Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-02
Davis sells paiut.
DaVIS beIIH P"Ius'
STATE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF.
Report of the Board of Control OF
Condition of the Institution.

Report of the Board of Control on
Condition of the Institution.
The State Board OF Control in its annual
report to the governor deals at considerable
length with the matter OF the reduction OF
salaries at the School for the Deaf. This
action OF the board in reducing the salaries
OF the teachers at this institution was made
the subject OF more or less criticism at the
time In Council Bluffs. In its report the
board has the following to say on the ques-
tion
The conditions existing at the School for
the Deaf at Council Bluffs were far from
being satisfactory, and while the manage
ment of that institution had incurred an
indebtedness, with the former liberal ap
propriations, the board on assuming con-
troll found the appropriation for officers and
teachers salaries reduced by the last gem
eral assembly from s2l 900 to $4,000. and the
per capita which was formerly paid for four
quarters each year had been reduced to
three quarters, being a net reduction of rs
per cent, which in the aggregate on actual
attendance for the year reduced the support
$9,641, making the total reduction for the
year sl2641 from what it had been during
portion of the previous biennial period.
With these conditions confronting the
board 1t became necessary to adjust the
salaries in such a manner that the total
amount expended would not exceed the in
come, and an examination of the payroll
proved that this could be done without in
jury to the school, for in many instances
GERS and teachers. The principal of the
school was receiving s,7OO for nine months
service; another teacher. $1,000; one teacher.
81 600; one $500, and three teachers, $500
each. A number of these teachers had in
addition to these salaries board and lodg-
ing; all the others had dinner and horses
pense of the state
Notwithstanding the liberal salaries paid
teachers the school, after a thorough ex-
animation by the board was found to be in
! very unsatisfactory condition, and the in
vestigation and evidence secured. of which
full report was made, proved conclusively
that the Iowa School for the Deaf was fall
ing far short of the high standard the peo-
pie Of the state had right to expect.
The principal of the school. instead of
experimenting the work of the other teach
ers, was satisfied to confine himself to
room with fourteen or fifteen pupils and
rarely, If ever, gave any attention to the
work of other teachers. No teachers meet
ings were held, this being, in the opinion
of the principal, unnecessary, and as a re-
suit the most antiquated methods in teach
ing the deaf We're in vogue, the sign manual
being used to a great extent by both teach
ers and pupils Being thus allowed to make
signs as means of communication, and not
required to either spell with the hand or
write, except in a limited manner, the
use of the English words and found great
difficulty in answering the simplest ques-
tions by written language,
A radical change from old methods has
been made, salaries were fixed to come
within the limit of the appropriation, new
and progressive teachers have been secured
! In place of those who had proved incom-
petent. teachers meetings are held and the
latest and most approved methods of teach
ing the deaf are discussed and introduced
in the school. The sign manual has been
prohibited and teachers and pupils now
spell every word used by the finger alpha
bet by writing, or both, thus securing for
the pupils a knowledge of the English Lam
guage Lip language is carefully taught
and the progress made I'm articulate lam
guage has been so great that many OF the
pupils can read I'm a manner to be perfectly
understood by hearing people.
With the advancement made I'm the con-
dition of the school the dietary and care of
the pupils largely Increased. tho improve
menta OF the grounds and buildings dur