USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > Education in Indiana. An outline of the growth of the common school system, together with statements relating to the condition of secondary and higher education in the state and a brief history of the educational exhibit. Prepared for the Louisiana purchase exposition, held at Saint Louis, May 1 to November 30, 1904 > Part 42
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At this same session of the general assembly steps were taken for the purchase of a site and the board of trustees, after diligent and careful search, selected the present location in the eastern central part of the city, eighty-four acres being purchased at first, and subsequently thirty-six additional, the whole costing $6,000. This land-then one-half mile beyond the city limits, now three and one-half miles within the city limits-is now all held by the institution except thirty acres, part of which was given over to the use of the Indiana Female Reformatory and part made use of by the city in extending old streets and opening new ones. The balance of the land now held, ninety acres, is valued at $240,000.
After securing the ground, the trustees turned their attention to building, and secured an increase of the rate of taxation. Money sufficient was obtained and buildings with a capacity of 160 to 175 were at once erected, and were ready for occupancy October 2, 1850. During the school year previous the number of pupils in attendance was 125, but during the first year in the new build- ing the number increased to 141.
Thus fairly started, the school thrived and grew. Divine Providence seemed to smile upon it and its yearly course was con- stantly in advance. The deaf seeking admission grew in numbers as the state's population increased, and repairs, alterations and new buildings were added from time to time until now, in the spring of 1904, the enrollment of pupils is 334, with twenty- eight teachers in the literary department and six in the industrial department; with forty-seven officers and employes; with build- ings valued at $267,000; and with well equipped school-rooms, shops for industrial training, museum, library, and art room.
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The total number of pupils matriculating since October 1, 1844, to the present time is 2,381-boys 1,366, girls 1,015.
No honors of war to our worthies belong; Their plain stem of life never flowered into song;
But the fountains they opened still gush by the way, And the world for their healing is better today.
When the school was first opened, it was maintained upon the proceeds of a tax of two mills upon each one hundred dollars' worth of property, which was voted by the general assembly, and which was increased from time to time until, in 1852, it yielded an income of nearly $40,000 per year. When the state constitu- tion was adopted in 1851, the tax was discontinued, and the sup- port of the institution was made a direct charge upon the state treasury, where it remains today. Article IX, section 1, of the constitution reads as follows : "It shall be the duty of the general assembly to provide, by law, for the support of the Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb, and of the Blind; and also for the treatment of the insane."
The amount appropriated by the general assembly for main- tenance and repairs has varied from time to time, but now amounts to $75,150 annually. In the beginning, pupils were charged for board and tuition, except they filed a certificate set- ting out the fact of their poverty. This was degrading and shameful and was so considered, and in a very short time, the law was changed and everything made free to all those too deaf to be educated in the common schools. And in this liberality Indiana has the proud distinction of having been the first state in the Union to throw open her educational doors to the deaf, abso- lutely without cost to them. And so it is today; everything is free, the state making no charge, only requiring that pupils shall pay their transportation to and fro, and furnish their own cloth- ing, and even where this can not be done, the state provides and charges it to the county whence the pupil comes.
The institution is open to all the deaf of the state free of charge, provided they are of suitable age and capacity, and are too deaf to be educated in the common schools.
Pupils are considered of proper school age between the years of eight and twenty-one, but the admission of pupils between the
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years of seventeen and twenty-one depends upon circumstances. No child who is idiotic or feeble-minded or who is afflicted with sore eyes, or with a contagious or offensive disease, or who is an invalid so confirmed as to prevent study, or who is in a badly crippled condition and unable to go up and down flights of steps, or who is unable to care for self in a general way, is received as a pupil. -
The regular course of study is so arranged as to cover ten years, and is divided into primary, intermediate and academic courses. The primary and intermediate courses embrace spelling, reading, writing, drawing, arithmetic, geography, history and grammar. The two courses are divided into seven grades, five primary and two intermediate, and the time required to complete them is seven years. The academic course comprises a three years' course of advanced primary and intermediate work, and of other studies. In addition to the above, a kindergarten depart- ment, with two years' instruction, is provided for the younger and selected pupils. The regular kindergarten work for hearing- speaking children is adapted to the needs of the deaf, the second year merging into primary work. The number of years a pupil may remain in school is regulated by a time schedule, and de- pends upon the mental ability, progress and conduct of the pupil himself. He may remain certainly five years, subject to condi- tions, and as much longer, up to thirteen years, as his conduct and promotions from year to year may warrant.
