The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-18

"A SCHOOL Oh any KIM run Dy log
rolling politicians is no school at ALL
| In many other states politicians have
deaf and blind.
My sons education is now at an
end so far as the state is concerned
according to our amended laws, which
leave all the power in the hands of
the superintendent Of our school at
Vancouver.
find that very few people know that
by education deaf mutes are raised
from condition of mental darkness
| that is absolutely incomprehensible
to persons with all their normal fac
ulties.
The state Of Washington by her con-
stotution is pledged to offer the bene-
| fits of education to all ner children
one years, but in the case of the deaf
she does not fulfill this obligation.
In order to understand the term
deafness fully, remark here that alb
solute destruction of hearing powers
is found in only about one hlf of deaf
mutes. The lack of articulate speech
which has led to their denomination
as mutes results from lack Of instruc-
ton and not from any defect of the
vocal organs. But if deaf children
who are born deaf or hard of hearing
do not naturally speak, how do they
this question at this time. But natur-
ally intelligent, the deaf child looks
out upon the world and longs for
knowledge. Common humanity de-
| mands that we use every means to
bring under proper instruction the
deaf children of Washington. By
sending teachers to the children in
stead of the children to the teachers;
| the state will accommodate it's policy
to the wishes of the parents. The
state also would be benefited by hav
| ing deaf children brought under edu
| otherwise except under compulsion be
sent to a state institution, or who
would enter school so late in life as to
receive but little benefit from the
| course of instruction.
This subject of home schools for
the deaf with oral instruction is one
| upon which 1 have given so many
years Of earnest thought that fairly
| lose myself when try to write or talk
about it. My aim is only to enlighten
| the people, not to suit out any graft
| for myself. That would be folly for
me as have no political pull and can
never have because 1 believe in the
utmost publicity Of the expenditure
of public moneys.
John D. Rockefeller is coming to
Portland soon to visit the fair. We
might get help from him to build a
school in Walla Walla for deaf chill
dren, say a hundred thousand dollars.
If we hit him in the right spot I think
we might draw blood which would
give life to a worthy cause.
The California legislature last WIN
ter passed bill providing for the ed
ucation of deaf children in the public
schools, which declares that the board
of education of every city, or board
of school trustees Of every school dis
| trict Of the state containing five or
more deaf children, or children who
from deafness are unable to hear ordi-
nary conversation, between the ages
of three and twenty-one years. must
establish and maintain separate class
es in the primary and grammar grades
of the public schools wherein such
pupils shall be taught by the pure oral
system of teaching the deaf
r. Another act, providing for kinder
garten instruction in the public schools
declares that "in cities or school dis
tricts in which separate classes have
been or may hereafter be established.
for the instruction of the deaf, c1il
dren may be admitted to such classes
at the age of three years"
Another act, relating to the appor-
tionment of school funds, provides that
, in districts providing classes for the
instruction OF the deaf. an additional