The University daily. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 18??-????, 1890-06-11
Interesting Letter from Prof. c. HI
Hill Principal Of VI. va. School for
the Deaf and the Blind.
W II IL nA1IY /.

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Editors Wv. q. DAILY
Yonr letter with enclosed blank
received, and II return it herewith,
having answered such questions as
are applicable to our school We do
not pretend TO graduate. Our course
embraces only q common school or
at most a grammar school education.
Our pupils come to us ignorant Of
the simplest rudiments, and in the
time allotted BY law, 5 years with an
I extension of from 8 to 5 years, on
recommendation, in certain cases, it
ii entirely impracticable to accom-
plish larger results. And when you
take into consideration, the physical.
infirlnities under which our pupils
labor, the degree of mental develop
ment attained, is fully up to all rea
] sonable expectation.
In the Deaf Department there are
four classes. TWoof these are pri-
mary, as they are composed entirely
Of beginners, most Of whom came
to us last fall, utterly desti-
tute Of all knowledge, moi. even know
ing their own names. The next
class is an Intermediate one, compos
ed Of two sections, the average time
in school being 3 and 4 years. Our
most advanced class is composed Of
III pupils, I boys and 10 girls. This
also is made up of tive divisions, 5
in one, aud II in the, other, and Of
this number only 5, at the close Of
the session in June, will have been
il school, 9 years.
The school terms of the others
range from to 7 years. The class
is very poorly graded, there being
little equality either in the length of
time they have been in school, or in
native ability. So as. you see we
have no senior class proper, such as
ID known to d collegiate institution.
Those who remain Z or 5 years, in
some instances longer and make a
good record in their studies, are en-
titled to a certificate Of merit, those
whose, mental development is only
fair but whose department has been
good are honorably discharged,
when ever such action is recommend
ed by the pri nciple, and given a cer7
tificateEo character, if they desire
1t.
4, Our chief object in the education
of the deafis to give them an easy
and correct use Of language, espec-
tally its colloquial forms, and at the
same time impart such general in
formation, as will give them a fair
knowledge Of the world in which they
live. This Of itself is well worthy
spf our highest efforts, ia consiaera-
tion of the fact that when they come
under our tuition, they are entirely
devoid Of all languages except the
crude language of signs. n
In our Blind Department, we have
two classes, one composed entirely
'of boys. 10 ia number, and the other
nflT girls and 6 boys. The same
inequality of grade is found IN this
department, as in the deaf The
class of boysis made up of our more
advanced pupils, though among
them, the grading is by no means,
uniform. There ID also great differ
ence in the periods Of school instruc-.
tion which they have enjoyed, these
periods ranging from 3 to IL years.
AT the close of the session in June, 3
will have completed the course, and
will be discharged. To give you.
some idea ofthe course of study, pur-
/ sued by our blind pupils, | herewith
give youFa schedule Of the work of
the more advanced class for the first
half ofthe session: G4&j ".
4 Green's History Of the English
people to Elizabeth, Grammar, Pars-
ing, Scanning &C., Physical Geogra-
ply, Earth, Land and Water, Gener-
al Geography (Maps), Spelling,
Steele's Physiology to the Nervous
| System, Arithmetic tRobinson) TO
decimals for 1st section, Arithme-
! tic ( Coleburn into fractions for End
section. tbt r.. '.s VI
In giving the total number of pu-
! pills in attendance, | include col
ored deaf -mutes, who are carried
upon our rolls, and arethe wards Of
the State atthe Maryland School for
Colored Deaf and Blind in Baltimore.
| Hoping these explanations as to
the practical workings Of cur school,
may be satisfactory, A.... ~
I ] remain yours very truly,
F. 1T ~ IT uyTIt pr;no;n.l