Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-12
SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
Something About That Institution Over
Which State Assumes Control.

accommodated in the old Spring street
school and the adjoining dwelling house
with an addition erected two years ago
is used as a home for the pupils 1t Is
also generally known that at the school
for these unfortunates. they are taught
TO use spoken language and to under
stand the speech of others by reading the
movements of the lips. And that is about
all that many Portland people do know
of the school and its methods.
Yesterday afternoon in the school ward
group of boys were playing ball They
We're intent ON their game and as active
and energetic as more fortunate boys who
at about the same time We're leaving the
schools in other parts of the city. Yet
these little shavers whose faces shone
with intelligence and boyish spirit had
very likely. never heard a sound In one
of the rooms in the dwelling house at the
same time group of girls, none seem
ingly over a dozen years of age. were
sewing under the care of teacher The
visitor who stood in the DOORWAY and
watched the class, would have noticed
nothing to indicate that these girls like
the boys al play outside could hear not H.
ing. Their bright attractive faces were
turned Immediately to see who it was
watching them at their work, although
they could not have been warned of his
coming by the sound of his foot falls. 1t
takes but a few minutes in this pleasant
home on Spring street TO convince the
visitor that the dwellers there are as
bright intellectually as the average of
tune of these vouns. neopla seems tn nav.
ulickenea their othar narcentionc ,nd
sharpened their minds. Another thing
which strikes the visitor forcibly is the
absence of anything suggestive of an .'ia-
stitution'' in Rrownsnn IAN TIL origin !
house was one of The roonoy nansior,s
built roany- Years AGO ava i Stui ,rs-
sesses its cheerful homalii,o air wban
the house was adapted to tho wants ~
the school n large additiop VS. u,adc IN
il in which arc tho slaenine, ron,,s mo
dining room and kitchen for the nnni,s
If is NOT nacessarv hera to ,aiots tho
story of the origin ana erouth Of tha
school for the deaf II was in tba first
place the outrrowth Of tbn desire Of -
Portland rifiznn yyhosa lttt,a da.,sb,c,.
had haap heraft nv Illness nf tb,, ,,,u.er ar
hearing to have provided for her in
Maine the educational advantages whi..h
could then be secured only at far distaat
points. 1t began its work in a small
way. growing steadily year by year TO
its present proportions. The assumption
of the management of the school by tho
State is Il recognition of the fact that the
children. If it does to any. To teach
those unable to hear and speak while
they remain in their own homes is man
ifestly an impossibility and for that rea-
son II - necessary 10 nrInG them TO some
place where together they may receive
instruction. Hitherto the State has Sc
cured this teaching by paying to the ci
500 a year for each pupil. Hereafter the.
school will be managed by a board Of
trustees to be appointed by the Cove =
nor. The members of this board have lot
yet been announced but it is known that
Mr.. w. II. Brownson of the Portland
school board. who has taken an active
interest in the school aud in whose honor
the dwelling house received its name.
Brownsou hail, viii be one of the FIVE.
BrOwnson hail was prepared for the use
of the school by the State. The city un-
der the new arrangement will give to tAe
State the Spring street schooihouse. In
return. the city is relieved OF an annual
expense of $500 hitherto necessary as
it's share of the maintenance of tac
school
IT is q large family which livas hero
There are at present in rho sshnol 81 r,l-
nils ranging in are from the liftle tnt
Of five to the younse men and women
who are abort ia Graduate srbey- co1,,a
from an over Maine one ,,i,ni1's h6n,. To-
ING In Van Ruren a town on Tho mort n
srn harder of The great courtv Of Arpos
took. and all the pupi1s with one excf D.
tion. come from Maine homes. There is
one scholar whose home is in NV
brunswick and whose instruction here :
Maid for bv relatives The dav begins y t
20 and breakfast is served half an hour
later. The work of the house is done lis.
sorvants but the nunfls do some s,,.a-I,
iray Of the floors. which are not carpetcd.
and helm in the dish washing household
work which may very proDcrlv be can
sldared q MARI of y pirrs adue;f4iop Ar
eight o'clock school begins for me larss,.
nupils. bur the little ones have an holIr
for inlay and then begin the DAVIS school
attendance. which for them consists OF
two sessions, from until 70, and urti