of appointment and payment for education of all indigent deafmutes, without distinction as to age, in the hands of the State, with provision for a proportionate per capita charge upon the counties for maintenance, including clothing. The maintenance charge for all indigent Indian deaf children should also be borne by the State, through the Department of State, Alien and Indian Poor. The education of the deaf is peculiarly the concern of the State at large and we believe that every facility and encouragement should be extended to these schools to bring them up to the highest degree of usefulness and efficiency. We are convinced that the present yearly per capita of $300 is not adequate compensation for the work done in the schools and does not permit a reasonably good standard of maintenance. The rate for the present should be fixed at $325. We find another phase of the situation which operates inequitably and that is the care of friendless children during the vacation period of twelve weeks. Under the State schedule there is no allowance made for the support or care of this group. A recent census taken at the schools develops that about 10 per cent. of the entire population are of this friendless, homeless character. This past year the total number cared for at school expense during the vacation term was 174, distributed as follows: The more study we give the present situation the more we are impressed with the necessity of remedial action by the Legisla ture. The attendance for the year 1909 shows a gain over that of 1908; an encouraging feature shown in the analysis of the total census as given in greater detail in the statistical tables published by this Board, is the growing number of young children coming to the schools. We see in this a disposition on the part of parents and friends to greater confidence in the schools and their realization that youthful minds learn more readily. We believe that there are still many children in the State who through the misguided affection of parents or guardians are kept at home without proper educational training; for such, attendance can be secured only through compulsory measures. We again recommend that the education laws of the State be amended to include in its provision the compulsory attendance, at duly incorporated schools for the deaf, of all deaf children between the ages of five and twenty years. We find that 54 per cent. of the pupils in these schools are State pupils and that 43 per cent. is the county proportion, leaving 3 per cent. representing the number not under public support, as shown by the following table of attendance: The usual visitations and inspections have been made during the year and the character of general care and education noted. We find a steady progress is being made and that in the equip ment of the industrial and manual training departments a notable advance is apparent. We note with pleasure the excellent health record for the year. Respectfully submitted, RALPH W. THOMAS, Committee on the Deaf. ALBANY, December 31, 1909. |