Deaf and Dumb Institution

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4745, 16 July 1883, Page 3

Deaf and Dumb Institution

The sixth annual report of the Minister of Education, just racsived, has the following reference to the Daaf and Dumb Institution at Butnner :— Tho irstituCion at Suinner for the education Bud training of deaf-mutes has now been in successful operation for upwards of three years. A year ago tho nuruber of pupils was 24; it has now increased to 31. Fifteen of t.he«e are boji, and 16 are girl*, The following cr« th« provincial districts from which the pupils have betn eont: — Auckland, 7; Hawke's B»y, 1 ; Wellington 2 ; Ougo, 10; and Canterbury, 10. Tho thirty- first pupil ia a deaf-mute girl who has been sent from Adelaide, South Australia, lo study under Mr Van Aech. For a portion of the p&et year the Director had the aid of two assistants. He roporfcs that there ia every reason to expect an accession to the number of pupils in the course of the preßont year, and ho represents the necessity ef making provision for tho employment of a third assistant, the peculiar difficulty and laborious ness of tho work being euch as to render it Blmosfc impofeible for ono teacher to do justice to more than ton pupils. The method of instruction is that which ia known os "the articulation method," by which deaf-mutes are trained to the u*e »f f he organs of ipeeoh, and learn both to*speak, in tho ordinary sense of the word, and to understand (from tho motion «f tho lips) tho speech of others. Tho uoe of fiafjer-signo or other nieane employed aa substitutes for gpeooh is striotly exoluded. The course of instruction includes reading find writing in the first instance, followed by English composition, arithmetic, g«ograpby, history, drawing, olementary science, &o. The girls are also instructed in Bewfeg, knitting, and other useful domcßtio accomplishments. The pupils, who are all resident boarders under the watchful supervision ef Mr and Kre Van Aech and tho assistants, occupy three separate dwellings eituate ab convenient distances from one another. There ia also a dotached eohoolhousa. This arrangement is in several respects better adapted to the purposes o? such en institution than if ono largo building only were made übo of, affording, so it doeo, excellent facilities for saiisfaotory separation according to sex and age. Besides tho gardeno attached to the residences, there are r.n atnpla playground and abundant facilities for recreation purposes. Tho locality ia salubrious, ea has been testified by the general good health of the children. Tho institution is subject to regular jaodiafil inepection, and it ie visited from titno to tim 3 by 'the Minister ef Education and officers of the department. Tho ability end zeal of the Director ero deserving of high commendation ; and ho baa been well feoosdsd in his efforte to promote the welfare cf the pupils by Mrs Van Aacli and tho assistant!!. The results of Mr Van Asch'a labours invariably call forth expressions of surprise and gratification from those who visit the institution. Tablo No, 7 of tbo appendix contains p. statement of the expenditure on tho institution for the financial year ending March 31, 1883. Tho following ie an abstract of the

Iho cliarga medo by tho Qovernu'ieufc for the board and education of oach pupil is £49 a year ; but in a number of instances pupils are admitted frcoor at reduced rates, in order that no ohild capable of receiving benefit from the courje of instruction may be excluded.

Biuieuiiiub :— * £ B. 6. Direotor and two assistants ... 733 18 8 Eont and repairs 263 '5 0 Travelling expenses, medic«l attendance, furni' ure and schoolroom requisites, advortisin-?, &o 210 13 10 Maintenance of pupils £1016 10 0 Lees payments b? parents ..". 322 510 094 4 2 £1937 1 8