Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-01-16
An Outside View eff the Virginia lnst1.
/ tuition for the Deaf IL Dumb and the

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We extract the following editorial from the
last issue OF the New York Deaf-Maaes' Jour
nal: fly5f7srl i -. ne :. j 49,. Is s.y
I AL lew months ago, those interested In deaf
Unite rs States, were surprised andindignant at
the sweeping changes made In Inc PERSONNEL o.
the Virginia Institution FOR tne Deai anu
Dumb and the Blind, a Staunton. Many !uule
efforts have since been made TO snow tnaI Ine
changes were not caused by pol1tlcal lnnuen-
ces, but constituted essentially move 10 pro-
mote the efficiency of the Institution. some
of the mute paptr contested. this version OF
the matter. maintaining, as well they might.
that no possible good could arise rom , ois,
charging ex experienced men, and putting green
hands Tor green heads?) in the places thus
made vacant. The Goodson Gazette paper
published at the Virginia Institution under
the control of the Superintendent, has teemed
with editorials which were calculated 10 en-
gender the impression that every pooy con
nected with The Institution was doing the ut
most to faithfully perform the ddties which
their respective positions enta1led But wnlle
this apparent tranquility and progresslVeness
were badly out of order. Envy, Jealousy, In
dignation, distrust. and enmity, existed among
the teachers and officers, and even the pupils,
causing feeling of uneasiness and uncertainty
among the former, and making, we should
judge period of school life that was anything
but profitable to the latter. he climax mas
been reached at last the Principal having been
obliged to step down and out. The following
correspondence OF the Richmond (Va.) DtS-
patch will explain the latest phase OF the mat
ter: So
"For some months past there have been diff.
ferences and difficulties between the Principal
of the Institution for the Deaf, Dumb, and the
Blind, DIR. Vaughan, and the Steward, Mr..
Davis, which grew more and more bitter anc II.
reconcilable until at last they have been termi-
mated in the appointment of the new Board OF
Visf tors by the Governor last Saturday. -
''The present Board has only been in office
since last summer. and its course has thus
early made itself obnoxious to the powers that
be- only two of its members being retained In
the body 50st appointed 1t Is so evident to
Dr. Vaughan and his friends that the Board. as
now constituted, is unfriendly to him, that
Immediately upon the receipt of the news
here vest rday of its arpointme nt, DR.. Vaughan
resigned his position as Principal OF the 1nstl,
will very soon meet and select DR.. Vaughan
successor whoi it is likely is already decided
upon as everything done by these people is
generally scut and dried.'n
Situated as we are. it is impossible to get at
the real motives for this changing and re-
changing Of .eaSHe are ana ne OF
monte motives advanced. or the$lea of ineffi-
cheney may be put forward-and this latter
reason Wilt be most readily accepted, when 1t
is considered that the incumbents seldom re-
main long enough to secure the experience
necessary for competency and success. There
is one thing however, which every one will
recognize which is that this incessant chang
ing represses the prosperity of the school, is
fatal to the Intellectual growth of the deaf
mutes of the State and tends to make them
future burden upon the people. As q friend of
deaf mutes we protest against this imposition
upon the deaf and dumb CT Virginia, for they
are the real sufferers. The Board having the
appointing power, should select only able and
capable men for duty at the Institution at
Staunton, and when they have goth should
keep them, and thereby give the deaf and
dumb the valuable benefits attaching to in
struction by teachers OF ability and experience.
If they will not do this from motives of Justice
10 individuals or philanthropy towards the
de,af-mutes, they should at least DO. so from q
feeling of loyalty to the Old Dominion State.