It is the intention to render the pupils self-supporting in greater or less degree after leaving, by requiring them to become proficient in some useful trade or occupation, or in the underlying principles of several trades, while in attendance at the institution. In accordance with this design, all pupils are required to labor a portion of each day, the girls performing the lighter kinds of housework, cooking, the various kinds of needlework, and dress- making and millinery in all of their branches; the boys at various trades-typesetting, presswork, carpentry, cabinetmaking, wood- turning, painting, glazing, cutting, fitting, making and the repair of shoes ; harnessmaking, tinwork, baking, cooking, floriculture, barbering and farming. Pupils are assigned to one or more of these occupations, or others, as the superintendent may deem them
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most fitted for. Drawing, freehand and mechanical, is taught to all pupils during the first five years, and in the four higher grades all girls and selected boys are taught sketching, designing, model- ing, woodcarving and painting in oil, water-colors and pastel.
The general system of instruction used is known as the Ameri- can (combined) system, under which all known methods and their variations may be used for the attainment of an object common to all. Speech and speech-reading are regarded as very impor- tant, but mental development, and the acquisition of language and general knowledge, are regarded as still more important. It is believed that with a great many of the new pupils now entering, the necessary mental development and acquisition of language and general knowledge may be as well attained by the oral method, which results in speech and speech-reading, as by the manual method, which precludes this much-to-be-desired result. So far as circumstances permit, such method (or methods) is chosen for each pupil as seems best adapted to his needs and capacity after thorough trial. In short, the rule is, any method for good results -all methods, and wedded to none.
Mr. Willard served as principal two years, being succeeded in 1846 by James S. Brown with the title of superintendent, Mr. Willard continuing his connection with the school, however, as an instructor for twenty years. In 1852, Mr. Brown resigning, the Rev. Thomas MacIntire was appointed superintendent and con- tinued as such for twenty-seven years. Following him, came William Glenn and Eli P. Baker, each serving five years as superintendent, the latter resigning in July, 1889, at which time the present incumbent of the office, Richard Otto Johnson, was appointed after a period of service of nearly six years as secretary of the institution. At the present time, Mr. Johnson is chairman of the executive committee of the American Conference of Super- intendents and Principals of Schools for the Deaf, the only mem- ber from the west or south upon the board of directors of the American Speech Association, and a member of various other national professional committees. He is the first superintendent of the institution of Indiana birth.
The management of the institution is vested in a board of trustees consisting of three members appointed by the governor
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for a term of three years, so arranged that the term of one member expires each year. This board elects a superintendent for a term of four years, who by law is authorized and directed to select and appoint all subordinates-officers, teachers, attendants, and em- ploves. The institution is thoroughly nonpartisan in its govern- ment and merit alone controls its management in every depart- ment. At the present time, the trustees are Samuel A. Bonner of Greensburg, president ; William W. Ross of Evansville, treasurer ; and William P. Herron of Crawfordsville, secretary. In this connection, it may be stated that during the sixty years' life of the institution, there have been but one principal and five super- intendents and fifty trustees; and that of the entire number but twelve are living.
Long live the good school! giving out year by year Recruits to true manhood and womanhood dear: Brave boys, modest maidens, in beauty sent forth, The living epistles and proof of its worth!
In and out let the young life as steadily flow As in broad Narragansett the tides come and go; And its sons and its daughters in prairie and town Remember its honor and gnard its renown.
b. INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.
