Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-08
Line of Distinction Drawn Be-
tween Defective and Other
Children Is Condemned
EQUAL ADVANTAGES FOR DEAF
Rothert, of the State
School for the Deaf and Dumb, Urges
Compulsory Education of the Deaf
and a Change in Present Statute
Governing School Attendance
Special to Times Republicans

Special to meS-Republicah
Council Bluffs. Dec. S.--Superin tend
emit II. w Rothert. of the state school
for the deaf and dumb, and the state
board of control do not agree in their
views as to the healthfulness of the
present site of the institution. The
board declared the location bad and
recommended strongly that new To-
cation be chosen. Mr. ftothert, in his
biennial report just completed. points
out that the school has been very
BEAUTIFULLY located. He says:
1T is especially gratifying to report
the general good health prevailing
without the entire household, not only
for the biennial period. but for years
prior thereto. No death from sickness
has occurred in the institution for
eight years, which is remarkable from
the fact that we gather children from
many different homes and run the
gauntlet of visitations OF the many all
ments childhood Is heir TO. In a FAM
lily OF 260 children to have no serious
sickness to report during the nine
months of school is satisfactory rec
ord. indeed"
This is interesting in view of the
movement to remove the school from
Council Bluffs. and will he made much
use of by the local Commercial Club.
Mr.. Rothert asks FOR seven new
buildings to repair the destructive fire
loss and to pu. the school In good con-
dition. He SAYS:
There can be no question as to pro-
viding for the needs of .he school by
the erection of two-stc'ry. fireproof,
detached buildings. We certainly
should profit by the experience OF the
past. and, relying upon this, trust
generous general assembly to make
school for the deaf both as to habi-
tation and equipment. or a level and
equal to the best in the land.
The several e.~uctures necessary to
re- establisa the seaool n This dlrec-
ton and properly place 1t in condition
to continue its mission and provide 70.
the safety and comfort Of Its proteges
are: First. administration building;
second. boys dornito-Y; third, girls
dormitory; fourth, small pupils cot
tage: fifth, hospital: sixth. dining
rooms and kitchen: seventh. chapel
and library building.
Compulsory education VI the deaf is
thus urged by Superintendent Rothert
in his report:
There Is an urgent necessity to so
amend the present statute governing
attendance at schools SO as to include.
without question. the deaf so those too
deaf to obtain an education in the
public schools OF the state can be ed
ucated here. 1t may be construed as
permissible to quote from hereto
fore published paper By the UNDER
signed bearing upon this subject.
The law (the compulsor DRY education
law) is not as broad and extending as
1t might be. not covering all cases of
voluntary or enforced abs.nteeism, nor
is 1t as definite in Its coe-cive restric-
lions as Its most ardent friends would
desire. 1t must be regarded as the pio-
neer measure. recognizing and incorpo-
rating into our statutes the principles
of compulsory education.
THE term proper mental and physi-
cal condition should be modified and
qualified. 1t is here where the line OF
Is drawn. These words
from the verdict which sends the nor
NAL child to the opening portals of en-
education, while 1t commits
the defective child within prison bars
of debasing ignorance.
The more favored brother and Sis
ter by the strong arm Ct the law are
from careless. Indifferent SUI
pervision. while the less favored, hav-
ing no legal rights, are compelled to
remain where no authority can reach,