The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1911-08-28
COINPL AIN e " l4DE
AGAINST SCHOOL

| FIFTEEN minutes before ach meal
live OF the larger boys will come &c
the kitchen to help put the food or
1.-The tables; these boys will be changed
from week to-week.
The rest OF his letter IS concerned
with other matters which need not be
repeated here; but at the end OF the
/ letter 1t is signed by r.. Cary Mon
| tague, superintendent.
My son, Harrell Coffman, is a
rather delicate boy. not yet thirteen
years of age.
This regime requires five hours
and forty-five minutes of school and
domestic. duties in the forenoon, and
three hours in the afternoon, with a
study period at 1880 in the evening
The length of which is not stated.
II the same rule applies this year
as in the past. the pupils VIII spend
either the period from 1O:45 to 1900,
or from 1870 to $500 in the shops or
drills. and the other in school. This
VIII make three hours in school un-
der the teachers care each day, and
FOUR hours and As minutes In sweep
ing cleaning, busting and scrubbing,
drills, serviE the tables and any other
odd job commanded by superintend-
ent. supervisor or monitor
suppose the cleaning. etc. will re-
uufre carrying Stops scrubbinG and
cIea ming the bath rooms with their
general appurtenances and all kinds
of servants duties ndiscriminateiy-
This work is to be done under
monitors and the boys supervisors
do not know anything about the
supervisors. but the monitors have
been, and suppose will be. the older
students-big boys and girls-with-
ont mature judgment and command
ING influence, a master in no true
sense. but an immature person OF
limited discretion or ability to direct
the work, and manage these fortu-
nate children. Three hours under
what should be a masters care. and
four hours and forty-five minutes at
the caprice and whims of novice.
This regime, seems to me to
rive heavy work, and of a kind to
make servants and slaves. and not oil
a nature to make self respecting. hon
orable citizens
Mr.. Montague says I shall do my
best to carry out their instructions"
the Instructions OF the Board OF
Control. President J. s. Eakin lndi-
Gates. in letter dated Aug Is. 1911,
that the order is fair and just and
saws: You viii have no real cause
for complaint" which -iEnifies that
he, at least. has no intention OF re-
versinE any part of the order l
also wrote to Mr.. Shepherd and Dr.
stephenson. neither OF whom favored
me with the courtesy of reply.
This sort of condition does not pre-
vail in the preparatory schools nor
mails or universities. The deaf and
blind children receive travelling eX-
penses and board which is not given
to the students of other institutions
But If the state gives the deaf and
blind free education, shall it be an
honorable one, or such as to render
these youths contemplate in the
eyes of the public, and train them to
serviIe things? Or should they be
trained and educated to the highest
ideals?
/ am anxious that parents of the
unfortunate deaf and blind children
know something of the purpose of
the Board OF Control and the superin-
tendent. and the conditions they pro-
pose shall obtain, before their chill
dren are sent to Romney in Septem-
Der 1 do not know their names or
postofice addresses. or would
write them u personal letter. Duty
to my son, and to every child. espe-
cialIy the unfortunate deaf and blind
compeIs me to try Ito reach them
through the public press. as the only
way l shall be able to reach them all.
1 am also anxious for the liberty
loving people of West Virginia to,
know the intention of the Board of
Control and the superintendent, as
it seems to me. to lay undue burdens
of a servlle nature unon. innocent
childhood and compel them to
school life of servitude. which must
take from them the pleasures of
childhood with its sweetness. rolic
and play.
hope this article will find Its
way into the hands OF every parent
who has deaf or blind child Of
school age in West Virginia, at the
earliest possible date.