Early in the year 1844, James M. Ray, of Indianapolis, while on a visit to Louisville, Ky., was invited to attend exercises at the institution for the blind at that place. What he saw and heard convinced him that equal facilities should be offered the blind children of his own state. Upon his invitation, the superintend- ent and a number of the pupils of the Kentucky institution came to Indianapolis and gave an exhibition before the succeeding session of the legislature. Soon after an act was passed levying a tax of two (2) mills on each $100 of the taxable property for the purpose of sending the blind of this state to the schools for the blind in Ohio and Kentucky until a school could be estab- lished in this state for their education. A little later James M. Ray, Geo. W. Mears, the anditor of state and the state treasurer were constituted a board to superintend the use of the funds raised from this tax. This board advertised in numerous papers for pupils. It sent circulars to all the known persons eligible,
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and employed William H. Churchman to search for blind pupils of the proper age. By these means a number of blind children were found and sent to Ohio and Kentucky to receive their edu- cation.
In 1846 the general assembly passed an act appropriating $5,000 to found a state school. The tax was also raised to 1 cent on each $100 for its support. Calvin Fletcher, Geo. W. Mears and James M. Ray were named a board of trustees.
By an act (December 5, 1848,) this school was to be free to all proper persons. The trustees by this act were to be absolute judges of those who were "proper" persons to be admitted. Soon the board purchased, for $5,000, the eight-acre tract on which the present institution now stands. October 1, 1847, the state pupils having been recalled from Ohio and Kentucky, the Indi- ana institution was opened in a rented building. Nine pupils were present at the opening. The enrollment at the close of the first year was twenty-five.
During the summer of 1848, a three-story brick building (the present shop for boys) was erected, at a cost of $5,000, on the grounds previously purchased, and in the fall the school was opened in this building. The building now known as the old building was commenced in 1850 and completed and occupied by the school in 1853. The building complete cost a little over $112,000.
On the recommendation of the governor, the general assembly changed the plans of supporting state institutions from a special tax to direct appropriations, and also reorganized the boards on account of mismanagement, and made the new one for the Blind Institute consist of six members. By an act of the legislature in 1859, the board was again reorganized and made to consist of two members and a president, common to the board of the blind and deaf schools and the insane hospital.
The industrial department, which was organized early in the history of the blind school, was operated on the contract system until 1895, when it was made a part of the institution work and supported and controlled as other departments.
In 1889 an appropriation of $45,000 was made for an addi- tion to the building constructed in 1850. Since that time no
38-EDUCATION.
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special appropriations have been made except for the greenhouse, which is now in use.
The buildings now on the ground are six in number and in fair condition. The main building is well constructed and externally presents an imposing and pleasing appearance, but is internally unfitted for the purpose for which it is used.
The literary department is well equipped with books, maps, globes, typewriters and smaller supplies.
The music department is supplied with good pianos, a new pipe organ, horns, violins, mandolins, music printing machines, etc.
The industrial department has a complete line of modern ma- chines for broom making, and instruments for piano tuning and chair caning.
There are fourteen members of the faculty, and four trustees. George S. Wilson is the present superintendent.
c. INDIANA SCHOOL FOR FEEBLE-MINDED YOUTH.
The school for feeble-minded youth began in 1879 as an adjunct to the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home, located at Knightstown, Indiana, its first name being "The Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children."
In the year 1879 the legislature, by an act, provided for the state care of feeble-minded children, requiring that arrangements be completed for the admission of this class of defectives not later than November 1st of that year. It continued as a department of the S. & S. O. Home until 1887, when the legislature gave the institution an independent existence, changed its name to "Indi- ana School for Feeble-Minded Youth," appropriated $10,000 for the purchase of land "at or near the city of Fort Wayne" and appropriated $40,000 for buildings thereon, authorized the trus- tees to rent temporary premises and to take immediate charge of the feeble-minded children then at the asylum. According to the records only 50 such children were enrolled at the close of the fiscal year 1886.
