SPECIAL SCHOOLS. "Every institution for the instruction of the deaf, dumb and blind, when aided by a grant of money from the State treasury, shall annually make to the Board of Education such a report as is required, by sections sixteen and seventeen of chapter seventy-nine, of other private institutions so aided." (Public Statutes, chapter 41, section 15.) It is the policy of Massachusetts to make schooling as free for educable children whose defects forbid their attendance upon the public day school as for their more fortunate fellows. The following is a list of the special institutions to which such persons may be sent upon recommendation by the Board of Education to the Governor : 1. The American School, at Hartford (Conn.), for the Deaf, JOB WILLIAMS, L.H.D., Principal. 2. The Clarke School for the Deaf, Northampton, Miss CAROLINE A. YALE, Principal. 3. Horace Mann School for the Deaf, Boston, Miss SARAH Fuller, Principal. 4. Sarah Fuller Home for Little Children who cannot hear, Medford, Miss ELIZA L. CLARK, Matron and Principal. 5. Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind, Boston, M. ANAGNOS, Director. 6. The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-minded, Waltham, WALTER E. FERNALD, M.D., Superintendent. For a statement of the number of pupils in each of the foregoing institutions, the last one excepted, whose schooling is paid for by the State, with the State's expenditure therefor, see pages 265-267 of this volume. THE MASSACHUSETTS LAW IN REGARD TO THE EDUICATION OF DEAF-MUTES. AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE FREE INSTRUCTION OF DEAF-MUTES OR DEAF CHILDREN. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. Upon the request of parents or guardians, and with the approval of the board of education, the governor may send such deaf-mutes or deaf children as he may deem fit subjects for education, for a term not exceeding ten years in the case of any pupil, to the American School, at Hartford, for the Deaf, the Clarke Institution for Deaf-mutes at Northampton, or to the Horace Mann School at Boston, or to any other school for deaf-mutes in the Commonwealth, as the parents or guardians may prefer; and with the approval of the board he may make, at the expense of the Commonwealth, such provision for the care and education of children who are both deaf-mutes and blind as he may deem expedient. In the exercise of the discretionary power conferred by this act no distinction shall be made on account of the wealth or poverty of the parents or guardians of such children; no such pupils shall be withdrawn from such institution or school except with the consent of the proper authorities thereof or of the governor, and the sums necessary for the instruction and support of such pupils in such institutions or schools, including all traveling expenses of such pupils attending such institutions or schools, whether daily or otherwise, shall be paid by the Commonwealth; provided, nevertheless, that nothing herein contained shall be held to prevent the voluntary payment of the whole or any part of such sums by the parents or guardians of said pupils. AN ACT TO AMEND AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE FREE INSTRUCTION OF DEAF-MUTES OR DEAF CHILDREN. Be it enacted, etc., as follows: SECTION 1. Upon the request of the parents or guardians, and with the approval of the state board of education, the governor may continue the schooling of meritorious deaf-mutes or deaf children of capacity or promise beyond the existing limitation of ten years, as provided in chapter two hundred and thirty-nine of the acts of the year eighteen hundred eighty-eight, when such pupils are properly recommended therefor by the principal or other chief officer of the school of which they are members. SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage. [Ap-. proved April 8, 1889. |