WISCONSIN AND HER INSTITUTIONS.


325


           INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND.
                        [BY THOMf AS I. LITTLUN, M. A.]


                  Resident Officers of fnstitution.
                    THOMAS t. LITTLE, M. A.,
                           Superintendent.
                           Mns. S. C. LITTLE,
                             Governess.
                        Miss S. A. WATSON,
     Miss H. A. DAGGETT,      TMiss C. L. BALDWIN,
                              Teachers.

     MAURICE D. JONES,                    Miss FLORA, F. WINSLOW,
                         Teachers of Music.
                         JOSEPH HORTON,
                         Foreman of Shop.
                       Miss ELIZA MITCHELL,
                               AMatron.

                               History.

  This Institution was the first established by the State for the benefit
of the
unfortunate. A school for the blind had previously been supported during
the
latter part of the year 1849, at Janesviile, by the citizens of that place
aud
vicinity. Its operations having been b-ought to the notice of the legislature,
it was, by act approved February 9, 1850, adopted by the State, iihich has
since entirely supported it.
  It is under the charge of six Trustees, appointed by the Governor. They
servv for three years, and their terms of office are so arranged that two
are to
be appointed each year. It is their duty to employ a Superintendent, teach-
ers and other personE necessary for the conduct of the school, and to direct
the management of it. They are severally responsible for the proper applica-
tion o: all money received. They meet monthly or oftener. No per diem is
received, and no compensation made to officers of the Board, except the Sec-
retary, to whom the sum of $200, in all, has been paid within the last dozen
years.
  The object of the Institution is declared by :aw to be "to qualify,
as far as
may be," the blind "for the enjoyment of the h-Idc.. sings of a
free government,
obtaining the means of subsistonce, and the discharge of tiose duties, social
and political, devolving upoh Ame:ican citizens." The Institution is
there-
fore neither a hospital nor an asylum, but a school, into which blind persons,
residing hi Wisconsin, "of suilable age and capacity to receive instruction,"
are admitted for education. I or the purposes of the Institution, those per-
sons are regarded as blind who are shut out from the benefits of the common
schools by deficiency of sight. Pupils are regularly received who are between
the ages of 8 and 21 years. In occasional instances others have been recaived