By the legislative act of 1887, the purpose of the institution was clearly defined, provisions being made for the care, support and training of feeble-minded children, the term feeble-minded to
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include idiotic, epileptic and paralytic children. It also pro- vided for the separation of the different grades, one department to be known as industrial, the other custodial; the industrial de- partment to be for feeble-minded children who were capable of taking on the rudiments of a common school education; the cus- todial department to be an asylum for low grade feeble-minded, idiotic and epileptic children. The age limit was fixed at from six to eighteen years.
By a recent act of the legislature no child can be received into the industrial department of the institution who is over sixteen years of age at the time application is made, provisions, however, have been made for the admission of women of child-bearing age, between the ages of sixteen and forty-five years.
The law requires parents or guardians of all children under sixteen years of age to pay $150 per annum for their support, provided they are financially able to do so, if unable to pay this amount, then the county commissioners of the county from whence the pupil comes decides how much, if anything at all, shall be paid. If the parent or guardian is unable to contribute towards the pupil's support, such pupil is received as a state charge, entitled to all the privileges and benefits of the institution.
The executive management of the institution is vested in the superintendent, who must be an expert in the care and training of feeble-minded children. He employs all other officers and employes and is responsible to the board of trustees for his acts.
The general charge and management of the institution is en- trusted to a board of trustees, consisting of three members ap- pointed for a term of four years by the governor, and may be removed for cause, one member of the board to be a woman.
The educational department is under the direction of a prin- cipal, who is assisted by eleven special instructors, trained in the education of feeble-minded children. Range of studies include those of the common school to the fourth grade, inclusive.
Other employes necessary to carry on the work of the institu- tion, including attendants, domestics, mechanics and laborers, number 125.
The present valuation of grounds, buildings and all other equipment is, $550,000.
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The enrollment on November 1, 1903, was : Boys, 512; girls, 445 ; adult females, 91. Total, 1,048.
Of this number 269 are epileptics.
The institution is supported by the state, fixed amounts being allowed by the legislature for maintenance and other specific purposes. Maintenance appropriation for the biennial period ending October 31, 1904, being $100,000 per annum, based upon an average attendance of 800 inmates, with an additional allow- ance of $110 per annum for each person over that number.
d. INDIANA SOLDIERS' AND SAILORS' ORPHANS' HOME.
The site of this institution was known for many years before the civil war as the "Knightstown Springs." It was visited as a health resort on account of the many mineral springs supposed, at least, to possess healing properties. The fame the location then boasted only served to attract public attention until such time as its healthful location and its springs of pure water would be needed for a greater purpose.
As early as the summer of 1865, a committee was appointed by some of the leading citizens of Indianapolis, to make choice of a site for a soldier's home. After careful canvass of the state, the "Knightstown Springs" received first choice, and the old hotel, with a tract of 54 acres of land, was purchased by private dona- tions. The place was immediately fitted up for the purpose. The directors soon found that they could not rely upon voluntary con- tributions to meet necessary expenses and the property passed into the hands of the state and was placed in the care of officers ap- pointed by the legislature. In March, 1867, the Home for Dis- abled Soldiers, became an institution for the maintenance not only of disabled soldiers and seamen, but also of their widows and orphans.
There were advocates of a separate home for orphans, but it was feared that it might prove too great an undertaking at that time.
Nevertheless, Mr. George Merritt, of Indianapolis, an advocate of a separate home for the orphans, provided a small building near the present site of Lincoln hall, and across the road from the Soldiers' Home, in which ten soldiers' orphan children were
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placed under the care of Susan Fussell, a lady well qualified for the task. She began her work here in April, 1866. Here Miss Fussell lived for ten years, with her charge of ten orphans, inde- pendent of the state home, except that they attended the school established by the state for such children as occupied the Soldiers' Home. Miss Fussell, with her little family of ten orphan chil- dren, is the beginning of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home of the present.
