Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-02-08
ameS b. Patterson, secretary
Xm0rrmurn csouanrruxnmn

Meade F. White, ex-officio President Tho
mas D. Ransom, James H...Skinner, Edward
Echols.
The report with its accompaE ying document
shows the Institution to be in fiourishinl
condition. The number of new pupils who ar
in attendance this tyear for the first time, j
larger than at any time il the past ten years
The attendance now numbers one hundred
and eleven, which the Principal says 'is a
many as can be supported with the present re
duced appropriation"
In urging the Importance of prompt attend
ance upon the opening of the session thu
Principal says:
1.-THE slowEess with which pupils come in al
the beginning of a session has been a constant
subject of complaint as l0ngas have been ac
quanted with the affairs of The Institution, anC
| it seems to be without remedy until such tint
as the number of applica is for admission shall
be largely in excess of the vacancies in the
school. When that time comes, as it must ne
cessarlly do as the population of the state in
creases, we can refuse to admit children who
do not report promptly at the beginning of thu
session. AS 1t is now, the formation and pro
gress the classes is delayed every year, to &
greater or less extent, by the hardness of pupi
value of time in matters pertaining to educa
ton. Thus, although the work of the schools
Is supposed to begin on the first Wednesday o
September in each year, actually there is it'll
done for week after that date"
THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.
| in the schools has been conducted much a
/ usual, with some few changes in the teachers
as will be seen by reference to thelist of officer
| and teachers above given.
IN THE CLASS OF ARTICULATION +
| decided change has been made, which seem
| to us a very wise one. The Principal says
Heretofore the pupils under instruction il
1t have been taken from other classes Tor hal
tenths of their time in the regular deaf M ut,
classes, and only One-tenth in the study anG
practice OF articulation and reading. AS
was to be expected from such division of tim(
the results were meagre and unsatisfactory
The pupils. lacking the practice necessary te
insure respectable progress, became dlscour
fell far short Of what is claimed by the advo
Gates of the method. Upon consultation with
several gentlemen eminent for zeal and skill il
the instruction of deaf-mutes, determined tt
form class of the most promising subjects fol
instruction in articulation, and to haye thei
whole school time devoted tOit alone. Fiv,
pupils, accordingly, under the exclusive
charge during school hours) of the articulation
teacher, and it is hoped that data will thus b,
afforded from which to form decided and in
telligent opinion upon this important sub
ject."
THE WORKSHOPS
| are in good condition and afford valuable in
struction in their several handicrafts Ito sucl
| pupils as are of age to profit by them, and thu
| fit them for useful mechanical pursuits whel
| they have left the Institution. In this connec
| ton it is stated that 1.-THE clothing and shoe
worn by the pupils are very nearly all manu-
| featured in the, tailor's and shoemaker's shop
| and the girls sewipg-room the mattresses il
| use in the house are all made and repaired il
the mattress shop, besides many that are sol
to individuals and dealers; all the work tina
| can be gotten in the cane-seafing and broom
making shop is done in a workmanlike ant
| satisfactory manner From the embossed ty p
printing office there issues a STEADY stream Q
publications, which go far to supplement Gin a.
| humble degree) the endeavors of more exten
sive establishments to afford literature acces
sible to the blind. These publications are neat
| ly and substantially bound in the book bind
| cry, and from the sale of the m cons derabe re
| venue is derived. From the Goodson printin
office our little paper is issued weekly durin
the session of the schools, and. in addition "a
the printing in the way Of programmes. circr
| lars, &C., needed about the establishment
done in it. The printers turned out from it wi
| compare favorably with those who learn thei
| trade in the newspaper offices of the country
The work of the carpenters shop never cease.
| Much of the minor improvement of the pIac
| is done in 1t, and all of the repairs, togethe
with the greater part Of the painting and glaz
ing, which. of themselves, are no small part
the work about an establishment as extensiv
as this.''
FEW IMPROVEMENTS
have been made because of lack of funds. ye
much has been done in the way of repairin
and keeping the property in good condition
The greatest need is three-inch pipe from tn
City main, near the entrance to the grounds
| to some point about the buildings SO as, in cas-
| of fire, to insure a stream of water that wi
reach the highest point of the buildings.
THE EXPENDITURES
during the fiscal year were 49,, 4l2.2 and ther
was balance to the credit of the Principal {
$5l5.G on the lat of October.
The amount of work done in the sewers
shops connected with the Institution was 8
follows: