Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-06-18
AN ACT

AN ACT +
To establish an Asylum for the education of ni-
otic and lmbecile Youth .,.-sssf
WHEREAS, The State ,of Ohio has recognized the
| education of It's youth a duty incambeH, up-
on the State, and has provided for those who are
not susceptible OF improvement in common
schools modes OF instruction adapted to their
wants and capabilities; and whereas, Il appesrs
by the report OF the Secretary of State that there
are large number Of idiodc youth resident
within its borders who are incapable Of improve
ment in ordinary public or private schools who
are burden TO their friends and TO community,
objects of comnlisseraiion degraded Ind heIplass
and whereas experience has satisfactorily de-
J monsuated that under the system Of instruction
adopted in schools for idiots in other States and
in Europe, that these youth may be elevated,
their habits corrected, and their health and
| morals greatly improved and they lbe.enabled 10
obtain their own support,--now therefore, in dis
| charge OF the duty OF the State TO educate lis
weak and helpless children as well as the gifted
and strong, and to elevate hitilerto neglected
| class. -,
SECTION l. Be Il enacted 6y tie General Assembly
the State Of Ohio, That there shall be established
and organized soon as practicable an institution
for the education of idiots and imbecle youth, to
be denominated the Ohio State Asylum for Idiots
SEC. 2. The Governor, with the consent of the
Senate, shall appoint immediately alter the pass
age ot this uct, three trustees, to whom shall be
entrusted the management and control OF said in
siluuon. The said trustees shall hold their Office
In the order in which they are named, the first for
one year. the second for two years, and ithe third
Tor three years and their successors IN Office shall
be appointed for three years each. They shall meet
as soon as practicable after their appointment take
the necessary oath OF office, and organize by ap-
Pointing President 10 preside al lne meetings Of
their Doard, and Secretary to record, attest and
preserve its proceedings. -<.5 =.
SEC 3. The said board shall procure suitable
building in or near the city OF Columbus, for the
temporary use OF said institution and shall cause
fnfNl L IL
tenance and education of such pupils as shall be
admitted TO said asylum and as shall be necessary
for the purposes OF the institution -.
SEC. 4. The said board shall appoint .super-
lntendent, teachers. and other necessary and con-
venent officers, and shall have power to remove
them, or any OF them, upon sufficient cause. They
shall also hx the compensation OF such superinten-
DENT teachers, and other officers and employees in
said Institution.
SEC. 5. IL shall be lawful for said board to Or
cain, establish l. pu: in execution such lies and
regulations as may be deemed expedient for the
internal government and economy of the insiitu-
non, and Tor the well ordering and management
OF all the affairs thereof, and Of all officers and
persons appointed employed by them in and alcur
the asylum or elsewhere, and they may iaIter and
amend rules and regulations at pleasure.
Sec. 8. As soon building be procgred and
suitable accommodations made, az provided in the
third section, the said Board shall admit into said
Asylum al least nine Idlotic and imbecie youth,
who shali be maintained and educated therein al
the expense of the State. Said youth shall be
selected, one from each Judicial distric, of the
State so Tar as application shall be made from said
District: Provided, that no youth shall De admitted
aforesaid un less the Probate Judge of the coun-
y where said youth shall reside shall certify that
he or she Is IN INDECENT circumstances and has resi-
ded IN this State al least one year previous to such
application. The board may admitinto the Asylum
such number OF paying pupils as can be accommo-
da ted therein, and tor the support and education
of such youth the Board shall M and regulate the
amount 10 be charged, and the time and terms of
payment. They shall also prescribe and publish
forms for application tor admission. and lmay in
ciude III them such lnterIOgatOIles as they shall
deem necessary and useful to be etanswered
Sec. 7. No youth shall be admitted into said
asylum who are oyer fifteen years of::age, or who
are capable i9t receiving Instruction at common
schools.
SECS The:directorsof::county or city infirmaries,
or the township trustees in any county where there
is notcounfy inflrnary may remove to sad Asyluul
any. .idlotc and imbecile y0ath who maybe properly
admitted therein; and In such case said directors
or township trustees shall support such youth at
said Asylum from any funds under their control
applicable 10 the support OF such inhrmaries or of
townships poor.
SEC. 9. 1t shall be the further duty Of said trus-
tees 10 make inquiry IN regard to site for suit
able building tor said institution, and 10 receive
propositions for donations OF land 'or moaey; they
shall also collect information in relation 70 the pro-
per management OF such institution, and the edu-
cation OF idlOuc youth, and the cost, construction
and arrangement OF the necessary buildings, and
shall procure plan OF the same. For the purposes
contemplated by this section any two oil said trus-
tees may visit one more ofsimilar public insti-
tutions in the United States; and wher so employ
ed they shall receive three dollars day and their
necessary travelling expenses; Provided, that the
Whole amount expended tor such purpose shall NOT
exceed three hundred dollars All other services
be performed by said trustees under this act shall
be graiutous, except that their incidental expenses
shall be paid. The said Board shall report TO the
General Assembly at the commencement Of the
next session, the result of their inquiries and OBJ
seTvaiions and shall also report their official pro-
ceediDgs, and the condition and situation OF the.
institution under their charge, together With an
exhibition detail of all its receipts and expenditures
Sec. 10. For the purpose OF this act there shall
he and is hereby appropriated the sum Of three
thousand dollars. All accounts and expenditures
shall be properly certified by said trustees, any
two OF them, and shall be paid by the Treasurer
upon Ihe order of the Auditor. 81
SEC. IL. This act shall take effect from anu
alter ia passage -
N ii. VAN WORRIES,
Speaker of the House OF Representatives.
THOMAS II FORD,
President OF the Senate.
April 18th, 1857.