Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1867-05-15


school for idiots and feeble minded chill
ren, are summed up as follows, by the
superintendent
Of the twenty-six children now in at
tendance, upon admission nine were
speechless and eight more used language
very lmperfectly, having, in some IN
stance vocabulary of language singular
ly perverted, only comprehended by them
selves and their friends; five only were
able to use the language of common, SIM
pie conversation; all but seven were more
or less unceanly and irregular in their
habit, some tthem to very unpleasant
degree. One was unable to walk, and
two walked with much difficulty, pre-
terrlng to creep rather han maintain the
upright position, several were more or less
awkward III their gait, due in some IN
I stances to partial paralysis. Eight were
very restless extremely snervous and irrl-
table and were with difficulty kept under
the least restraint; on y four were able to
dress and undress themselves without as
slstance. and with the largest proportion
1t had to be done for them entirely =
Twelve were gluttenous, and all required
discipline and instruction at the table,
Only three had received any instruction;
but one could read; none of the othsrs
had any idea OF words as the representa-
tlges of objects, ten had an idea of form,
size or color, six could not feed them-
selves.
The range of Development is from
those who are but little below the lower
grades of ordinary human intelligence
down to those who cannot walk or stand
alone, who cannot feed themselves; who
havo no idea of language, who are, IN
short, comparatively but little above the
animal Taken as a whole, they are un-
questlouably below the mass Of idiots in
the state in point of intelligence. One
fact In reference to- them is, however,
that they are mostly young, and therefore
OF a teachable age.
The brief existence of our inst ituion
has suthced to show the wide range of
benefits OF such an institution. 1t has
suticed to convince those who have wit
messed our efforts, that were attempting
nothing beyond the reach of probabilities;
that our means were adapted to the ends
we had in view, and that success must
attends those means, in relation to those
ends, as sure as effects flow from causes.
1t has been seen that sur pupils are
| capable of some degree of order, as they
take their p aces promptly, and behave
| With propriety, in the school room aud at
the table; Ihat thoro has beon a positive
| Improvement in all cases, in the habit, in
/ the diminished amount OF care and trouble
involved in their management, in their
mental developement and in their moral
| character.
In the matter Of speech, under the
special training to which ..our pupils have
been subjected in articulation, there has
been considerable Improvement. More
control has been acquired over the mus
cles concerned in ar1iculation; much has
been gained in the imitation of sounds,
there Is more distinctness of utterance;
and those who had language of their
own have ceased altogether to use it, en-
ploying now proper words and phrases to
convey their ideas Three of the pupils
read in the elementary reading books,
three others read lessons on the Wetb's
series of reading cards, thirteen more ere
exercised with printed words, which is
the first step iii our method Of teaching
reading. In all, nineteen are learning to
read, two write words and sentences and
are capable Of writing letters home; and
twelve others make letters upon ahc black
board. Not one Of these was able, upon
admission, to make straight mark upon
a black board or slate
In the matter Of numbers our pupils
have made considerable progress One
OF the pupils can say the first have of the
multiplication table, and comprehends the
value of the fractional parts of dollar;
counts and enumerates to thousands and
performs examples in simple addition and
satisfaction Another counts and enum-
crates to hundreds and performs examples
in simple addition; seven others count to
twenty; twelve perform other lower exer-
cises which are calcula ed to give to first
ideas Of numbers
Six have some knowledge Of geograph,
they can point out one-holf Of the differ
ent states and tell their names; distin-
gulsh the bodies of land from the bodies
oi water, point out the rivers and noun
talns aud give definitions Of them, indica-
ting that they understand what hey are,
besides giving the names Of the states
they have been taught certain facts and
pecullarlties concerning sta es they point
out. They also understand the cardinals
points OF the compass, and their relation
to the map; they are not as dependent in