The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-10
THE INSTITUTION FOR THE
BLIND.

The thirty-ninth report of the North
Carolina Institution for the Deaf.
Dumb and Blind has been received 1t
contains a lengthy and we'll written re-
port by the President OF the Board of
Trustees, good report by the Princi-
pal of the institution, and also interest
ing reports by the Auditor, Treasurer,
the Physician to the institution and bv
the Ophthalmologlsts
The report of the President of the
Board of Trustees, Mr.. B. F. Montague,
as we'll as the Principals report, shows
that untiring efforts have been made
to ascertain the name and address of
every blind child in the State The
white mutes have been removed to
the new institution prepared for them
at Morganton, and so the report does
not refer to them.
1t is stated in the Presidents report
that according to the United States
census of 1890 there we're 731 blind
children in the State under 81 years of
age. By persistent efforts the Board
have obtained the names of 125 child
rem who should be in the institution
now, besides all those who are already
there For the two years ending Nov.
80, 1894, 334 pupils were matriculated,
including those that were taken to Nor
canton some time last year, which
leaves for the Institution for the Blind,
simply an enrolment of PIT. OF these
193 were enrolled during the past ses-
sion.
The President of the Board of Trus-
tees, In his report, deplOres the fact
that parents and guardians all over the
State are negligent of the great duty of
placing their unfortunate blind in the
, institution which the State provides
and equips for these unfortunate ones.
In view Of this negligence, he urges,
and we think wisely, compulsory edu-
cation for these blind children. He
says these poor unfortunates are grow
ing up in the darkness of ignorance
while the State by taxation provides
an institution for their education and
equipment for useful lives. He says
in favor Of the compulsory education
for the blind
''IEe greater number who do not
avail themselves OF the opportunity of
tered by our Institution are the child
rem of poor and ignorant parents. II
these are allowed to grow up in ignor-
ance, generation after generation will
do the same, unless the law forces them
into school. When one generation is
educated the great difficulty VIII be
overcome. If parents are remiss in
their duty towards their children, and
not cognizant of the great responsible
ty resting upon them, they should be
made sensible and compelled to dis
charge a parents duty by legal coercion.
These observations, true Of the normal
child, are incomparably more so of the
blind or deaf child. We, therefore, in
sist that compulsory educational stat
Mt no
and deaf child in the State be taught
the great essentials of making llveli-
hood, the rudiments of an education,
that IS, the Rs. Is it right that the
people be taxed to build school-houses.
equip them, employ teachers for the
purpose of making better citizens of
the rising generation, and then through
carelessness, Indifference or remissness
On the part of parents the children are
allowed to grow up in the darkness of
ignorance? Representing the blind
and deaf, we say emphatically NO. Give
us such law as Will protect these I'M
fortunates, and that will force those
who should be their best friends to dis
charge an Imperative and sacred trust.
Compulsory education for North Caro-
INA, though only for the blind and
deaf, very small part Of our popula-
ton, Is step of progress reformation
along this line, a change for the better
and worthy of trial"
The President of the Board of Trus-
tees and the Principal ask for more
roomss that they may be able to accom-
modate every blind child in the State
who asks admittance. They express
confidence that the present Legisla-
ture will respond to their requests.
The report is good one and shows
well for the institution and the man
agement generally, and THE DEMOCRAT
thinks that the recommendations in
the repOrt are all pood opd r,;co