Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-06-04
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
An Institution that Possesses POSSIBLE
tiles of Great Good.

All who are interested in deaf chill
Gren and their education should know
what the state is doing for the deaf at
Delavan. In the school rooms proper,
where reading, writing, speech and all
the branches of d substantial education
are taught, fifteen of the best educated
AID most accomplished teachers of the
deaf are daily at work. In the art
classes they have the benefits of the
foremen are specially detailed to give
the young mechanics every opportunity
to rapidly acquire a knowledge of a
trade. Woodwork and joinery of all
sorts is carried on; boots and shoes are
made by the boys and in the printing
office, which is we'll furnished and
neatly arranged, correct specimens of
the typos art are displayed. From
these different departments the deaf
children rapidly learn how to read,
write, cipher AMI draw, while at the
same time eighty of them are being
taught to speak Incident to their edu-
cation, they live under the same roof,
and are supplied with the necessary
wholesome food by the bounty of the
state so that ther2 may be no obstacle
in the way Of their acquiring an edu-
cation. More than this the state sup
plies them with medical attendance,
when needed, and also with clothes and
transportation to and from their
homes so that no excuse remains for
those who do not get any education.
Some parents keep their children 1t
home because they do not appreciate
the value of education; others because
they have never been asked to send
them to school; and a few, probably,
do not know that the state supports a
free school in which all deaf children
may get a thorough education, includ-
ing trades. Whatever the cause may
be- a great injustice is done by keeping
deaf children out of school. The
school at Delavan is kept up by the
state for the benefit of all children ap
plying for admission, who are too deaf
to receive instruction in the public
schools. The term begins the second
and continues forty weeks. During the
school term, board, washing, tuition
and books are free, and in cases Of
necessity transportation, to and from
school, and clothes will be furnished
At the close of the term in June all
children are returned to their homes for
the summer vacation. The school has
three separate departments. The first
devoted to reading, writing, language
and ali forms of composition, arithme-
and drawing. The second to useful
trades, printing, cabinet making, shoe
making and baking; and the third, the
domestic department, in which an op-
portunity is given to learn cooking,
baking and various household duties.
Applicants for admission should not
be under eight nor over twenty years of
age, Of sound mind and body, and of
good moral principles. Since the state
has made such ample provision for the
deaf it is the desire of those in charge
to so inform parents and guardians of
the peculiar advantages of this school
that all deaf children may be brought
within its benign influence City and
county superintendent of schools
should read sec. chapter 331, laws of
Wisconsin, session of 1891, to inform
themselves as to their duty. Further
information may be obtained from Su-
perintendent ]. W. Swiler at Delavan,