CITY OF BOSTON.

In School Committee, Jan. 4, 1870.

THE Committee on the School for Deaf Mutes feel justified in declaring the school to be a decided success, and one which will prove a great blessing to the unfortunate class of children for whose education it provides.

As this is the first free public school for the deaf and dumb established in this country, if not in the world, we think it proper to make a brief statement regarding its rise and progress.

Some time during the year 1868 the attention of the Board was called to this subject by one of its members, and a committee of investigation was appointed. Some facts were gathered, but no conclusion was reached. The same committee was re-appointed in 1869. At the April meeting the Board, in consideration of reasons presented by the committee, voted to establish a school for deaf mutes at the commencement of the next school year, in September, and passed such other orders as would enable the special committee to carry the will of the Board into effect.

The city was canvassed during the summer to ascertain how many children would be likely to attend the school. It is not presumed that all were found. Apart from a few whose parents are able to support them at school away from home, we found fifty children who would be considered wards of the State, and

whose school expenses at either Hartford or Northampton would be paid by the commonwealth. Of these, twenty-two were in the schools for deaf mutes at Hartford and Northampton; twentyeight were at home, with no one able to render them aid in their search for an education. The twenty-two children were sustained at an expense of a little over $4,000 to the State. The city of Boston, at the same time, was paying a tax of $9,000 toward the State appropriation for the education of deaf mutes. Our share of the State patronage, rated by the population, would be about $5,000. At present there are only twenty of these beneficiaries at Hartford and Northampton. As our school had not commenced at the beginning of the school year, there was no effort made to retain at home scholars who had been away to school. In view, however, of this organization, Gov. Claflin did not send away new applicants, as he otherwise might have done.

At the last session of the legislature an act was passed, authorizing the Governor and Board of Education to send State wards. to this school, on the same conditions as to Hartford and Northampton. They have the right, and no doubt will recognize the duty, to make such application of funds as will do justice to the city of Boston.

The time has come when not merely two-fifths, but all of our deaf and dumb children should be educated. It would cost the State $8,750 a year to support them all at Hartford, while their parents would have to pay a considerable amount of travelling and other expenses. It would cost the State $12,500 to support them at Northampton, besides extra expense to parents. To educate the whole of them, including the children of some of our heavy tax payers, need not cost over about one-half of the latter amount. The children can commence their schooling here three years earlier than they can be admitted at Hartford. And more than all, the parents can have their little ones at home in their

own care.

Owing to the difficulty of procuring acceptable rooms in a central locality, the school has been kept in two divisions, one on East street and the other on Somerset street.

The others

We have had thirty-six applications for admission to the school. On account of the inconvenience of having the school divided, and as the most of the children were uncultivated, only twenty-five have been allowed to attend the school. will be called in as soon as we get into our new quarters. Convenient and very acceptable rooms have been provided at No. 11 Pemberton square, which is the most desirable location, for our purpose, in the city. The rooms will be ready for occupancy in the course of the present week.

We have three teachers, whose labors are entirely satisfactory. The children are very anxious to learn, and their progress has exceeded our best anticipations; and, so far as we have the means of knowing, the parents are delighted with the beginning which has been made.

From present appearances the school will consist of about thirty-five scholars for this winter; thirty of them residents of this city, and five from towns in the vicinity.

By a careful estimate from statistics at hand, the time seems not far distant when the school will consist of not less than seventy scholars who can board at home, to the great joy of their families.

We are pleased to know that the school is held in general favor by our citizens, so far as they are informed; that the enterprise has met the almost unanimous approval of the City Council; and that there has not been a dissenting voice or vote in this Board.

In closing this report, we cannot refrain from expressing our regret that our official connection with the chairman of the committee, who, more than all others, has contributed to its organization, is soon to terminate; and we desire to append, as part of our report, the following resolutions, offered at a late meeting of the committee by Rev. Mr. Parkman :

Resolved: That we, the Committee on the School for Deaf Mutes in parting with Dexter S. King, Esq., wish to express our sense of the valuable services which he has rendered to us and to the public as chairman of our body.

Resolved: That to him was mainly due the project of establishing in this city a public school for deaf mutes, the first institution of the kind in America.

Resolved: That we recognize in his zeal in presenting its claims to the School Committee and other branches of the city government, in his labors in procuring suitable teachers and appropriate school-rooms, and in his assiduity in collecting from various quarters pupils for the school, the chief agencies which have contributed to its present position.

Resolved: That though his official connection with this committee will soon cease, that it is their hope that his interest in the enterprise which he inaugurated will not cease; and that he will give to those who are to manage its affairs the benefit of his frequent council.

Respectfully submitted.

H. S. WASHBURN,

Secretary of the Committee.