Third annual report of the trustees of the New-York State Asylum for Idiots.

  • New York State Asylum for Idiots.
Date:
[1854?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Third annual report of the trustees of the New-York State Asylum for Idiots. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    admit of their receiving instruction at 700, as above-mentioned- and it continued: a This number is far too large for one school. In our report of last year, we expressed the opinion that more than 150 pupils can not be properly attended to by one superintendent. We are dis¬ posed now even to reduce that number. From the peculiarity of each case, the pupils cannot be arranged in classes embracing lare numbers; and when in classes, the training and education of each must be guided by an experienced and steady hand ; as¬ sistants require constant oversight, and too many of them would divert the attention of the superintendent from his appropriate duties. “ A building that would accommodate about 100 pupils, with the necessary teachers, servants, &c.3 would enable us to receive eight pupils from each judicial district, making 64, and leave room for 36 pay pupils, a number which would soon be filled, “ There should be room for pay pupils, to afford an opportunity to those who are able and anxious to pay for that kind of training and instruction of their children, which can be obtained nowhere else in the State, and also materially aid the revenues of the in¬ stitution. u Some enquiries have been made, and it is believed that sufficient land can be procured in an eligible situation, and a plain substan¬ tial building, with all necessary out-houses, can be erected, at an expense not exceeding twenty thousand dollars for the whole.” In pursuance of this suggestion, chapter 159 was passed on the 11th of April, 1853, by which the sum of twenty thousand dollars was appropriated for the purchase of grounds and the erection thereon of buildings, for the reception of pupils of the State asylum for idiots. The attention of the trustees was immediately directed to the selection of a proper site for the contemplated building. The action of the Legislature had already indicated its expectation, that the institution should be so near the capitol, as to be access-' able to the four State officers, who were appointed its trustees * and to the members of the Legislature, that they might become personally acquainted with the system and its results.