Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-03-11
TENNESSEE DEAF AND DUMB
SCHOOL,
Thtrteenth Biennial Report Of the
Board Of Trustees.

Board Of Trustees.
4 Below we give some interesting facts
and extracts from the thirteenth biennial
report of thu Board of Trustees Of the
Tennessee Deaf and Dumb School, as show
ing the condition of this noble institution.
The President of the Board of Trustees,
Mr.. Jno. l.. Moses, recommends that there
be established in connection with the school
i workshops in which the boys may be
taught mechanical trades. Some he states
may become copyists, aud others teachers
of those afflicted like themselves, but the
greater number may resort to agricultural
and mechanical labor for their subsistence,
| and no longer depend upon the charity of
the b, anevolent. 1t is desirable to have a
shoe sh op, a cabinet shop, and printing
office In connection with the institution, as
the nnplls can receive instruction in such
| trades witho ut interfering with the routine
| of their duties in other respects. In addi-
tior To the adva utages set forth by adding
tbese features to the school, the pecuniary
advantages sre of L 1uch consideration. BY
tlie Introduction OF such a system the ex-
uanditures might be co. usiderablY diminish
Cd ana the institution co, Md, in the course
of few wears, be made ali most selfsustain-
| ing to a great extent, whei,e expenditures
are now required to conduct It properly.
In the course Of his report, the PRESIDENT
says:
aStarting about twenty-eight years ago,
| with fund of one thousand dollars,
single teacher and a few pupils, the school
| gave but little promise of what it has since
| become. Among the thirty-seyen Deaf and
| Dumb institutions in the United States, le
now stands tenth in number OF pupils IN
| der instruction; and in the at tentlon De-
slowed upon the moral and intell> ectual cul-
ture, as well as the physical conn Hrt ana
health, of its inmates, 1t is probaC'V ex-
| celled by none. In the administration OF
its financial affairs, it stands in the for :,
most rank. 1t is in this respect, the first OF
the twenty-seven similar schools in this
country whose statistics are accessible. A
comparison shows that the expenditure for
each pupil is less in our school than in any
| other of that whole number.
"For the ability to place the institution in
its advanced position, we are indebted
mainly to the benefcence of the State; and
the readiness with which she has almost in
variably responded 10 our applications, en-
courages us to believe that any reasonable
request we may make, will not be allowed to
pass UNDECIDED"
ATTENDANCE.
The whole number of pupils in attend
ance, is one hundred and two: males, sixty; !
females, forty-two. The whole number of :,
pupils admitted sinc9 the opening OF the
session has been one hundred aud six.
Four ofthess have been returned to their
homes: one on account of the condition of
her eyes, whose sight we feared at one time
might fail her. The other three because of
physical inability. The whole number of
pupils who have been under instruction,
since the reorganization Of the school
Dec. 3, 1866,-has been one hundred and
seventy-fve, one hundred and three of |
these Ibeing males, and seventy-tWo fe-
males. Two of the former pupils who pro-
posed returning this year, were, during the
summer vacation, taken away by dea tn
the one, Thornton Pillow of Lauderdale
county, was smitten down while at home
with disease, and died after brief illness;
the other Lemuel Dunn, Of Roane county,
met with terribly unexpected and shock
ing death, by being overtaken and run over,
while walking on a railroad track q few
miles from his home, by train of cars.
The health of the pupils is reported to be
remarkably good, and free from such at
tacks of sickness as have visited other places.
Considering the impaired organization-in-
duced by the. cause of their affliction of
most of the pupils, it is surprising they have
enjoyed such a remarkable immunity from
death and disease, and only shows how at
tentive to their wants and comforts have
been the officers Of the school. The princi-
pal, j. Il. Ijams, in bis report to the Board,
says:
ave need a special appropriation from
the State to supply the felt necessity of the
following wants: enlarged accommodations
for dormitory purposes for the boys; ad-
ditional study and sitting rooms for their
use; and shops and implements, so that our
boys may be instructed in the mechanical
arts; new fence for. three sides of our
grounds; and library for the use Of the
school. The Legislative Committee, that
recently honored US with visit, recognized
the necessity for the above wants, and
seemed unanimously to concede that, in
order to enable our school to do full justice
to its pupils, they should be supplied. We
sincerely hope that the Legislature may not
for any existing reasons, deem it inexpedi-
ent or decline making an appropriation suf-
fcient to our emergencies. For estimates
necessary to provide the school with the
wants enumerated, you are respectfully re-
ferred to the accompanying report of the '
President Of the Board of Trustees"
DOMESTIC DEPARTMENT. ;
No changes have transpired in this de-
partment. Mr.. T.. G. Jones serves the in
stitution intelligentl7. caSsbiy and faithful
ly as steward, his wife as housekeeper, and :
Mrs. Z. A. Henderson as mstron-the re-
spective duties of each being performed in
a manner to give entire satisfaction.
Altogether the reports exhibit desirable
condition of the school whose usefulness ;
should be appreciated by our people. :
The pupils receive religious instruction
and their moral character is carefully at
tended to. !
INTELLECTUAL DEPARTMENT.
The whole number of pupils, as las been +,
stated, is one hundred shrouded in G ross =
mental and moral darkness. It is our aim
not only to educate their minds but to Gull +
tivate in their hearts those moral and reli-
gious principles. which will teach them 7
through life to "abhor that which is evil, to
cleave to that which is good" We would \
not only make of these afflicted ones indie :
pendent, respectable, intelligent citizens, a
but honorable, useful, christian men and =
women. We perseVere in this endea vor, :
but with no sectarian spirit. The Bible is );
held up to them as the Great Sun, around :
which all lesser luminaries must reyolYe. =
AS a means of religious instruction, a :
weekly lecture, based upon some Scriptu- g
raj truth, is delivered by the teachers al !.
ternately, upon each Sabbath afternoon. 4
In addition to this service, prsyer-meeting :
is held every Wednesday evening, which i
has been conducted by the Principal and !;
deaf mute teachers. This meeting is at :
tended by all of the older pupils, who par :
tcipate in the exercise and who seem deep =
ly interested, and, we trust, corresponding !
ly benefited spiritually by this means Of i
grace. >
TRADES.
In previous reports we have always had
to report the delayed establishment of a
mechanical department. 1t is peculiarly :
crafty ing to state that beginning is about 2
to be inaugurated. A printing press and .
the type are being negotiated for, and ere
long we expect to see, under the instruc- .
ton of practical printer, class Of our :
boys being taught the art of printing. 1t :
is hoped that our means may speedily adj =
NIT of the introduction of additional trades; :
this accomplished, we shall be enabled to =
perform our whole duty By our pupils, to =
educate their minds to comprehend, their .