course the same strict
be demanded from children Of perfect capacity yet tho
general order and industry visible during school hours
would compare favorably with our ordinary schools.
To aid the teacher his work all the appli.
nces which has proved beneficial are collect
naa @ sy The
hing itself before their eyes, to it and ha ndle it, be-
ore they can comprehend what you would teach tnem
n
word is really learned another is added and then
iuother Of the children now tell the names Of
quite arse aumber of words, define and spell them
eectiy-ohers still can combine those words into sen
tsnces write them upon the boards and read in simple
Still farther others have mastered the forms
and comb Of figures and becoming initiated in
the of writing and cypherng till in the most nd
nation the rudiments of the various branches usually
taught in the common schools-writng, drawing,
ing has bee daily taught in the school and has called
forth universal Interest than any other exercise
sss to 70 ',S oso the Sss
whilst its refining elevating influences have perhaps
shown clearly here than with ordinary children
because 80 many sources Of refinement ana elevation
closed forever 10 these dsrkened minds The quick
sob has FREQ uenty testified to the depth of feeling
stirred by the sad notes Of paintive air. whilst the
hearty laugh and grotesque dancing have shown equal
sympatas with lively quick music.
As proof of the success which has attended the
aystem Of instruction pursued in the institution At
Barre, the following account Of the proficiency made
@os sdSecs is Young fsso Of nns
teen years OF age-physical development perfect,
frame large and stout he, nd Of ordn.ry good pro
expressive Having seldom mingled in society, her
were awkward and she was wholly ignorant Of the
rules Of politeness Her language imperfect nds
tinct and abe delighted in asking questions which were
usually Of triAing character and often repeated Her
and the whole tenor Of her thoughts far
they could be arrived at those Of ordinary chill
dren third OF her age, was vain and especially fond OF
coectoas-ove Of appreciation 90 great that she would
not hesitate to deceive in order to gain the good opnon
Of anotaeS-no proper idea Of distance-no sefdepsn-
asoce.
Every possible exerton had been made teach her to
read and write instl any love of learning but with
out success the attempt abandoned and she
taught to knit and do kinds of house
we'll with supervision She knew most Of letters,
aud could spell out some words in uncertain hest.
tating manner Had been religously educated but
apparently incapable Of fully approaching the sins OF
deceit aud dishonesty, destitute moral win capa.
Die OF controlling her actions She evidently sensi.
bic Of her deficiency difference from others OF her
age though why It should be so beyond her compre
hsnsion
She has nov been a member of the school for eighteen
months and has msde-considering her age-very rapid
progress Her reading and articulation much better
though to teach her to read in any other than dul
monctoaous tone has required severe toll from her
teacher She has also acquired love for reading IRE
quenty asking permission to read aloud, understands
Whist reads remembers and 10 able TO answer quite
minute questions about 1t, spells and defines well She
has learned the numeral figures and how form them;
reads aud writes common numbers accurately adds,
sns : beginning to mupy
muatsd many facts all contributing to the enlargement
and growth OF her mental powers.
Her department Is gentle, manners more pleasing
the mora principles stronger-is gaining self de
peudence conversation sensible. In fine, she has
learned TO think.
she writes well from copy, and does credit to her
self in composition, which peculiarly hard for her
at FIRST The first attempt TO dictate single short
tence in letter to her mother such laborious ef
fort that Il brought tears TO her eyes, and discouraged
the heart Of her teacher lest she would be able to
write at ALL Her first trial write properly paper,
Spontaneous remark without aid from her teacher,
cost hours Of time She has written several letters
haVm 0f dish IN ha nd rings l0Dg
tune 20 write them, bat showing manifest improvement
We viii transcibe for publication, just "a II was
written two slight alterations in the
of sentences, and corrections in the spelling Of words
with which she was unaequainted.