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

lation to this subject, was made to the
Legislature at its last session, by Hon. W.
W. Reed, Chairman of the Committee on
Charitable and Benevolent Institutions
It contains large amount of valuable in
formation in relation to subject compar-
atively new to most of our readers:
The committee on charitable and be-
nevolent institutions, to whom was referr-
ed that portion Of the governors message
relating to the care and education Of idi-
OTIS and feeble minded children, and IN
complain ce with instructions contained in
the following resolution
Resoluea, That the committee on char
liable and benev olent institutions be in
structed to report whether in their opin-
ion it is expedient at this time to make
provision for the support and education
of idiots.
Respectfully submit the following
REPORT:
The idea of successfully educating idi
OTIS is of com paratively recent origin, and
its practical application through the means
of institutions affording the exact facilities
necessary for Importing such physical
training, mental and moral culture nec-
essary to their development and improve
ment, is still more recent, having come
into existence less than twenty years ago
with the memory Of even our young
men and yet the facts at the ba>e ofsuch
institutions are SO patent, when attention
is once directed to them, and their necess-
ity so obvious, that it is our deliberate
conviction that in the near future no state
or county which neglects to do justice to
this long neglected and down trodden
class Of its citizens, can enjoy an undis
puted claim to a very high state Of moral
elevation, or even to refined civilization.
Certainly no state in our Union can afford
to be without this evidence of moral pro
gress.
The facts referred to as establishing
the necessity of such an institution are
First, The existence Of these unfortunates
among us. This is so painfully evident,
especially to those having charge of the
poor, that proof upon the subject would
seem unnecessary and yet we believe
there are few subjects upon which public
opinion has been misled more than upon
this-statistics upon the subject being
wholly unreliable. The existence Of such
child is always family secret, the diff
ferent members scarcely willing to confess
it to each other, much less to see it ar
rayed IN 8 census report, especially when
such report, like those heretofore taken in
our stare, had apparently no higher object
than the qualification Of public curiosity.
Statistics, based On thorough investiga-
tion, in other states where institutions for
their education exist, show the children
Of this class to be more nun erous than
the deaf Inutes and blind, Or in the ratio
of one to every thousand inhabitants.
This estimate, if true, would give us eli ght
hundred in the state. OF these, at least
one fifth are Of suitable age to be benefit
ed by an institution affording facilities for
education.
These estimates are based upon esti-
mates Of western states. The proportion
of this class in the eastern states and Eu-
rope is much greater, and they must con
tlnue to form about the same proportion
as they always have, in every large COM
munity, until the physical condition of the
race is greatly improved. The second
fact relied upon as establishing the nec-
essity Of n institution for the education
and physical development Of this class, is
that OF their Susceptibility to improvement.
Theory has little to do in the settlement
of this branch Of the subject. It is a
question which must rest upon facts from
experience. To this arblter we appeal
and experience has demonstrated most
early that the torpid, sluggish inert con-
ditlon OF the idiot can be changed into
health, vigor and activity-thot the in
telligent, speaking eye can be substituted
for the vacant gaze that lips which have
hitherto uttered only unmeaning and dis
cordant sounds, can be taught to speak
with distinctness and huen cy-that the
filthy and degrading habits in which they
have hitherto indalged can be overcome
that this glutinous, slovinoGs, beastly
creature can be transformed into man
that the hitherto dormo t intellect can be
aroused. mental activity induced and
thought and study stimulated; and final
ly, above all. that the consciousness of
their responsibility to God and their du-
ties toward their fellow men can be awak-
ened.
In support Of the foregoing representa-
ton, We have the opinion Of all who have
ever familarized themselves with the SUBJ
jeot, and especially of ,h"se who have
been connected with these institutions,
either as trustees, superintendent or