In a short time, the number of admissions to the Soldiers' Home was so great that more room was required, and five acres of ground east of the road, and directly opposite the Soldiers' Home, were purchased and a new and commodious building erected thereon. To this building the old soldiers were trans- ferred and the children were left in the "hotel home."
In 1870, however, the children so far outnumbered the soldiers that they exchanged quarters, the children taking the new home, and the soldiers returned to the hotel. Early on Christmas morn- ing, 1871, the hotel home was burned, and soon thereafter the soldiers were removed to the National Military Home, at Dayton, Ohio. This left the orphans in full possession, until, in 1879, an asylum for feeble-minded children was attached to the institution. This arrangement continued until the legislature of 1887, sep- arated them, sending the feeble-minded children, May 17, to Fort Wayne, leaving the orphans sole possessors of the ground again, which arrangement has continued ever since.
The home has been twice burned. First on the 8th of Septem- ber, 1877, and again on July 26, 1886. There was no loss of life on either occasion, and with commendable promptness the trustees rebuilt. The foundation of the present administration building was laid on November 17, 1886. A new and commodious school building was completed in January, and on the 6th day of Feb- ruary, 1888, was occupied by the children.
From this date, the educational development of the children placed in this home, began to be reckoned the chief purpose of their stay here. A course of study was arranged, corresponding with the public schools of the state at large; the departments well equipped with necessary facilities, and the greatest care taken in the selection of teachers. Under the law, all children over 13
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years of age, attend school half of the day and work at some in- dustrial trade the other half.
The course of study embraces all grades beginning with the kindergarten up to and including the ninth grade of the public school course.
The board of trustees of the homes is composed of two men, one from each of the leading political parties, and one woman. They are appointed by the governor, for the term of four years.
The number of children in the home October 31, 1903, is as follows: Boys, 342 ; girls, 231. Total, 573.
The institution is supported by appropriations made by the legislature.
e. INDIANA BOYS' SCHOOL.
The Indiana Reform School for Boys was established by an act of the forty-fifth regular session of the general assembly, which convened January 10, 1867.
Governor Conrad Baker appointed as the first commissioners, Chas. F. Coffin, Richmond, Ind., Alexander C. Downey, Rising Sun, Ind., and Joseph Orr, Fort Wayne, Ind.
The general assembly empowered Governor Baker to select a site for the said institution. Exercising this right, he purchased the present site from Robert Downard and John Lawrence of Plainfield, for the sum of twelve thousand dollars ($12,000).
The farm at that time consisted of 225 acres beautifully situ- ated on a bluff of White Lick creek, nearly a mile southwest of the village of Plainfield, Hendricks county. The institution is of easy access by way of the National gravel road, Vandalia rail- road and the Indianapolis & Plainfield Traction railroad.
Frank B. Ainsworth was chosen first superintendent, his term dating from August 28, 1867, to April 1, 1876. He was suc- ceeded by James O'Brien, who served until April 1, 1880, when Thomas J. Charlton was appointed. Mr. Charlton served twenty- one years and was succeeded by the present superintendent, Eugene E. York, April 1, 1901.
The school has made steady growth from its inception. Owing to this gradual growth, the general assembly of 1895, by petition from the board and superintendent, passed an act authorizing the board of control to purchase additional land. Complying with
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said act, they purchased 195 acres adjoining the original tract on the southwest, of E. C. Crawford, for nine thousand six hundred dollars ($9,600).
The board, noting a continued growth of the institution, made a similar request of the general assembly of 1903 for an appropria- tion to purchase additional land for gardening purposes. The legislature appropriated $6,073.75, with which 473 acres of land in the Big White Lick river bottom, adjoining the farm on the southeast, was purchased, making the institution farm consist of 4673 acres, of which 303 acres are under direct cultivation.
The school was opened for admission January 1, 1868, since which time 5,616 boys have been admitted to its charge. Of this number 5,040 have been paroled, many filling useful and honor- able positions in society all over the country.
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