West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-03-17
WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL FOR
THE DEAF AND THE
BLIND.


school for the education of the deaf
and blind children of the State
Every possible provision has been
made for their bodily comfort as
well as intellectual aud moral de.
velopment. We have corps of
competent ahd skilled teachers.
comfortable buildings. hcalthful
climate. good medical attendance,
and the benefits OF the School are
offered to all between the ages OF
eight and twenty-five years without
money and without price. The
School is absolutely free as to board
and tuition, and even the travelling
expenses of those, whose parents or
friends are unable to defray them,
are paid by the State. I'm addition
to this, clothing is furnished to in
digent pupils, and charged to the
counties from which they come.
Notwithstanding all these advan.
tages, the lameutable fact remains.
that nearly two-thrds of those who
are entitled to the privileges of the
School have never availed thcmscl.
yes of ITS blessings. This. is due,
we think in large measure, to lack
of Information. Many parents do
not know of the existence of such
school, and others have no proper
conception OF its nature and pur-
pose. There are quite number
clso, who through mistaken love
ahd sympathy for these afflicted
children, are avefse to sending them
away from home, fearing that they
may not fall INTO kindly hands.
Many have an idea that it is sort
of reformatory school, depart
mcnt of the penitentiary, whore
incorrigible boys and girls are
placed under harsh taskmasters to
be trained IN the way Of wisdom
and virtue. Such notions can
only find Il lodgmcnt in the minds
of the dcnsely ignorant. There are
still others Eve trust for the sake Of
humanity that their nimbers are
smalD who keep their children at
home on account of the paltry
profit, which may be derived from
their labor. They are willing to
dwarf their intellectual and moral
natures, if only they can convert
them into profitable beasts of bur
den. For such sordid souls. we
have no word Of argument or appeal.
But for tire information Of all, who
feel an interest in these children.
and with the desire Of arousIng
their hearty cooperation in the
work, we would state, that tins is
strictly an educational establish
mcnt, part OF the Common School
system 'of the State. The ONLY
difference between it and the ordi-
nary schools is, that from the
nature Of the case, special methods
Of instruction must be pursued.
Not only are they taught the ordi-
nary branches Of common school
education, but are instructed i'm
such handicrafts, as will enable
them 10 earn livelihood after l,ay.
ing school. The Deaf are taught
printing, shoe making, tailoring.
carpentry ana cabinet-makrng.
while the Blind learn broom and
mattress making and cane-soating.
u can readily be seen that with the
education and manual training
which we are able TO give them,
they can be developed into intclli.
gent, useful aud s5lf-sustainiug
citizens, while without if, they
must gro# up in The grosscst ignor-
mce incapable Of doing anything
except Che mercst drudgcry, q
burden TO their friends and useless
members Of society
I'm yiov of thtsc acts. IL bocomcs
not only an act OF injustice and
cruelty to Tire child, but crime
against the state for any parents
through negligence or sclG5brcSs 90
cut him OF from tfc advantages.
which have been SO literally proyi
dcd, and by which alone. he can
ever be fitted for life Of usefulness
and happiness. a child. thus
doomed to gropo his way through
The world in mcutd and moral
darkness, is an object, which should
excite the profOuudcst pifv i'm evore