The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-22
THE STATES MUTE CHARGES
Report of the Condition of the Indiana
Asylum for Deaf and Dumb.
The Advantages To Be Derived from the
Teaching of the Topographic Art-Ad-
vancement Made in the Oral Method.

The officers of the Indiana Deaf and Dumb
Asylum yesterday filed with the Governor their
annual report The superintendent, Eli P. Ba-
ker, states that the health among the students
was better than in any previous year, only three
deaths having occurred There were 203 boys
and 169 girls admitted to the institution making
the total number 372 Forty one were dismissed,
and 331 names remain on the roll, but the actual
attendance at the end of the fiscal year was only
3O6. The pupils in the institution represent
eighty five of the ninety-two counties in the
State.
The superintendent recommends that printing
should be added to the industrial pursuits in
which the students are instructed. "That deaf
mutes are peculiarly adapted to type-setting," he
says, lis generally acknowledged, and good
printers can, at all times, find occupation, and at
good living wages. This being true, it at once
becomes apparent that the greatest good will
result from its establishment here The only
expense would be the purchase of type and a
press, and the employment of teacher. and this
cost, compared with the results will be but
trifing. As matter of fact, great deal of the
printing for the institution could be done on its
own press, thereby saving quite a sum of
money yearly. It would also afford the pupils
the opportunity of publishing monthly maya
zine, as is now done In nearly all other insultu-
tons, and would be Of incalculable benefit to
them"
A class of forty-fve students is being in
structed, the superintendent, says in what is
known as ''the oral method" and the results
attained have been very satisfactory. Special
mention is made of the instruction in Zip read
ing" The superintendent says that the quick
eye Of deaf person, may. by long
teacher, acquire the power of reading from the
lips of the speaker all familiar words, and
achievements IN this art are limited only by the
time devoted to it, and by the patience of the
teacher and pupil. 1t is the aim of the instruct
ors IN the institution to give increased attention
to the work, and to arouse in the pupils real
lzatlon OF what it can do for them The
oral method, which is attracting the atten-
ton OF instructors and friends of the deaf,
ever sense of hearing may remain
till the ear that, unframed heard sounds noises
only. acquires the power of distinguishing ar
tlculate sounds. Among the pupils who entered
the department this year it has been found that
several whose hearing is so defective that they
never learned to talk have, after weeks of drill
upon elementary sounds, become able to recog-
nize spoken words One bright boy of twelve,
whose vocabulary did not exceed dozen words
when he came to the institution now hears and
repeats words spoken by his teacher in an ordi-
nary tone, and asks in signs to hear the names
Of familiar Objects proving that few weeks
Grill for less than an hour a day has
trained his dull ear to take note of difference In
sounds. Not all in the department can be
taught in this way. and the system it is intend
ed to pursue is decidedly eclectic-making
use of visible speech. symbols diacritical works
on phonetic spelling ear trumpet, audiphone,
or simple voice modulations as may meet the
wants of the class or individual The trustees
report that the receipts during the last year
amounted to $G6.847:01. OF this $50. 900 was
the legislative appropriation for maintenance
and $4,000 for repairs; in addition to which
there was an appropriation Of $1,000
for special improvements, while there was re-
ceived for clothing 1928 so. and the earnings of
the institution for the year amounted to 1921.
The disbursements were: For maintenance $54,-
$780, for repairs, 50, 966 49, AMI for special i'm
provements, $7,173.73, making the total $64,-
l7707 The balance. which was turned into the
general fund of the State Treasury. amounted to
$3.50 The real estate of the institution is APP
praised at 1850 600, and the personal property at
$45. O69. 49, making the total value 1904. 069. 49,
The per capita expense of maintaining the stu
dents was $165.90