The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-11-29
ceoAa SPRINGS INSTITUTE.
splendid Showing In Teschiug the Deaf
and the Blind.

splendid Showing in Teaching the Dsai
and the Blind.
The fortY.ffth annual report of tht
Cedar Springs Institute for the deaf and
the blind is very interesting documen
The B bard OF Commissioners say they
are very much pleased with tile ablt
management OF the superintendent.
For the coming year the board re-
commends for support, repairs, improve
ments, and electric lights the sum o
, s22. l20, which is a small amouat 70
the support of such an institution and
shows most careful and economical
management.
During the past year the average at.
tendance has been 129. There are
thirty five in the depar tment for colored
pupils. The enrolment has risen from
tweuty.six In 1877 to 154 in 1893
This large increase has been due in
large measure to the continuous an d
wise management of the board. The
superintendent saws the last year has
been one of successful work. There
have been no deaths aud not case oi
serious sickness among the pupils. The
healthfulness of the place is evidenced
bY the bill for medical attendance for
the past year, which has been only $26.
The receipts from pay pupils during
the year we're $383.02 and the expendi.
lures were $l7,3l6.95 for all purposes.
The superintendent says that the
largely increasing number of pupils
makes 1t necessary that supply of
proper machinery for the laundry should
be put In and recommends the putting
in of an electric light plant on. the
ground of economy and safety. The
WAYS and Means Committee OF the
House recommended these appropria.
tions at the last session OF the Lagisla-
ture, but for some reason the House did
not make the appropriation.
The report goes on to say:
''Some action was taken by the last
Legislature looking to the separation of
the two classes (the deaf and the bllnd)
provided for here. The request for this
action did not originate with the man
agement of the school, but I feel sure
your board will agree with ne that said
action looking to the establishment and
maintenance by the State of separate
SCHOOLS for the deaf and blind is desira-
BILE, and will have your earnest support
when it shall bec0me necessary to ar
range for the accommodation of larg.
. er number of pupils than We now have.
There can be no strong reason given
for the dual nature of the school, except
that of economy In dollars and cents.
while various reasons may be urged for
the maintenance OF separate schools.
Our printing Office has been redtted
aud refurnished and is now we'll
equipped for afording instruction In
printing.
Our thanks are due to the different
railroads throu ,houL the State for the
special rates allowed the pupils in 90
ing to and from school.
The number OF pupils in attendance
for the ensuing year will be as great or
kreater than that of the past year."
A short history of the institution pre-
pared by Mr.. N F. Walker as contri.
button to The general history ofall the
schools for the deaf and blind in the
United States and Canada and Mexico
is appended to the report.
The institution was established at lts
present location in l849 by Rev. Newton
Plnckeny Walker and it opened with a
class of five children.
The school was changed from an indi.
vidual enterprise to aState institution
in 1857, when the Legislature made an
appropriation for the erection of suita'
BILE buildings.
The school was closed 10 1866 and
reopened in October, 1866. but was
soon closed again on account Of the I'm
settled condition of the States finances
10 1869 it was opensd again, with J. NJ.
Hugnson, graduate of the institu lion,
as superintendent. 10 1872 he resigned,
and the present superintendent, N. F.
Walker,a son of tie founder, whose
death occurred in 1885,, was appointed.
In that year building was fitted up
for the coiored pupils, aad the Radical
Board Of Commissioners attempted to
force social equality in the school, by
issuing the following order to the super
intendent:
First. Colored pupils must not only
be admitted into the institution on appli.
cation, but an earnest and faithful ef-
for it must be made to induce such pu'
pills to apply for admission.
Second. Such pupils when admitted
must be domicled in the same bailding,
must eat at the same table, and be
taught in the same class rooms and by
the same teacher, and must receive the
same attention, care and consideration
as white pupils"
On the reception ef the above order
the superintendent and all other officers
sent in their destinations.
An effort was made to secure superln.
tendent and teachers who would be gov
erned by these instructions, but it failed,
and the school was closed from Septem
ber. 1873, to September, 1876, when it
was reopened.
The department for colored pupils was
opened in 1888.
TIE Palmetto Leaf, as an institution
paper, made its first appearance in 1887,
and has been published somewhat regu'
larly ever since.
All pupils have training in some handi.
craft or useful occupation.
Superintendent-N. F. Walker.
MatrOn-Mrs. y. f. Walker.