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troublePicture it: Halifax, 1878. A man of wealth and good breeding writes the following:
I'm pretty sure that last little bit is basically "Yo, we want want the Deaf school has. And we want it now!"
I was a bit confused by the references to the Emperor of Brazil, but it turns out that Brazil was an Empire between 1822 and 1889, under Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II. The More You Know.
I'm mostly interested in how the Perkins School (that's the one that Gridley Howe was running) is perceived in Halifax. It seems to be viewed as the Greatest Thing Ever, which makes some sense being that the Superintendent is a graduate from there. But reading it in tandem with Woeful Afflictions is... interesting.
Anyway.
That's another good one. I read it in two ways. First, I don't think the actual Board Members are nearly as involved as Fraser describes them. Second, it's again a veiled reference to the Deaf school, which is pulling in a lot more in donations right now. And also has students from everywhere.
I'm also intrigued by the constant needling at the public and the government. An example:
Look! Look at the work we are doing! We are doing it for you, John Q. Public! You!
In case you are curious what the kids in the school were learning (by 1879):
IOW: Please learn to read three different styles of writing the same language because we haven't all agreed on what language to use yet. Also, learn two different ways of writing because Sighted people can't be bothered to learn Braille.
Note to self: 1880 is when the Annual Reports finally started publishing newspaper reports about the School. I wonder if they didn't show up before then, or if the new management (the President had retired) is the reason.
...Our Superintendent in his report claims the right of our Blind to be considered in the general system of Education. This principle is recognized in the United States, and in many of the European Nations. The Emperor of Brazil not only had an institution erected for the Blind of that country ; but also got a state endowment for it of $24,000 per annum. Turn to wherever we may, the value of Blind Institutions are being generally recognized ; so much so in England within the past few years, that a College for the higher education of the blind sons of gentlemen has been erected at Worcester, and a Royal Normal College and Academy for Music, at Upper Norwood. The Legislature of Massachusetts a few years since appropriated the sum of $80,000 to the Perkins Institution of Boston, for the erection of new buildings. Other examples of munificence might be given. Are we then in the face of these examples to stand still or go on progressing. Cannot the Institution be made practically one for th Blind of the Maritime Provinces. Cannot we be brought to recognize the fact that although the sight may be lost there is a human brain behind the forehead and a human heart beating within the breast. We should ask that the same consideration be extended to the Blind, as is given to other afflicted classes of the community. In order to advance our sympathy for all, let us do what is right for all.
I'm pretty sure that last little bit is basically "Yo, we want want the Deaf school has. And we want it now!"
I was a bit confused by the references to the Emperor of Brazil, but it turns out that Brazil was an Empire between 1822 and 1889, under Emperors Pedro I and Pedro II. The More You Know.
I'm mostly interested in how the Perkins School (that's the one that Gridley Howe was running) is perceived in Halifax. It seems to be viewed as the Greatest Thing Ever, which makes some sense being that the Superintendent is a graduate from there. But reading it in tandem with Woeful Afflictions is... interesting.
Anyway.
The individual members of your Board are personally familiar with much that is herein contained, your frequent visits to the Institution make you conversant with every detail of its internal management, but as these Reports constitute the only available literature respecting the Blind and their education, it is advisable that their circulation be extended to every part of the Maritime Provinces, in order that the public may fully understand the purposes for which the Institution is stained, and the sources from whence its annual income is derived.
That's another good one. I read it in two ways. First, I don't think the actual Board Members are nearly as involved as Fraser describes them. Second, it's again a veiled reference to the Deaf school, which is pulling in a lot more in donations right now. And also has students from everywhere.
I'm also intrigued by the constant needling at the public and the government. An example:
Realizing the importance both to the individuals and the public of utilizing a non-working class, your Board have liberally granted instruction in handicrafts to three young men, whose ages prevented their taking advantage of the course prescribed for regular pupils. This action, on your part, deserves every encouragement from the public, whom you have thus relieved from the indirect burden of their support. [emphasis mine]
Look! Look at the work we are doing! We are doing it for you, John Q. Public! You!
In case you are curious what the kids in the school were learning (by 1879):
Classes in the following branches are formed each year: Spelling, Reading in Boston, Moon, and Braille systems, Pencil and Point Writing, English Grammar, Geography, History and Arithmetic. In addition to the foregoing, two extra studies are taken up in each successive year as follows:
1 - Composition and Elocution
2 - Natural History and Heathen Mythology
3 - Natural Philosophy and Physiology
4 - Geometry and Astronomy
5 - Algebra and English Literature
IOW: Please learn to read three different styles of writing the same language because we haven't all agreed on what language to use yet. Also, learn two different ways of writing because Sighted people can't be bothered to learn Braille.
Note to self: 1880 is when the Annual Reports finally started publishing newspaper reports about the School. I wonder if they didn't show up before then, or if the new management (the President had retired) is the reason.
