The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-05
CLASSES FOR DEAF CHILDREN

A bill is before the Legislature which
attracts attention, and which at least
should lead to inquiry, that action
thereon may be intelligent. If it is pos
sible for such inquiry to be successfully
prosecuted and completed before the
session is over it should be now inaug-
urated that if the advised legislation
is found to be wise, it may be had this
winter. Certainly there should be no
bill passed upon the subject without
such inquiry.
It is a measure which proposes that
deaf children shall be instructed in
public school classes according to the
system necessary for the deaf and for
deaf mutes 1t is claimed that this will
not put upon the State such burden as
will not be fully compensated for. That
it will not detract from the value of
the State institution for the education
of deaf mutes, but will tend to elevate
and better the noble work done there for
the unfortunates who find a home in it.
The claim is that there is a notable
number Of children who are afflicted
with deafness who should not be re-
moved from parental care and protec-
ton, who by reason of this affection are
shut out of the schools, and yet who
by reason of their tender years and for
other reasons are entitled to the bene
fits of a common school education.
These, it is held, are charges to a GER
tain extent upon society, which is in
morals bound to see them raised up
to good intelligent citizenship.
In Wisconsin, Ohio and Illinois It is
claimed the system proposed under the
bill has been tried with eminent sue
cess, and in one of these States it has
been in operation over twelve years,
and is approved by all the people. In
his last annual report, the California
State Superintendent of Instruction set
forth that he had examined into the
matter and was deeply impressed with
the arguments advanced in favor Of
employing trained teachers for this af-
nicted class. He therefore recommend
ed that these children may enjoy the
advantages Of home life and Of common
school education. that a committee be
raised to inquire into the matter in all
its bearings.
The bill provides that on application
of Board Of Education the State
Superintendent may give permission to
q ,fofr To-
pupils who are deaf and defective IN
speech. The County Superintendent is
authorized to apportion from the com
mon school fund received by the coun-
~, $150 annually for each of such pu-
pills. If county has no such special
class, and there is class in another
county, pupil entitled under the law
in the first county may attend the class
liz the other county, and the apportion-
ment from the first named county is to
be made just the same and paid over
TO the school authorities of the second
named county. The teachers of such
classes must be qualified as is required
for other teachers, and in addition be
skilled in instruction of the deaf.
A Sacramento woman who has resid-
ed many years in a State where this
system prevails, writes to the Record
Union" that she observed it closely
there, and its working was entirely sat
1sfactory. 1t is claimed that the per
capita expense for pupils in the State
institution for the deaf and for mutes is
S21I.94, so that the retention of children
at home who need this special system
OF instruction will work a decided saw
ing to the State, though it is by no
means commended that the sphere of use
fulness of the Berkeley Asylum and
School win be restricted.
Many eminent educators are quoted
as indorsing the public day school sys-
tenn for deaf children In Wisconsin
instead of erecting second deaf mute
asylum and school. the advice of Alex
ander Bell Graham, inventor of the
telephone and a noted benefactor of the
Geaf, and a foremost student of all
systems Of instructing them, was taken
and the day school system introduced