The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-06-14
The Deaf and Dumb Of LOuis-
lama M School.

A correspondent Of the N. 0.
! States, writing from Baton Rouge
under date of May 3lst, gives the
following interesting account OF the
free school for deaf nutes at that
place. A great deal of ignorance in
regard to this institution exists
throughout the State, and the article
is of particular interest in that it
furnishes valuable information on
the subject
The Legislature having adjourned.
nearly all the members have left
either for the Crescent City or their
country residences The town looks
dull. The usual crowd in front of
the hotels are not to be seen; so your
correspondent spent an hour at the
school for the deaf and dumb.
Its objects and aims are very little
known, not only throughout the
State, but even in the community in
which it is situated. By many it is
locked upon as an asylum. It is
this in no sence of the. word. Its
object is purely educational. In
speaking upon this point the super
intendent in bis report says: at is a
school for the deaf. Like other
schools, it has session and a vaca-
ton, prescribed curriculum is pur-
sued. and pupils are graduated upon
it's completion. This school is set
apart for class Of persons who can
not be reached 10y the methods pur-
sued in the common schools of the
State. It is Iouisiana's free school
for the deaf"
All the deaf and dumb of Louisia-
ma between the ages of eight and
twenty five years are entitled to ad-
mission, free Of charge, for board,
washing, medicle attendance and tut
ton. Each and every pupil admitted
is entitled to eight years of instruc-
ton in the scholastic and merhauical
departments. In THE connection it
may be well to state that the found
ers Of the institution declare educa-
| ton in its broadest sense. as its OBJ
iect--to fit it's pupils for usefulness
and self-support upon their gradua-
ton.
In order to accomplish this, it was
deemed necessary to afford instruc-
ton. in some of the mechanical pur-
suits best adapted to be followed by
them. The trades taught in most in
situations through the United States
are printing, carpentry, shoemsking,
tailoring and harness making. In
Louisiana's school, however. only q
beginning has been made. printing
being the only trade regularly taught.
Like all other schools in our State,
want of room and lack of means is
the reason of this. However, brighter
days are dawning. and we may look
forward to see all her interests ad-
vanced.
Notwithstanding the difficulties IN
der which this school labors, good
results have been accomplished. The
school is divided into four carefully
graded classes. and from what could
be seen the instruction given is very
thorough. / must, however, speak
particularly of the class of beginners
who went into the schoolroom on the
Goth day of last October. This class
consist of nine pupils, four girls and
five boys. These pupils have been
under instructions seven mouths, and
what they have accomplished seems
miraculous. Given piece Of chalk
i they turned to their states and wrote
from dictstion in signs such sen
fences as, "A lady is afraid of q
mouse" "a girl feeds a hen. etc.
| Children with all their faculties are
generally from two to three years in
accomplishing what these pupils with
| lost sense have done in seven
/ months. These little fellows write
to their parents and friends, aud ii
may be believed that the hearts oil
their parents beat high as they look
upon missives received from those
whom they supposed would never b
able to mingle in society.
Il The medium of-communication be.
tween the pupils and their teachers
aud among themselves is the sigr
language. This is the natural Ian
guage of the deaf Some manner o
expression is necessary TO him, ant
pantomime. developed day by day al
bis ideas Increase. becomes bic Ian
guage. By close study of this Ian
guage the Able de L'Epe, began thu
work of instrucsing the deaf and
dumb in Paris, and from that begin.
ming the work has spread through
ont civilization. The sign Language
of to-day is the same that it was il
by gone ages. the sane nsed BY th'