RHODE ISLAND EDUCATIONAL MAGAZINE: VOL. II. PROVIDENCE, JAN'RY AND FEB'RY, 1853. NOS. 1 & 2. REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS. To the Honorable General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. JANUARY SESSION, A. D. 1853. The Commissioner of Public Schools presents the annual report required of him by law. The accompanying abstracts of the returns from the several towns will inform the Legislature in regard to the apportionment and expenditure of the public money, and the statistics of the schools The returns for the last year were more exact and full than those of the previous year; and it is hoped that the returns for the present year will be complete. It is gratifying to perceive that a large number of the towns are increasing their appropriations for schools, and it will be for the wisdom of the Legislature to determine whether the time has not arrived, or will not soon arrive, when public opinion and the condition of the treasury will justify and sustain an increase of our State appropriation. Many of the School Committees last year availed themselves of the privilege given them by the revised law of printing their town reports. The money cannot be applied to a better purpose, or in a way to do more good. By printing and distributing to every family an account of the condition of the schools of the town, the general interest in the subject is kept alive and increased, errors are exposed and improve· ments suggested. DEAF AND DUMB. The following are the names of the persons who have received the benefit of the appropriation from its commence The beneficiaries of this State have been sent to the "American Asylum at Hartford, for the Education and Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb." The time for admission of pupils is the third Wednesday of September in every year. The charge is $100 per annum. In case of sickness, extra charges are made. Persons applying for admission must be between the ages of eight and twenty-five years; must be of good natural intellect, capable of forming and joining letters with a pen legibly and correctly; free from immoralities of conduct and from contagious disease. The charge for board includes washing, fuel, lights, stationery and tuition. No deductions are made for absence, except on account of sickness. THE BLIND. The following persons have received the benefit of our State appropriation for the blind:- Jamestown, January, 1845. January, 1851. Oliver Caswell, Elizabeth Eddy, Warren, Maria Dunham, Charles Coddington, Newport, Marcia Thurber, Providence, Newport, Alexander Kenyon, S. Kingstown, October, Lucy Ross, N. Prov. Dec. The orders for their support this year have been — The beneficiaries of this State have been sent to the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts Asylum for the Blind, at Boston. The charge at that Institution is $160 per annum, which covers board, washing, medicine, use of books, musical instruments, and all expenses except clothing and traveling expenses. Pupils must be under fifteen when admitted, and of good character; free from epilepsy or any contagious disease; and the friends of the applicant are required to answer certain queries respecting his age, and the cause and degree of his blindness, and to furnish an obligation that when discharged he shall be removed without expense to the Institution. If possible, pupils should be taught the letters before going to the Institution. Books in raised letters for the blind can be procured there. IDIOTS AND IMBECILES. Four persons only, have yet received the benefit of any portion of the State appropriation for Idiots and Imbeciles; of these, two are at the Massachusets School for idiotic and feeble minded youth, (corner of First and K streets, South Boston,) one at the Barre School, and one under the care of Mr. J. B. Richards, at Philadelphia. The orders for their support have been For admission to the Massachusetts School, it is recommended that they be between the ages of six and twelve; not epileptic, insane or incurably hydrocephalic or paralytic. The parents are required to provide clothing and to give surety that the pupil shall be removed without expense to the Institution when discharged. Pupils are first taken for one month on trial. The terms at this Institution for beneficiaries, for board and tuition, are generally $150 per annum, but vary somewhat, according to the condition of the pupil. EDUCATIONAL MAGAZINE. Having for a long time felt the want of some periodical publication as a means of circulating information among school officers and teachers, the subscriber last year undertook the publication of one. His predecessor had maintained such a publication and had found great advantage in so doing. Knownig that no such publication could be supported by subscribers, and that if it was sent to subscribers only, it would never reach those persons and those portions of the State where it would be most needed, it was determined at the beginning to send the Educational Magazine gratis to the Chairmen and Clerks of School Committees, and to the Clerk of every School District, and to rely upon contributions principally, for its support. About one-third of the amount necessary to pay the expenses has been so raised, and other individuals have expressed willingness to contribute a portion of the remainder. By means of such a magazine, all information can be speedi |