Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-01-17

against deiay III SO uOlbS.
| have heretofore recommended
the founding of a State school for the
education offeeble minded children.
The experience ofother States where
they are in operation has shown
that such schools are nearly, if not
quite, as beneficial in their results as
those established for the education of
the deaf and dumb, or the blind
The education of this class of uufor
Inmates, the highest possible devel-
opment OF their feeble faculties, is
due them from the State. Nor
should it be regarded as "A charity, to
be grudgingly bestowed, but duty,
70 be cheerfully performed. In
changing their lives from curse to
blessing in roclaiming them from
life Of abJect wretchedness in saw
ing them from sinking, with adyanc-
ing years into hopeless idiocy, society
will reap the higest reward for the
performance of a sacred duty. | be-
speak for these children your earn
est, practical sympathy. In few
years the property in Madison now
occupied for the Orphans Homo will
be available for the accommodation
OF this school. fit shall be estab-
hshed Immediately, only temporary
arrangements will be required
Senators NJ. Ii. Petit, Il. S. Miner
and ). ID. Burchard, and Assembly
men Matthew keenan,, Willard Nor
rill, G. G. Swayne. G. L. Thorn, w.
P.Rounds and Ill. A. Chase were APP
pointed members Of the visiting com
mittee of the State They have
made very thorough examanition
OF the affairs Of the state penal and
charitable institutions, and visited
the charitable institutions of the
city of Milwaukee. Their report
will be laid before you at an early
day.
| again submit for your considera-
ton the policy of reducing the mum
Der of each board Of trustees having
charge of our benevolent institutions
to five, and that there be established
5 ate Board Of Charities, which
shall have the general oversight OF
them all, and over the Refor N
School, and the county jails and
poor-houses, with full authority t.
enter and exmine into their general
management, at all times, and to be
required TO report to the State annu.
ally. | am fully convinced that
such a board will be very great
practical benefit to the State, and OF
much assistance TO the trustees hav-
ing immediate control of the institu-
tons. Such has boen the experience
of every state which has organized
such body. This change will tend
TO secure the greatest possible econ
omy, uniformity and progress in the
management Of the interests thus
placed under supervision.
EDUCATIONAL.
1t is q source Of real pleasure that
| am able to say to you that our sys
tenn Of education continues to meet
with the hearty approval ofthe great
massofpeople. The common schools
have been we'll sustained during the
past year, and are steadily drawing
nearer that state of perfection which
1t should be our aim to have them at
tam. For this we are indebted, ia q
great measure, to the teachers. Thev
manifest zeal in their labors, an ap,
probation OF the responsibilities OF
their high calling, ard an emulation
to excel, that merits the warmest
commentator. The district and
graded schools should be the best If
the State, and | hope to see them
reach this point of excellence at nc
distant day. The State authorities
by judicious encouragement, can dc
much to hasten this contamination
Notwithstanding the satisfactio /
We may feel in view of the success OF
our common schools, the fact that
over fifty thousand children do not
attend school in the State stands forth
warning to the people that fifty
thousand children are growing up il
their midst TO be mon and women
who are not fitting themselves to be
come intelligent, useful citizens. Toe
many Of them will, in consequence Of
their ignorance, be vagabonds, fittec
only for prisons, Orothels and poor
houses. Firmly believeing that this
source OF future danger to the State
should be removed, and that no pa.
rent has right to thus rear a child
| renew the recommendation, presen
ted in the last annual message, foi
the enactment of such a law as will
compel each child in the State O
proper age, under ordinary circ1m
stances, TO attend school giver
number of months each year, for {
reasonable number Of years.
From the report oftho Superintend-
ent Of Public Instruction, / learn that
the
Number of children over four and under
twenty years Of age is ................... 4l2 49,
Number that attend school during the past
year .........,............ .............. 264 So
Number of school districts in the State .... 1850.
Number Of teachers required to teach the
schools $500
Amount expended for public educational pur
1901 Iet
There was apportioned, during the
year, to tho school districts from the
school fund income, S159,27138
The State normal schools at White
water and Piatteville have thus far
fully satisfied the expectations of the
people. They are doing the work for
which they were established in such
manner as to reflect great credit up
on the gentlemen having them in
charge. The school building at Osh
kosh has been completed, and is a
structure of which the State may be
proud. 1t has cost $44, 271.45. The
Regents will put this school in oper-
alton this year, as soon as the income
of the normal school fund shall be
sufficient to pay the annual expense
thereof. 1t will be several years be-
fore the income of the fund will sup
port the fourth school hence it is not
probable that another school building
En