The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-06-11
THE KANSAS INSTITUTION FOR THE
EDUCATION OF THE DEAF
AND DUMB.

The above is one of the public institu-
tions of the state that is by far too little
Ro%n both in regard to the work it is
Gong and the advantages it offers. Ii is
supposed by many OF our citizens TO be a
sort of hospital, retreat, or infirmary,
when in fact it is purely a school. Pu-
pills are admitted for the period OF eight
years, for the purpose of instruction in
the ordinary English branches, and in a
trade. The only conditions are, that the
applicant be deaf, of good Yigor IN mind
and body, and between the ages of ten
and twenty-one years. To all such resi-
dents of the state are offered board, tut
ton, books and medical attendance free
of charge for the period above mentioned
The physician is expected to prescribe
only for such acute troubles as may arise,
or such chronic diseases as Weld readily
to treatment. No especial effort is made
10 cure the deafness of the pupils, as be-
ing foreign to the purposes for which the
institution is established.
The school is situated in the pleasant
city of Olathe, on the Kansas City, Fl.
Scott Il Gulf railroad, twenty-one miles
from Kansas CITY. The buildings occu-
Ply fine plat of ground ten acres in eX-
tent in the heart of the city, and are an
ornament 10 the place. The prir, ipal
buildings are of red brick, with cut stone
trimmings, three stories and a basement
in height They appear to be substan-
TALLY built, and well adapted TO the pur-
pose for which they were designed. The
original building is an old stone one,
somewhat out of repair, and must soon
give way to something better The state
also owns Il fine farm of 100 acres three
miles out of town, the gift of the citizens
of Olathe and vicinity.
The first school for the deaf and dumb
of Kansas was opened at Baldwin City in
December, 1861, by Mr.. p. A. Emery,
semi-mute gentleman at Chicago. The
legislature of 1862, 1868 and 1864 made
appropriations for its support. During
the years 1864 and 1865 the school was
carried at Topeka. 1t remained for the
legislature of 1866 to pass the act of Or
gdniZation, which 1t did February 18th
of that year. By this act the school was
adopted, as it were, by the state, placed
under its control, and has since received
its entire support from legislative appro-
priations. The same act located the
school at Olathe. 1t is now under the
control of the state board of charities.
consisting of Messrs. E. Knowles, pres
dent, of Nemaha county; q. Z. Faux
ner, secretary, of Saline county, A. 7.
Sharpe, treasurer, of Franklin county :;
T. L. Taylor, of Reno county, and ]. NJ.
Hogue, of Lyon county. They also have
charge of the school for the blind, at
Wyandotte, the insane hospital at Ossa-
watOmie and Topeka, now In process of
construction. Among the names of
former members of the board of control
we notice that of Hon. John Francis,
and also of other prominent men of the
state. Under the efficient management
of the present board the school seems to
be accomplishing n splendid work, and
with as good Il degree of economy AS is
consistent for the end sought for in the
education of the unfortunate class I'M
der their care, and in preparing them
for the active duties of an independent
citizenship. The current expenses for
the present fiscal year will be about
$4,000.
The superintendent, j. w. Parker, is
ably supported in the domestic depart
ment by F. X. Lanter, steward, and Mrs.
Theo. Bowles, matron, both persons of
several years experience in the school.
The educational department is peculiar
ly fortune in possessing as teachers, Mr..
G. L. Wyckotf, Mr. r. T. Thompson,
Miss E j Israel, Miss E. A. Brown, and
Mrs. X. II. Thompson, none of whom
have been less than six years in the
work. The value, or one might say, the
necessity of eXperience.in a school for
the deaf and dumb can be appreciated
only by those who understand the diff
ficulties in the way. The pupils, almost
without exception, enter school with no
language whatever, unless q few rude
gestures can be called language AL
though they have spent years within the
circle of influence which gave their hear
ing brothers and sisters IA good tAk1dert
standing of that wonderful thing called
language, and. of the thousand and one
things around them, these children have
been mere spectators. knowledge has
receded from their lips as the waters
from the lips of fountains. Obviously,
other means must be devised feE., teach
ing them than are used in our public
schools. Some COMMON medium ofcOm-
munication is needed. This is obtained
by developing their rude gestures into
the sign language" as it is called, which
is done almos. without effort, so readily
do the children adapt themselves to it.
By tile julicious use of this sign Ian
guage, and the system of object teaching
in IFS purity, the pupils are initiated into
the mysteries OF written language, and
slowly, carefully, with frequent repeti-
ton, getting al, their learning 10y means
of the eyes alone, they advance from
grade to grade through the eight years,
graduating with fair English education
of about grammer school grade. The
work of these teachers must be very ted,
ious and in some respects discouraging
But they seem TO keep up the interest
and attention of their classes remarkably
well, much bet ter than classes in the
public schools are generally held.
A few pupils are able to speak, having
lost their hearing by disease or accident
after acquiring speech. 4 small class
of these pupils has been taught an hour
each day in articulation by Miss Israel
i. e. defects of speech have been correct
ed and the pronunciation of new words