The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-12

| makes large annual appropriations ict
the maintenance and support OF colleges
and universities In different portions OF
the State-all educational Institutions pos
scssng worldwide rcputations-thcn why
add 10 and double our burdens oy brand
ing us as objects OF charity and allowira
us moagre appropriations for the educa
ton OF only half OF our number? 'oh
consistency. thou art. indeed a jewel
Even In the Legislature when we have
anything OF a business nature 10 request
or deliver we are sympathctically O. re-
| fcrred 10 the "COmmittee on Asylnms and
| Prisons We accept all true sympS -ly.
| but most Indignantly reject with scorn
| all endeavors 30 place us upon charitable
footing. and refuse all common place
pity
In spite Of tho thousand and one d'sad-
! vantages under which VIC labor, we have
seen some decided progress made. Tho
day L. happily passns-almost gone
/ when the limit of hope for "a deaf man
was TO be a mechanic or a lahorer, ard
/ that Of tho women. household drudge
I The deaf are assuming their rights
/ 10 be heard on all subjects affecting their
welfare They pay taxes and enjoy the
! privileges OF voting. and the American
and state constitutions make no discrm-
/ nations against us-thoueh INSCRIPTIONS
politicians Oftimes cndeavor to deny US
/ our rights. We claim 10 have a better
knowledge OF what is for the hetterment
OF our class. and having such knowledge
and beng citizens and supporters Of the
general government. we demand that our
views be given a just consideration In
proportion. and our public needs attended
to.
no ANNEX NEEDED.
While pressing upon our lawmakers
tho crying needs of more facilities for the
education Of the deaf and blind. we
should endeavor also 10 impress opon
them the folly OF making additional APP
preparations for buildings to the present
institution at Stanton. The twenty or
thirty acres OF land surrounding the
school there are totally insufficient, and
the lay OF the land Immediately adjoining
is wholly unsuitable for purposes Tor
which 1t should be adapted.
The city OF Staunton is also rapidly en-
cr0aching upon the school, when at no
distant day the present buildings will
stand I'm the midst OF fiourishng city.
Tho present buildings are admirably
G~apted 10 the use of the blind pupils.
They all readily 20 over them without
any assistance whatever. Within few
years the whole establishment could be
filled with blind pupils. The deaf on the
other hand. would be very disastrously
crowded n they were retained in the pres
ent buildings ana an things are against
more buildings upon that plot Of land.
with a farm Of three or FIVE hundred
acres and with from two 10 three hundred
dcaf-muto pupils in attendance. many OF
whom would prefer instruction that
would be of assistance TO them after leav-
ing school, as three-fourths Of them are
children of farmers many thousand dol
lars would be saved 10 the State in the
way OF produce. etc.
10 is my opinion. and T am not alone I'm
this opinion. that a new institution for
doaf-mutes would be far more advisable,
an things considered. than one for the
blind. BY looking over the ground care
fully 10 will soon be seen by any man that
the most deaf children come from the
Eastern shore and the Southwest portion
Of the State. IL would. therefore, be-
hOOve the State 10 locate the school mid
way between these two portions. How
ever. the question of location should not
be considered until ii has been finally de-
cidcd To- establish new school for either
of the two classes.
NOTHING IN COMMON.
Virginia to-day is one of only four or
five states now educating their deaf ana
blind children I'm the same schools. Sew
enty-iive and one hundred years ago,
when educational affairs in this country
were in their infancy and free govern
mcnt was struggling for "a firm footing II
was 10 advantage 90 conhne the two
classes-the deaf and the blnd-to same
educational Institutions. But what would
our fortunate hearing and vision gifted
brethren think If school boards and trus-
tees should now decide 20 place their
schools upon the footing where they were
fifty years ago; 10 IS unnecessary and
would be exceedingly ridiculous for "a man
TO claim to-day that the present and up
t0-date methods of educating the two
classes have any interest or harmony one
! in the other.
There is absolutely nothing in common
between the deaf and the blind. except
that they are both afflicted Their re-
spective methods of education are totally
different The deaf rely solely upon Wis
ion TO receive their education while the
blind rely solely upon their ear. The
methods are just as different as the
methods of a classical from a technical
school 1nere is great and deep gulf
! between The two classes. and intimate
association between them is neither pro-
ntable or Pheasant 20 either class Why
! Virginia should cling 10 this antiquated
and irrational plan of AN unnatural union
| IS beyond comprehension.
BESIDES THESE lhift Nundfed Wnlle chill
dren struggling along under heavy affiic-
tions there are found 10 bee over one hum
dred cOiOred children similarly afflicted
and with no provision whatever for being
educated
MOST DESIRABLE GIFT.
As citizens Of Virginia, educated and
enjoying the manifold blessings of free
government. and an independent life, We.
who are I'm a position TO know, owe 1t TO
our sadly-amicted brethren, 10 humanity,
and above an, 90 our God. 10 leave moth
ing undone. 10 never become weary until
We have seen our efforts in ochalf Of q
class which a kind Providence has seen
Gt To- place under the ban of affection,
enjoying as We now enjoy. the most
priceless thing i'm this life and the most
desirable gitt-An Education.
II 10 was at an necessary, il would he
/ within the bounds OF all reasonableness
TO abandon and curtail all State appro-
priations for public improvements until
there has been provided abundant room
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