The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-12-04
A GOOD SHOWING.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT KEN
DALI OF THE DEAF AND DUMB
INSTITUTE.
A Large Increase in Attendance, Together
with Brief History of the School
and Other Notes.

DupSIluIeuu6Hb hGuudil vi Vic DCai
and Dumb institute has issued his last
report, and it shows that the institu-
ton is more prosperous than ever be-
lore in its history. 1t has been most
managed and its work under
Mr.. Kendall has been most satisfactory
to the governor and board of mana
gers.
The report gives brief review of
the institution and says:
This institution was formally opened
for the reception of pupils by Jacob
Van Nostrand, the superintendent, on
the second day of January, 1857, with
three pupils in attendance, which in
creased daring the year to eleven, one
of whom, Miss Emily Lewis, is at
present teacher. The second session
closed in July, 1858, with twenty-one
pupils in attendance, and the third
session closed in 1859, with twenty
seven pupils. During the succeeding
ten years there was no printed report
made, but from such data as we have
been able to gather we find that sixty
pupils had matriculated to August 81 4,
1869, which period embracing the war
and reconstruction following, was a
creditable showing. Few can realize
the difficulties under which those hav-
ing charge of the institution labored.
The matron, Mrs. Schneider, pathetic
ally tells us how she sheared sheep
and made the wool into clothing for
the INDECENT children, while the garden,
cultivated principally by the pupils,
furnished the greater portion OF food
for the struggling institution. Such
were the varying fortunes OF the
country, and the consequent embar-
rassment to education that in 1872
the superintendent reports eighty
two matriculations since the organi-
zation OF the institution, with only
tmenty-nine in actual attendance.
And in 1874 there were only forty two.
Thus it will be seen that after seven
teen years of a struggling existence
there had not been sufficient interest
taken in the education of the deaf to
scarcely justify further expenditures
in their behalf. In 1875 six more
were added to the list, making the en-
tire number forty-eight. In 1876
Superintendent Van Nostrand was
succeeded by Gen. H. E. McCulloch,
whose first report shows an attendance
of forty-seven, and his second report,
and the twenty-second since it's or
ganization he reports fifty-seven. And
on his retirement, in 1879 he reports
sixty-eight pupils enrolled, and fifty
eight in attendance, the greatest num-
Der at any one time, closing with for
ty- eight. He was succeeded by John
S. Ford whose first report shows sew
enty-nine enrolled with seventy-one
in attendance. In 1880, he reports
seventy. nine; in 1881, eighty
four; in 1884, he reports
seventy three in attendance.
The last three years the num-
Der enrolled is not given, but from the
report of Superintendent DR.. Shar-
pard, who succeeded Ford in 1884,
giving the number enrolled at lag,
with an actual attendance of lib, it is
fair to suppose that the same proper
ton of non attendance prevailed
through those years where the num-
Der enrolled is not given, and the re-
port for 1886 shows 140 enrolled, with
103 in attendance and 10S in attend
ance at date of report. On February
L, 1887, / took charge, and my report
for 1887 shows an enrolment OF 1913,
with IA in attendance, and my re-
port for 1883 shows ITO enrolled and
40 in attendance. Report for 1889
shows an enrolment OF 1856, with
1853 in attendance. / have been thus
explicit in reviewing the increase from
year to year and comparing the num-
Der enrolled with the number in at
tendance to show the direliction on
the part of parents in regard to the
importance of keeping their children
in school continuously until their ed
ucation is completed, and, If possible,
find remedy. 1t is unfair to the
magnanimity of the State as we'll as
to the management OF the school to
keep a child out of school portion OF
the time and expect advancement
equal to others who are kept in school.
1t is no uncommon practice for chill
dren to be kept at home to assist in
the work until the crop is gathered,
send them late in the session, and call
them home again TO assist in making
another crop, and yet they are the
only ones who complain OF the non
advancement of their children.
Under the law requiring reports on
the first of November OF each year 1t
is impossible to do otherwise than re-
port those enrolled, and those III ac-
tual attendance for the reason thai
the school term closes in June and al
who are enrolled at that time must be
reported together with the new ma
fluctuations Oh the first OF November
two months after the beginning o
another session, both having beer
supported under an appropriation
commencing March the first. Ant
any whose term has not expired are
expected to return and be provided TO
out of the unexpended balance o
the same appropriation from Noyem
her the first to March the first