The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-02-13
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
THE INSTITUTION FOR THE
BLIND.
The Course of Studies Pursuad-Improve
ments and Other Facts of Interest
to statesman" Readers.

porous. DR.. Rainey says:
His Excellency Gov. L. S. Ross:
Sir-To meet the requirements of
the law, | respectfully submit for your
consideration the following remarks
concerning the internal affairs of this
institution. Because of severe illness
IN the summer and continued i'll health
IN the fall, | must crave your indul-
gence for not having gotten my report
out at an earlier date. This statement
OF facts embraces the scholastic year
which began September |, 1888, and
ended August 81, 1889. During this
period OF time we entered upon the roll
book the names of l3S blind persons
rs males and 60 females. The health
OF the pupils generally was remarkably
good, excepting one serious case OF
pneumonia, which terminated fatally
The name of the person was Joseph
Graef, of Van Zandt county, aged 26
wears. He had returned to school in
the fall in wretched health, and having
exposed himself, fell an easy victim to
the disease.
The heads of the various depart
ments and their assistants, within the
sphere OF their respective duties, made
COmmendable efforts to aid their pupils
in every possible way, and as conse-
quence the progress of the latter in
their studies was very satisfactory in
deed. In this connection | must take
occasion to thank all the instructors
and the officers for their hearty CO.
operation during the term.
The course of studies pursued in the
schoolroom was as follows: Orthog-
raphy, reading and writing in line,
letter and point system, mental and
written arithmetic, geography, mod
ern and ancient history, etymology,
physical geography, natural philoso-
ply, elements of chemistry, physiol-
Ogy and hygiene, rhetoric and Eng
fish literature, algebra and geometry.
Miss Mary Fore, of Gainesville, Coryell
county; Miss Laura Gunter, Gaines
vile, Cook county; Miss Caledonia
Phillips, Austin, Travis county; Miss
Lucy Saunders, Lovelady, Houston
county, and Edwards McGloin, of Gus
settville, Live Oak county, having
completed the prescribed course of
studies, graduated and received their
diplomas. Mr.. August Meinscher,
John Godbold and John Kretzer re-
ceived certificates of proficiency in the
industrial department.
Lycurgus Gee, Wesley Long and
Florence Kemp were all three so
much benefited by the state oculist
that they were allowed to go home
and remain. Please examine the ocu-
list report, which may be found in the
appendix.
In addition to the eleven students
pre viously toned fifteen others,
from causes too numerous 10 mention,
have not returned to school. Thus it
may be observed that twenty-siX of
the 1873 pupils who were enrolled for
that session have severed their con-
nection permanently from this school.
OF those who graduated in June, Miss
Caledonia Phillips, who was specially
instructed ON the pipe organ in this
institution, was selected to serve as
organist for one of our largest city
churches, which owns an instrument
of that kind, and she gives universal
satisfaction. She also has class of
eleven piano pupils. Mr.. Edwards
McGloin, so I am informed, has not
vet succeeded in getting a class of
music pupils. The three other young
ladies are at home with their parents
aiding in house work. Mrs. Cox, who
was the teacher Of sewing, resigned at
the close of the session and moved
into the city. Her place is now filled
by Miss Fannie Palm. Mr.. A. G.
Wheeler, who was the night watch
man, also resigned, and has gone to
live with his children on his farm.
Mr.. Ed Hauke was appointed to fill
the vacancy.
We have seven instructors in the
literary department-one male and
six females. We have two male and
two female instructors in the depart
ment of music. Two males and one
female in the industrial department.
The number of pupils taught in
vocal culture was II; on piano, 81 ;
orchestral instruments, II; cabinet
organ, 8; pipe organ, 4; piano forte
tuning, 8; broom making, 30; chair
Gaming, 81; mattress making, 10; sew
ing, II; crochet, IL.
There are 26 pupils under the care
of one kindergarten teacher. Nearly
all the pupils under the age OF 10 are
exercised in calisthenics every school
day.
Physical training is an absolute
necessity for the preservation OF the
health OF blind children. To exercise
them in calisthenics is no ornamen-
tai work, but is an eminently practi-
cal and essential feature of our institu-
tiCn educational system which en-
braces physical as well as mental cul-
tire. Our facilities for giving blind
children wholesome exercise are so
limited that calisthenics serve most
useful purpose in aiding us to solve
the problem concerning what we
must do about exercise.
We have made considerable nm
+l,n tuny nF rpDaIrS Inc