The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-19
MIR. RAYS REPORT.
He Recommends Per Capita Appropriation
For the Institution.

Mi. j. y. nay, pAinNlPpA VI NAAS
for the Blind, has made public his re-
port to the directors of that institution.
Mr. Raw insists the school is not an
ASYLUM. He says we are stlll pattnhe
against the disposition on the part OF
many people who have better sense ana
should have better taste than to call our
school an asylum. If there are those VINO
really know no better it is the part or
charity to excuse them; but 1T is truly
difficult to imagine how cultivated people
have failed to recognize the fact that ours
is purely and only school-seeking TO
educate and prepare for usefulness ana
true citizenship boys and girls who, 1t Is
true are deprived of one, or more, or the
avenues through which normal children
receive instruction; and yet struggling,
though against the tide, to solve the
bread and butter problem. May one be
hardened for suggesting that it is far
from pleasing to them to be dubbed the
inmates of the asylum
Under the head of Improvements he
notes:
1.-THE main building at the white de-
partment has been unroofed, built up a
story higher. a modern slate roof put on
If the verandahs extended up another
story and covered with slate. new and
modern plumbing placed in the new story
and new system of heating placed In
position throughout the building. A new
coat of paint was also given the exterior
of the whole building, and steel ceilings
put up all through the house in the new
story as we'll as in the part
The Industrial department has i'm
proved greatly as has also the fancy work,
sloyd. broom and literary and music de-
partments First premiums were award
cd in each department by the State Fair.
1.-THE trades which we teach our pupils,
are sewing, dress making, general needle
work framework, and music for the girls;
and broom making, mattress making
piano tuning and repairing, music and
cane-seating for the blind boys; and shoe
making and mending. farming, and gard
ening for the deaf boys 1t may be a
surprise to some to have me refer to
music as a trade. Well that is just the
wav in which we regard it; for by a
knowledge of it many of our graduates
are today earning livelihood. We teach
music, then, not as an accomplishment
though it is a most pleasing one. but as
a trade-a means to aid In SOWING the
bread and-butter problem.
eve have received into the institution
the only deaf and dumb and blind child
of whom | have knowledge in our State.
Her condition is such as to require the
attention of a teacher and attendant con-
stantly We do not hope to make Helen
Keller of the child, but we are delighted
to know that she has learned the mean
ing of several words. Her name is Beulah
Templeton. of Stanly county
In the matter of finances he urges the
Legislature to make a per capita allow
ance for the institution. which he says is
the fairest and most judicious arrange
ment possible. The reasons for such an
Arrangement are that the institution
would draw only that amount to which
it is entitled by reason of the pupils
actually in attendance. Two hundred dol
lars per capita is the amount he suggests
He says:
1.-TWO years ago Virginia spent for her
pupils per capita little more than $2O6,
and majority of her pupils were deaf,
and it requires less to educate the deaf
than the blind Alabama $780, Kansas
1892 so. Texas $240, Kentucky $247, Mis-
sissippi S2S152 Colorado $500, Maryland
$500. and has since obtained an increase
of $50. making her present per capita
$3.50: New York expends annually more
than $500 per capita for her deaf children,
and much more for the blind. while Penn
sylvania spends $3.50 for her blind
eff this cannot be done, | suggest the
application for an increase of our cur
rent expense fund of 500, 900 instead of the
S12.50O granted two years ago. This will
enable us TO receive and care for three
hundred pupils each year"
The report includes the following sta
tistics:
THE number of pupils enrolled at the
time of our last report was as follows:
Present December 1. 1898 ..... 81
New pupils since admitted ~ 100
Number readmitted ......,.. "a
Total enrolment for the two
years ...................... 435
Graduated during two years. :
Died during two years .....
Time expired Observation-Disclosures. 81
Returned home as seeing too
we'll OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. %
VOIuptoriIv rayooiyod ~ bA,,o