Updates from the Archives, or Anna-Squee
Jun. 2nd, 2010 07:46 pm![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
troubleFor some reason this paragraph is cracking me up:
What I find amusing about it is that it's basically "We haven't really been able to do anything for three years because we haven't had an Institution. But now we do. Because we're awesome."
[Oh, background: The reason the School for the Blind was founded when it was was because a dude with lots of money left 5000 pounds NS Currency for the School if the city could get enough money to build an actual building. That money was left in 1867, which was when the school was actually incorporated. In '68, the school was proclaimed, and in 1871, the school actually opened its doors. I find it odd that there was apparently no Annual Meeting between the school being incorporated and the school being opened.]
[Maybe my sense of humour is strange.]
That aside, there are some interesting things going on in the founding of this Institution as opposed to that of the Deaf one. Like the Deaf school, there are teachers hired initially who are in the same situation as the students: The first teacher hired is a Blind woman, although she's assistant teacher to a Sighted woman. When the blind woman (Mary Dwyer) ends up sick from the Halifax weather (this seems a common complaint), the school hires C. F. Fraser, who is also blind, and a graduate of the Perkins Institute in Boston.
So, having hired their first blind male teacher (Fraser was not yet principal at this point), the Annual report reads:
{Girls, as you all know, do not need independence. They're busying learning to sew with the new sewing machines.)
Part of why this is really interesting is they seem to sort out really quickly the importance of having teachers who are "like" the students - something the Deaf school didn't do. And I wonder if this is in reaction to that lack.
[I wonder how much they're competing for donations with the School for the Deaf?]
It looks like things get really interesting in the Fourth Report, but that will have to wait till tomorrow.
It's nice to be doing something. I've missed my archives. *hugs archives close*
The first meeting under the Act of Incorporation, to elect Managers and Officers, was held at the City Council Chamber, 27th April, 1868, since then there has been no annual meeting, as until the present year it was found impossible to get the Institution into operation ; it therefore becomes necessary to report progress from the commencement.
What I find amusing about it is that it's basically "We haven't really been able to do anything for three years because we haven't had an Institution. But now we do. Because we're awesome."
[Oh, background: The reason the School for the Blind was founded when it was was because a dude with lots of money left 5000 pounds NS Currency for the School if the city could get enough money to build an actual building. That money was left in 1867, which was when the school was actually incorporated. In '68, the school was proclaimed, and in 1871, the school actually opened its doors. I find it odd that there was apparently no Annual Meeting between the school being incorporated and the school being opened.]
[Maybe my sense of humour is strange.]
That aside, there are some interesting things going on in the founding of this Institution as opposed to that of the Deaf one. Like the Deaf school, there are teachers hired initially who are in the same situation as the students: The first teacher hired is a Blind woman, although she's assistant teacher to a Sighted woman. When the blind woman (Mary Dwyer) ends up sick from the Halifax weather (this seems a common complaint), the school hires C. F. Fraser, who is also blind, and a graduate of the Perkins Institute in Boston.
So, having hired their first blind male teacher (Fraser was not yet principal at this point), the Annual report reads:
They were fortunate in procuring in her place the services of Mr. C. J. Fraser, son of Dr. Fraser of Windsor, who had been thoroughly educated at the Perkins' Institution for the Blind,k at Boston, and who has proved himself well qualified to take the place of teacher, - from his high musical talent, and thorough devotion to his duties, they look forward with much confidence to the future. Since his taking charge of the boys, he has taught them self reliance, by permitting them to find their own way through the city ; and they now go to their several places of worship alone, and can be met walking the streets as confidently as those who can see, - this adds greatly to their enjoyment, and their independence.
{Girls, as you all know, do not need independence. They're busying learning to sew with the new sewing machines.)
Part of why this is really interesting is they seem to sort out really quickly the importance of having teachers who are "like" the students - something the Deaf school didn't do. And I wonder if this is in reaction to that lack.
[I wonder how much they're competing for donations with the School for the Deaf?]
It looks like things get really interesting in the Fourth Report, but that will have to wait till tomorrow.
It's nice to be doing something. I've missed my archives. *hugs archives close*
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no subject
Date: 2010-06-03 06:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-06-02 11:15 pm (UTC)Off topic
Date: 2010-06-03 05:40 pm (UTC)Re: Off topic
Date: 2010-06-03 06:15 pm (UTC)You can email me. anna@annaoverseas.com