The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-11-20

at the Grand.
SCHOOL FOR DEFECTIVE YOUTH.
Description OF the Life and Routine Of
One OF Washingtcu's Institutions.
In 1872 when Charles Dickens visited the
United States for the first time, though he de-
pleciated and belittled everything American,
heyet paid glowing tribute 10 the school for
deaf and dumb conducted by Dr.. Howe at Bos-
ton. How much we have advanced in taking
care OF defective youth can best be learned BY
visiting the Washington school for defective
youth located at Vancouver. Clark county, IN
this state. The institution was established in
1856 1t is situated On a bluff about mile and
q half east OF Vancouver, and has spedid view
OF the Columbia river and the surrounding
mountainA
The last territorial legislature appropriated
So 600 for the support OF this school; the first
state legislature $40. 900, and the second $4,000.
With that money seventeen and one-half acres
of land were procured and large school build
ing erected and furnished as nearly perfect al
money and energy can make it. The building
is a four-story brick, we'll furnished, heated
with steam, lighted by electricity, and has cleo
trical appliances superior to any other institu-
ton OF its kind in the United States.
The annual appropriation to maintain the
school is $4,000 This appropriation is made
with a view to educating sixty pupils, though
es the state grows the number of pupils Is con-
stantly increasing. The school term begins on
the last Wednesday In August and lasts to the
close of May.
All children who cannot be educated In the
common public schools and are res idents OF this
state are entitled to admission. This is not q
charitable Institution. nor ere the children i'm.
pressed with the idea that they are wards of the
state. 1t is school in the true sense of the
term, and as far as the parents can afford they
are expected to clothe their children. There
are but few children in the school whom the
state is compelled to supply with clothing. But
the state does board, lodge and educate the
pupils free of charge.
visited the school on q Saturday. 1t was
bad day inasmuch al II was the general clean
ing up day. Yet Turned It to advantage for it
afforded me the opportunity Of seeing the
children at play and finding the institution in
what is generally called ian unpIepared con-
dition."
The basement hoor is utilized for the kitchen,
store room. employees dining room, printing Of
fee. girls sewing room and several reading
rooms. The superintendent, Mr. Watson, is q
great believer in outdoor exercise and fresh
air. yet the climate of our state compels the
children for many months to remain indoors,
and therefore the vast basement is devoted en-
tirely for the children to rosm about in. There
is large central room, in which all children
play. There are several reading rooms, wherein
the pupils pass their evenings. The reading
room of the senior class il especially note.
worthy.
It contains some good books and an excellent
exchange of newspapers The institution prints
a newspaper known as the Washingtoni1n The
compositors aud pupils who are learning the
trade OF printing are as follows: Compositors,
E. Price. F. Gragnic. John Jones, Earl Weaver
and John Adams; pressman, Robert \. Adkins.
Nearly all papers and magazines exchange
with the Wdshingt0aiGn; thus an excellent
library of current literature is afforded the
school free Of charge. Besides. the plant,
though small, enables those six boys to learn q
trade whereby they can make their living in
the future.
The first floor contains the Office, reception
room, superntendents apartments, teachers
parlor, girls sitting room and pupils dining
hall. The dining hall Is undoubtedly the largest
in the state 1 do not believe there is first
class hotel in the state of Washington that can
boast OF dining room so convenient, so cleanly
kept, and presenting such a cheerful appearance
as the one in the school,
On the second floor are located the dormitories
for the girl scholars and small boys, bathrooms,
laboratory and assembly room. The assemb y
room has a seating capacity OF about 400. and
contains piano and little stage.
On the third floor are the four class rooms,
with ell usual school appliances. and with ad-
ditional apparatus necessary 10 teach the bind;
also the teachers private rooms.
On the fourth floor is the dormitory for large
boys, trunk and clothes rooms. On that floor
each pupil has a small space assigned for his or
her trunk and clothing.
Perhaps the usual routine will afford the best
means for readers to form some opinion of the
school. Pupils rise at $50 and breakfast at z;
house cleaning and play until SIS; from then
until 9, gymnasium. The result OF the gym
nastic exercises shows plainly in the healthy
and cheerful appearance OF all the Children.
AT all meet in the assembly room; from there
there they disperse to their various classes and
remain until L. O'Clock. There is an intermis-
sion OF fifteen minutes at 1890. Dinner and
recreation until I:So From then until o'clock
p. N. school is kept. After this time the pupils
go 10 their various trades-the girls 10 the sew
ing room, the boys TO the printing office, and
the small children TO play. At $50 they have
supper; play until :. when they go 10 their re-
spectve reading rooms and there study the pre-
paratory lessons ior the next day. Younger pu-
pills are sent 10 bed at 7:S9. The older ones stay
awake until 9.
The blind 60 through the same routine, with
the exception that, IN addition TO learn
Ing to read and write By means OF raised
letters, both in line and New York point, they
receive instructions IN music. have heard
several of the blind pupils perform both on the
piano and violin in u very creditaole manner
= shoe shop has just been opened where it is
intended to teach many pupils the trade OF shoe
making.
The arnusemer.s of the institution are various
sociables and at homes every last Friday liz the
month, when games and refreshments are en-
ioyed. Every second Wednesday a lecture is de-
hvered by the tescher upon history or some
other important topic. During the winter holi-
day season they have pantomime performances
When the weather permits, they have football
ana baseball games
You will, perhaps, think 1t strange that the
deaf, dumb and blind should have sociabes
and az homes and all other usual entertain
msnts The truth is, that this IS a world by
itself, and the INSTRUMENTATION between
pupils anu teachers in the sign language IS
almost as rapid as communication with the
tongue At ia the afternoon, the Saturday
visited the school, the superintendent convened
the school in the assembly room and intro
dueed NE 10 his pupils, and had barely bowed
my acknowledge ant when ! saw several hands
popp.ng up Mr.. Watson informed me tbs,
many OF the pupils were just telling him by
slgas that they lad seen my name In the Posi-.
IsTELLIsKSCEg and thus recognized me Mr.
Watson asked ne 70 address the school I
thought il was au excellent opportunity to prac.
tice; inasmueh as they could 10: hear me there
would be 20 dsasss OF tasir getting tired OF