The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-21
rHr srAUNroy INsrIrUrE.
Mr.. Ritter Urges for Principal an Expert
eured Teacher of the Deaf

Mr.. w. G. Ritter. OF stanton pi'Sl-
dent a. the Virginia Deaf Mute A19plld-
ton. was in the city yesterday az UT p.
and when asked by Times reporter "Al'
,as the outlook conctrms the avn l'-
ir, r-oreau.zat0n of the Deaf DUMP
and Blind Institution no siauhion. "H',n
vIu take place on June 9tn. said tnil
n was hard 10 tell what the board was
going 10 DO. but be felt
sure that there would De a
general cleaning out 40 the institution.
Hr attention was called 90 articles aye
bearing u several OF The new igapers OF
the State. % the effect that Mr. James
III. Lindsay editor 0f tne CharIOties ale
Daily Progress. was spoken OF as a. lead
ing candidate for tie position of sue
uerlnteudcut OF the institution. Dir.
Ritter said that tae state Association
OF the Deaf of which Doe was president,
had endorsed Mr. Lindsay unanimously
FOR the position. without any solicitation
whatever from that gentleman. He show
ed the reporter several letters from
woll-knOwn educator OF The leaf and
dumb In various States several OF which
he allowed 20 DEE copied.
Professor r. Nick. Goodwin. super
inteudent q The North Carolina insiitu-
ton. al MorgautOu wrote. among other
things.
II regard IL a calamity upon any insti-
tuition for the III t0 put 30 man as
SUPERINTENDENT or principal or such
school WHO is not AZ experienced 'ea'A-'
Of the deaf.
DR.. A. L. l.. Crolter. superlnteaI ,hl
OF the So 10000 institution lor me GEAR
IA Philadelphia, expressed these s'''i-
ments among Others ..,...
rrevious training ought not 20 assume ihe
RESPONSIBILITIES connected with me inah-
sgomeut Of such an institution lt re-
quires n-evious training 20 make SLo-
cessful head OF an institution iO' .i-o
education OF the deaf. l WolId nuNI7e
mo- other % make the attempt.
DR. Edward NJ. Galiaudet. IN, - IL.
ID president OF the NatlOnai Coi',He "l
the Deaf. in Washington. says
In my opinion, no man can oe .e5"'
ell Us qualified 10 take the po9''.oH 81
principal OF a school for Tie ueal WHO
is not a master OF the language Oh Signs
mr. who has not had enough practcal eN-
perience as a teacher TO give MN
knowledge Of the peculiar melhous hece9-
sarily employed IN educating the oeai'
DR. Job Williams, superintendent OF the
American School for the Dear, the hr7t
school established In America Tor edu-
eating the deaf and dumb, amongst olie.
things, wrote:
II consider it Of the greatest import
ance that the principal Of an institution
for the deaf should be a man thoroughly
familiar with the deaf and With the
metods Of their education. No man WITH
out such familiarity eau do his pupils
morally and mentally, all that pflo-
cpal should do for them ana be TO
them
John Z. Ray. ". \, superintendent
of the institution at Danyille. Ky, says;
"No man has any business IN sucn
"a position who has not qualihed himset
by learning tho language Of the dear
and the methods Of their instruction.
/ care not how proficient IN other INES.
II is difficult enough 20 succeed When
one has had years OF intimate expert
ouce with tho deaf"
SIR. Ritter was asked what were the
prospects for Mr. Lindsays election. lie
answered by saying be hoped they Were
good. lie did not see how the board
Of the institution could close It's eyes
and ears TO the urgent appeals made
by the deaf OF Virginia, who had spent
years at the school. IN behalf OF Mr..
Lindsay.
The Executive Committee OF the insti-