The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-07-24
One of the States Most Interesting
Institutions Described.
INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND
Not an Asylum, but an Educational
Institution Where Children Receive
Scholastic and Technical Training
Affairs Administered In Accordance
With Strict Business Principles
Movements Of Indiana Senators.
Especial Correspondence


one of the most beautiful places in
Indianapolis is the Indiana Institution
for the Blind. The main building, set
in the midst of ample grounds. which
are shaded with fine old trees and
adorned with well-kept flower-beds.
looks like the ante-bellum capitol of
some Southern state. When the insti-
tuition. one of the pioneer state schools
for the blind, was located here more
than half century ago, the grounds
were on the outskirts of Indianapolis.
liable owned by any one state institu-
ton; occupying half block within a
half mile of the center of business,
it would bring more than 100000. 1t
Is q somewhat remarkable fact that
of the million and half dollars spent
by the state for the education of the
blind, nearly one-third has been re-
turned to it in convertible property
by the increase in the value of the
spot upon which this great work has
been carried on.
Despite the fact that this institution
has been In operation since 1S47, the
character of its work is so little known
by the general public that nine out
Of every ten taxpayers of Indiana
II questioned would say that it is an
asylum where the blind are cared for
as helpless wards of the state. While
the attendance is greater now than It
has ever been. yet many counties of
Indiana are unrepresented at the
school, and it is said that two-thirds
of its students come from within a
circle having a radius of seventy miles
with its center at indianapolis. Out
of the 164 students enrolled during the
school year recently closed. none was
present from Spencer, Dubois, Perry,
Crawford. Clark, Scott. Jefferson. Swift.
zerland, Ohio. Ripley, Dearborn
Franklin. Noble. Lagrange. Steuben
Benton. Newton. Jasper. Pulaski. Lake
Starke or Porter counties, and the en-
rollment from these and other coul-
ties comparatively remote from the
capital has been Insignificant since the
establishment of the institution Yet
there is no educational institution In
the state more useful to its students
or doing work so peculiarly its own
Character Of the Work.
For nine months of the year, and
through a course extending over the
regular common and high school Pc
Rod of twelve years. children with
eyesight so impaired as to be unable
to carry on the work of the public
schools are taught not only the com.
mon branches, with the more import.
ant subjects of ordinary high school
study, but are given an industrial.
training which has enabled many OF
the graduates of the institution to earn
livelihood after leaving it. Music
for which the blind manifest a special
aptitude. is made an important branch
of the work of the school. One inter.
esting department of the work is the
manufacture of stereotype plates from
which multiple copies of musical ex.
ercises are printed and distributed
among the pupils. The subjects OF
these selections range from the sim
plest ballads to concerted compost
tions by Moszkowski and Mascagni
Another indication of the tendency OF
the blind toward all that pertains to
music is the popularity of the course
In piano tuning offered in the indus
trial school. The institution has turn
ed out a great many efficient piano
tuners. an unusual delicacy of hearing
coming to the rescue of the sightless
in most cases. Fully 100 of the 164
pupils in the school are entered in
some one or more of the musical
courses.
The chief problem with the blind is
one of occupation, not only because
it is necessary to many as means OF
livelihood and opportunities for the
exercise of their natural industry ars
few, but because observation being
denied, the long hours must be made
less tedious by busy hands. In the
industrial school, BESIDES piano tun
ing, the boys are taught broom and
chair work; the girls sewing. Last
year more than $500 brooms were
made at the institution, and nearly 40(
chairs were caned. Nearly Thousand
articles were made with the needles
of the girls, not only sewing, but GRO
eheting and ornamental beadwOrk be
ing taught.
Attendance and Administration.
The Indiana Institution for the Edu
cation of the Blind ranks not only
GENTLY managed schools of it's char
acter in the country. The attendance
has gradually increased year by yea
since 1S47. The present superintend
emit. Mr. George S. Wilson, who cam,
from the superintendency of thu
Greenfield schools to take charge o
the institution five years ago, ha,
shown a marked aptitude for the worl
assigned to him. He has MATERIAL,
reduced the per capita expense of main
tanning the school without decreasin.
the advantages offered. In 1895 tn,
per capita cost of maintenance wa
$267.76; during the fiscal year endin
Oct. 81, 1901, it was little less tina
| $204.06. Fourteen teachers, four labol
ers and six general officers are en-
ployed. With the comparatively mes
ger appropriation of little more tina
| $4,000, the institution does a wor
of the greatest value, and highly cree
table to the state.
The management of the institution
during the administrations of Cove