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A Brief History Of The Pennsylvania Institution For The Deaf And Dumb

Creator: H. Van Allen (author)
Date: 1893
Source: Available at selected libraries
Figures From This Artifact: Figure 2  Figure 3  Figure 4  Figure 5  Figure 6

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In connection with the classes in printing in the industrial department two papers are printed. The Silent World is published weekly, and is devoted to the dissemination, among the hearing, of information in regard to the deaf and their education, and to news items of interest to the deaf themselves. Its circulation is not confined to Pennsylvania, but extends to nearly every State in the Union. The Little World is published daily, during the school term, and is devoted to school items and other reading matter suited to the intelligence of the various grades of pupils, and is, in general, intended as an auxiliary to the work of the school-room, It does not circulate outside of the Institution.

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The artistic education of the children is not neglected, and for half a century instruction in drawing has been given. In the new industrial building ample provisions will be made for art education and every opportunity will be afforded children with artistic tastes to develop and cultivate the faculty.

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The domestic arrangements of the Institution are as complete as are those of instruction. The large household is under the general supervision of a competent steward. Each department building is under the care of a matron, who has general charge of its domestic affairs. Male and female supervisors and attendants have charge of the children outside of the school-room, and the children are constantly under a supervision sufficient to prevent any harm, either physical or moral, while in no way interfering with their rights or native self-respect. A wholesome and liberal diet is provided, and a well-appointed laundry supplies the pupil with two changes of linen a week. Comfortable clothing is provided winter and summer, the boys wearing a neat uniform of cadet cloth, and the -girls- sic dresses to suit as far as possible their individual taste. In case of sickness the children are placed under the care of a well-trained nurse, and are afforded the very best medical attendance. The consulting staff of physicians and surgeons of the institution includes some of the most distinguished specialists in the city. The buildings are models as far as sanitation is concerned. In short, nothing that can conduce to the mental, moral or physical well-being of the pupils is neglected.

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The Institution, having a large number of children committed to its care who from their condition are wholly without moral or religious instruction, endeavors to inculcate, without any sectarian bias, those broad moral and religious principles upon which Christianity is based. No attempt at theological discussion or sectarian instruction is made, and no principles are inculcated which will in any way interfere with their joining upon graduation such church as their parents may prefer, but the endeavor is to give them an adequate conception of a Heavenly Father, of a Saviour, of the distinction between good and evil, and of their duties to God, to one another, and to themselves. For this purpose a Sunday-School meets each Sunday afternoon, and on every Sunday morning and evening, lectures are given by teachers, calculated to reach their hearts and affections, to point out the principles of right living here and to prepare them for the life to come.

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Throughout its long career the Institution has been particularly fortunate in possessing a Board of Directors which has been devoted to the interest of the school. These gentlemen, among whom are numbered some of the most distinguished citizens of Philadelphia, have given the Institution the most appreciative oversight and the most careful supervision. They have executed the duties of their position not in a merely nominal and perfunctory manner, but have taken an active share in the management of the Institution, have made the subject of deaf-mute education a personal study, and have been keenly alive to the needs of the Institution. The success of the Institution is as much owing to their disinterested efforts for its welfare as to any other single cause. Nor has their interest been confined to superintendence. Some of the most liberal benefactors of the school have been members of the Board of Directors. The opening of the new buildings on October 8, 1892, was made doubly impressive by the announcement that one of the most active members of the board, John T. Morris, had made a free gift of $50,000 towards the completion of the industrial building.

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The Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb is a corporation chartered under the laws of the State of Pennsylvania.

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Although possessing some means of its own, thanks to the gifts and bequests of benevolent people, its main support is derived from the annual appropriation of the Legislature. It is hoped that with the enlarged capacity of the school this appropriation will be increased so as to permit the admission of a larger number of pupils. The term of instruction is ten years, and applicants for admission must be over seven years of age and under twenty-one, unless there be good reasons for earlier admission. The school is free to all deaf children of the State of suitable age and of good physical and intellectual condition. The school term is from the fifteenth of September to the last Wednesday in June. All applications for information regarding admissions, etc., must be made to the principal. A payment of $30 gives a life membership in the corporation, and the annual subscription is $5. The value of the buildings and grounds is fully $1,000,000, and the annual expenditure for general support and ordinary repairs, etc., approximates $125,000.*

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