Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-08-27
new MEXICO EDUCATES
ITS BLIND CHILDREN
INSTITUTION AT ALAMOGORDO DEVOT
ED EXCLUSIVELY TO TRAINING OF SGHTLESS
BoYs-s ACCOMPLISHING WONDERS - COMPETENT FACULTY


Among New Mexico's Territorial in
stitutions none are more deserving OF
success and support than the New
Mexico Institute for the Blind, locat-
ed at Alamogordo, Otero County. Al
though the school has been in exist
ence but year it includes almost
everything which is required for the
work in it's various branches. The
Legislative Assembly made liberal
appropriation for the maintenance of
the school for the ensuing two years
and the outlook for the coming term is
very bright
The institute is housed in a hand
some brick structure three stories in
height, with spacious basement, and is
located about mile from the center
Of the town of Alamogordo on level
tract including twenty acres of fertile
land with an excellent water supply.
The building is well arranged, and
equipped with all the conveniences
necessary for an institution of this
class. 1t has commodious school
rooms. music rooms, work rooms, dor
mitories, a bath room each for boys
and girls, a gymnasium with suitable
appliances for regular exercise, a
large swing and other apparatus for
outdoor amusements, all of which are
indispensable.
institution Maintained by Territory.
The New Mexico Institute for the
Blind is Territorial institution. If
the parents of the unfortunate child
are unable to provide for his mainte-
nance he is received into the school
and provided for out of the funds on
hand. However, if the parents are
able to provide for the pupil they are
expected to do so The poorest child,
however, fares just as well in school
as the well-to-do and no distinction is
made whatever. Many of the schools
for the blind in the country send out
agents TO canvass for blind and par
TALLY blind children and persuade
their parents to send them to school.
However, owing to the limited funds
on hand it is impossible to do this
with this school, but the superintend-
ent urges the general public to lend
its support toward securing pupils for
the institution and urges that the ad-
dress of any children eligible to be
sent to him or one Of the board Of
trustees.
A Blind Instructor for the Blind.
Superintendent S. H. Gill, who pre-
sides over the institution, is himself
totally blind, and is graduate of the
Tennessee School for the Blind. He
has proven most successful instruc
tor and executive head at the insti-
tute and instead of his affliction being
a handicap in his work, it has in many
ways proven beneficial. He appre-
ciates better the condition of his
charges and knows their very need
and meets them on the same footing.
He is teacher in manual training, and
the boys learn rapidly under his able
instruction. He has had twelve years
experience in school work and care of
the blind. He ranks high as an edu-
Gator in his particular line.
Superintendent Gill is assisted by a
faculty comprising the following:
Miss Louise Butler, graduate of the
literary department of the University
Of Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee,
matron and teacher of English.
Miss Mary E. Keebler, graduate of
the Pennsylvania Institute for the
Blind, Overbrook, Pennsylvania,
teacher of instrumental and vocal
music and manual training for girls.
DR.. Paul w. Kirkpatrick, of Alamo
gordo, is the attending physician, and
DR.. ]. B. Gray, of Ell Paso, Texas, ocu-
list.
What is Taught In the Institution.
The English department embraces