REPORT. To the General Assembly of the State of Indiana: In presenting their third annual Report of the Institute of the State for the Education and Training of the Blind, the Trustees with pleasure refer to its continued prosperity and success in accomplishing the objects of its establishment, under the faithful and efficient management of its officers.. The present number of pupils is thirty-eight, being an increase of ten over the number in our last annual report. Although we are indebted for the aid of benevolent individuals in their efforts to induce the friends of the blind in their vicinities to send them to the Institute, it is to the public exhibitions which, in parts of the State, have been recently made by the Superintendent with some of the pupils, that the increase of pupils is principally attributable. It is contemplated to extend the sphere of such exhibitions to the other parts of the State, as the time of the officers may allow, that, so far as is practicable, the people generally may personally ascertain how much, by their generous liberality, is being done for the improvement, usefulness, and happiness of the blind of Indiana. The recent results have manifested that if similar exhibitions had been also made in the remaining parts of the Sate, during the past vacation, the increase of pupils would have entirely exceeded our means for their accommodation, or at least would have prevented our connecting, with their literary culture, their needful training in industrial employment. Thus the necessity of the principal building for the Institute being soon commenced becomes apparent, that equal facilities for the instruction of the unfortunate blind may be extended to all parts of the State. The object is so noble and grateful, to rescue the blind child from a life of ignorance and helplessness, often accompanied with penury, to the prospect of procuring an independent livelihood, with a cultivated mind, and correct principles, that it need not be apprehended that any needful aid for its judicious accomplishment will be withheld by the people of the State. The remarkable improvement of the mind, of which the blind are constantly proved to be capable, gives assurance to the faithful and intelligent pupil, that their reliance for support need not rest solely upon their mechanical acquirements. In the department of teaching even the seeing, we have abundant reason to expect that many of our pupils will be found in future life to be fully competent. It is manifest, even to a casual observer, that the thoroughness of instruction and acquisition of the blind, although given mostly orally, is surpassed in few institutions of learning among the seeing. But it would be a matter of deep regret, if either by an over estimate of the value of mental cultivation, or from any sympathy with the ruinous indulgence of many, who permit the young of the present day to grow up in neglect if not contempt of bodily labor, the acquisition of the habit and tact of handicraft and mechanism by the blind pupil, should be overlooked by the managers of such institutions. By the accompanying report of the Superintendent, it will be gratifying to the General Assembly to learn, that the success of the work department of the Institute, during the past year, has been very encouraging. Although the competition of the blind with the seeing, in any department of manual labor, must necessarily be in some degree unequal, yet the thoroughness of the instruction given in the physical as well as the mental department of teaching, and the unwearied assiduity of the blind pupil in feeling after skill, with their patience, temperance, and industry, give us strong assurances that the graduates of the Institute will have secured for themselves the capability of an independent and comfortable support. The following summary exhibits the expenditures of the year, classed under appropriate heads: Salaries of Super'dent, Teachers, Steward, and Matron, Personal property for use of household department, · Raw material for work department, $2,259 10 1,586 58 480 28 649 60 803 50 Tools and fixtures for same, 104 94 Labor in workshops, 82 17 Drugs, medicines, and medical attendance two years, 77 57 Advanced for clothing of pupils, 50 00 Postage and Telegraphage, 13 77 Insurance on personal property of the Institute, Miscellaneous expenses, 23 00 35 18 $6,975 74 Improvements and repairs, Payment of loan from Bedford Branch Bank, the disbursement of which was reported last year, Add amount unexpended in hands of Superintendent Amount of allowances, as stated in the report of the 456 65 1,099 60 4,013 33 $12,565 32 47 36 $12,612 68 The office of Steward has, on the recommendation of the Superintendent, not been continued, with a view to economy, and in conformity with the present arrangement in the principal similar institutions. Miss Sarah T. Marsh resigned her situation as a teacher of Handicraft during the past year. The appointment of Miss Editha M. Curtis and Miss Eliza M. Hamilton as assistant teachers, has been made, at a salary each of $150 a year, with boarding, and their success thus far gives us assurance of their usefulness. For the detailed operations of the Institute, in its respective departments, we respectfully refur to the full report of the acting Superintendent. Respectfully submitted. GEO. W. MEARS, Trustees. Indianapolis, November 1, 1849. |