Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-02-06
OUR SIGHl,LESS ONES.
Present Condition OF the Tennessee
school for the Blind.

The report Of tho Superintendent and
Board of Trustees Ofthe Tennessee School
for the Blind, located in this city, furnishes
some interesting facts with regard to the
condition Of that institution.
Superintendent StIrteVant says that, &C
cOrding to the last census, Tennessee had
so sightless ones IN 1910, but that the
enumeration was somewhat defective as to
that class. he thinks that there are now
in this STATE not less thar twelve hundred
unfOrtunates, who are either totally or par
TALLY blind.
The present number Of pupils in the
School is forty-ive, aud many are waiting
to be admitted when the new building shall
have been completed. COmmendable I'M
provement in study and general good con-
duct is reported. Twelve lads and young
men are now steadily employed at broom
making.
Objections are urged by the Superinten-
dent against supplying the pupils with
clothing and paying their travelling expen-
ses from the appropriations made by the
State. He thinks that in all cases Of ex-
IRENE poverty the County Courts should
foot the bills for these two items.
The Importance of heating the building
with steam and lighting it with gas is
urged, as much danger to the inmates will
be thus avoided. In spite Of ceaseless vigil
lance, blind children cannot pass near stoves
and coal oil lamps without great risk to
| themselves aud the building.
The exterior If the west wing
Of the building, now nearly finish
ed, is intended for the boys, who
have not sufficient recommendation in their
present temporary quarters. No work has
been done on he central wing. The east
wing is partially occupied by the girls, but
is scantily furnished. As yet, the grounds
are in a chOatic state. Northeast OF the
building is a precipice from 20 to 100 feet
high, requiring a wall, which ought to be
built at as early a day as possible.
In his report, Supt. Sturtevant says:
"There are in the county alms-hOuses some
who ought 10 be az school, and others who
may or may not be too old to learn. These
should have a fair tr.al,tO see what they can
do; but, il once admitted here, the county
is not apt TO insist upon its right to give
them a partial MAR lenance Indeed, 1t IS
often agreed that they have no claim what
ever upon the county. They lose their
rightful domicile; the school becomes la
bic for their entire maintenance, and posi-
bly, they, too, become encumberances upon
it. Now, if we wish to make nearly all
the healthy blind self-sustaining, either n
the rising or the next generation, they
must all be taught before they are too old
TO learn; they must be placed in a school
that has vitality and force, and not in one
| that is half school and half asylum. There
/ fore, it is important that some provision
| should be made outside Of the institution
| for the very few young who are too imbe-
Gle, and the larger number who are too old
to be educated; and ifthese have no homes,
it seems right that they should be dOmi,
/ ciled and supported, as other INDECENT per
sons are, by the counties in which they be-
long"
After giving a detailed history Of their
building operations the Board Of Trustees
say:
at is not the purpose Of the State to con-
vert this school into an alms-hOuse. The
object is higher and nObler. Those people
who do not possess talents or industry SUI
fcient to acquire IN Intellectual or musical
education are, if boys, taught to work al
some suitable trade; if girls, they are in
| st1ucted in some manual art adapted 70
their condition and capacity, so that, when
/ they leave the school, they may become
neither beggars nor paupers, but will be
qualified to take their place in society as
/ good and useful men and women
Messrs. Z. II. East, Thompson Anderson,
| George W. Smith, John NJ. Lea, Samuel
/ Watkins, G. W. Nance and 4. Y. 5.
Lindsey constitute the Board of Trustees.
Davidson county has ten pupils in the
/ school.