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

me- BUT soon discovered my mistake. My re-
marks were communicated to the pupils by the
superintendent almost a. rapidly rs spoke.
I told them that represented the Posr-lSrELLr.
GENcKa and that believed the duties Of q news
pape. to Be twosold, frat, to print the news and
second, to see to it that state institutions are
properly maintained, and that ii any of the pup
ia had complaints to make was there for the
purpose OF listening to them. needed to wait
for no answer, for while those pupils cannot
speak they certainly can communicate In facial
expressions much palmer than people that can
speak. Some writer said that speech was given
to the human being to conceal thought. l am
not prepared to substautiate the truthfulness OF
that statement Yet it is certain that the dear
and dumb have a way OF expressing thought by
delicate exercise of the facial muscles which
leaves no room for doubt. l then tod
them that came from country far dis
tant, and that where l came from children as
unfortunate as they were left to their misery,
to exc out an existence ,he best they knew how,
and that I hoped in return for the excellent care
the state takes of them they would grow up to
be ioya! American men and women The APP
plause that greeted that remark convinced me
that the state is not wasting its money The
pupils went through various exercises. was
especially impressed with the infant classes.
Mrs. Watson, the mstron. is also teacher OF the
infant classes. she 10 a moiherly woman, and
the children take 10 her very kindly. Rapid al
lightning she communicates to them questions,
and they answer them oil both in the sign
language and by writing it down on the black
board. The older pupils are by no means desti-
tr:e Of worldly knowledge l wrote questions
on the blackboard apps-taining to economy. his
tory and current literature and the answers were
fairly satisfactory. l saw the children both at
dinner and supper. tasted the food AMI found
it all well cooked and prepared. The superin'
tendent has novel method OF making the table
as homelike as possible. There are not over ten
pupils at any Que of the tables, and one always
acts as the head of the table. This position OF
honor IL taken by turn, one week to each pupil.
and there is nothing the children anticipate
with 20 much Joy as the time when they can act
as host
The girls department. is especially note
worthy for its iidiness and comfort agree
with the superintendent that, in osder to make
these children independent men and women
and TO give them a thorough education, they
must be impressed with the idea that they are
not in a charitable institution. And with that
object in view the whole school 10 made to look
more like q frstclaSs boarding school than
state institution.
Space forbids extensive mention OF the school
for the feeble-minded, which is . part and par
Gel of this institution. The building for these
unfortunates was built last year. 1t contains
now eleven pupils. There are great many ap-
plications on file in the superintendent office
for admission to the feeble minded institute.
The trouble is that but few of the applicants are
eutitled to entrance. Not many people under
stand that this Is not a prison or an insane
asylum: but it is what its name indicates, q
school. Such children whose minds, though
feeble, can be improved by proper training and
kind treatment are entitled to admission; but
such children as possess no reason at all, or are
entirely demented, are not entitled to admis-
sion.
This building 10 located about mile back OF
the main building and has five acres OF ground.
As the institution grows larger tract OF land
will have to be bought for the school OF the
feeble.minded, for the best way to educate those
children would be to operate large farm. This
would not only maintain the institution, but 1t
would enable the children 70 learn useful
trade. At best none of these feeble-minded
while they all can become agriculturista
The school is managed by q board Of FIVE
directors az follows: B. F. Shaw, president;
Rev. Dr.. Thompson, vice president; Hon. John
s. Geoghegau, Hon. Byron Daniels and Dr.. J. K.
Smith, ell residents of Vancouver. The school
has thirteen employees, including superintend-
ent matron and teachers.
IQuote the first and fifth sections OF an act
entitled can act to provide for the compulsory
education of defective youth, and providing
penalties for violation OF the same
SECTION !. 1t shall be the duty of the clerks
of all school districts in the state OF Washington
to report to the school superintendents OF their
respective counties the names of ali deaf, mute,
blind or feeble-minded youth residing within
their respective districts who are between the
ages OF land q years
Sec s. Any parent, guardian, county school
superintendent or county commissioner who
shall, without q proper cause, fail to carry into
effect the provisions of this act shall be deemed
guilty OF misdemeauor. aud, upon conviction
thereof, upon the complaint OF any officer or
citizen of the county or state, before any justice
of the peace or superior court, shall be fined in
any sum not less than $50 nor more than 500, in
the discretion of the court.
My object in quoting the above section is to
impress upon the minds of the teacher and
parent the necessity of seeing to it that those
unfortunate children whom nature deprived Of
either speech or sight should not be robbed by
mankind of a proper education. Science is
steadily advancing to the relief OF defective
youth. The state has been liberal in appropri-
atiug for their proper education and while, as q
rule, am not in favor of compulsory education
laws, in this case, however, no punishment is
too severe for the parent that will not avail him
self OF the opportunity to at least give his
children proper education.
RosH LOOKEsH.