The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1876-03-07
The Benevolent Institutions.

Blind. The policy would De 1atal 10
he benevolent objects for which these
Institutions were established, and the
saving, if anything, would have been
barely a trife. The consolidation plan
n every case in which it has been
,ried, has proved a ruinous failure.
and is contrary to reason and to the
teachings of the humanitarians and in
structors who have made the care and
instruction of these unfortunate classes
their study. In addition to the authorl-
ties heretofore cited on this subject, We
will present some others which we have
taken pains to obtain for our own infor-
nation, and which may serve purpose
in helping readers of this journal to cor
rect conclusions
CAN INSTRUCTORS OF THE BLIND HELD
AT INDIANAPOLIS, AUGUST, 1871.
Mr.. Lord, from a special Committee, SUBJ
mitted the following report:
Resolved, That it is not eXpedient to in
struct the blind in the same institution with
deaf mutes.
The committee to whom the foregoing
resolution was referred, would present tht
following, as among the reasons sustaining
it:
Deaf mutes and the blind differ from
each other, even more widely than either
class differ from those having all their
senses these differences, constitutional or
incidental, are such that they cannot be in
timately associated without unpleasant re-
suits.
2. The modes of instruction peculiar to
each class, are entirely unlike and incom-
patible.
g. When both classes are instructed to-
| gethcr, the mutes, being usually more nu-
merous than the blind, are likely 10 engross
| a still larger propOrtiOnate share OF the at
| tenton of the officers
4. The experience of institutions for both
classes shows, that while the department for
mutes prospers, and its inmates increase
! with the population, the growth of the
! blind department is almost invariably re-
| tarded.
Your Committee believe that in new
! States, where the mum Der of blind pupils
| is not sufficient to warrant the establish
ment of an institution, it is far better to
provide for the instruction of these punils
! in some neighboring institution, till such
time as the State has some twenty-five or
| thirty blind pupils, and has established an
| institution of its own.
Respectfully submitted,
AID. LORD,
L. Ii. LITTLE,
j. F. ToMLINsoN,
Fl. Ell. JOHNSON,
| q l.. SMEAD,
| Comm ittee.
Mr. Churchman moved that the eport b.
adopted and spread upon the minutes of the
| Convention.
| A number of addresses were made by
instructors, in favor of the resolution :;
none against. Among others, the fol-
lowing:
Mr.. ToMLINsoN: AS | am probably more
interested in this matter of dual institutions
than most superintendent present, / wish
to make few remarks upon the subject
Our Institution is probably the largest
one of the kind in the United States. | be-
leve, at the last Convention held by the In
structors of the Deaf and Dumb, similar
resolution to this was passed, and yester-
day, in conversation with Mr.. MacIntyre,
Superintendent of the Indiana Institution
for the Deaf and Dumb, he requested that
we should get up some such resolution as
this, and pass it, giving some of the reasons
stated here.
1t seems desirable on the part of all, that
these two classes of institutions should be
deaf and dumb, while the deaf and dumb
are equally inclined to look down upon the
blind. IG seems to be the case in our insti-
tuition; and it is not at all unfrequent,
for blind boy to receive a new phrenolog-
zeal bump, from the fist of a deaf mute
Even If we have different sleeping rooms
and differenG recitation rooms for the two
classes, yet If they so much as pass each
other anywhere about the premises, it is
never improbable that something of this
Kind will happen.
There is another objection to keeping
these two dissimilar classes together. it is
impossible for the Superintendent to do as
well by both as he might be able to do bv
one alone; because, in the first place, his
attention is divided; and in the next place.
the two classes, in their requirements and
pecularties, are very unlike The deaf
and dumb require more attention than the
blind, especially on account of their peculi-
ar language; they are therefore ant to re-
celye more attention, and, as a consequence
the blind are apt to be neglected. There is
great danger OF overlooking and neglecting
the trades and occupations which should
be taught to the blind. They should be es-
| pecially cared for in this regard, because
while the pupils Of the other Glass; when
| they leave the Institution, can go home ard
at once become tillers of the soil, or ENGAGE
In almost any other kind of manual labor,
the blind cannot.
In the North. Carolina Institution. the
blind pupils have increased in mum bers, and
not decreased. | do not know whether they
would have increased more rapidly if thew
had been separated from the deaf and dumb.
or not; but they have not increased in the
same ratio that the deaf and dumb have. /
| think the reason they have not increased in
| a greater degree, is that the institution is
| pretty well filled, and while the parents of
| the deaf and dumb are always ready and
willing to let them come TO the institution,
the mother of blind child very much re-
grets to part with him, and the Superin-
tendent, having great many applications
| from the deaf and dumb. does not exert
himself to bring in the blind, whereas it re-
quires exertion to do so. | think, perhaps,
that is the reason.
L have done all in my power to show no
parualltY, and to look after one class ~