INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF AND DUMB, "SIR,-At your request, I have the honour to make a brief report upon matters pertaining to the education of the deaf, and particularly with reference to those now attending this Institution from your Province. "It is now more than eleven years since your Government recognised the claims of the deaf to an education. In 1890 a small appropriation was made by the Legislature to cover the expenses of children attending this Institution or other Institutions, and I am sorry to say that, so far as I know, only one pupil received the advantage of this offer, and that only for two terms. Olive Jenkins, from Victoria, was the pupil, and she attended this school for the terms 1890-1 and 1891-2. It was not until 1897 that negotiations were re-opened and application made for three other pupils. These were Annie Ward, Katie Hillier and Walter Helmer, who were admitted in September, 1897. These children have remained with us ever since. "The subject of deaf-mute education has been pressed upon the Government spasmodically for a period of twelve or thirteen years, but with the result, as stated, of giving the opportunity to only a small number to receive an education. With the growth of population and the natural increase of the deaf, coupled with the persistent efforts on the part of the friends of the deaf, the Government felt that the time had arrived to take some definite action that would include all the deaf children of school age; and when I visited Victoria, during the summer of last year, I found an earnest desire upon the part of the Minister of Education, the Hon. Mr. Prentice, to provide a school whereby all these children might share equal advantages in the matter of education. "As there was a question of doubt as to the number that would apply for admission to such a school, it was decided to arrange with the Government of Manitoba to maintain and care for all proper subjects for a term of years, or until such time when there would be a sufficient number to establish a local school. "This arrangement has been carried out, and we have now in this Institution eleven from the Province of British Columbia. The following table will give you the names and other information that you may find convenient to incorporate in your annual report : : "I am free to say that, under all circumstances, the present arrangement is by far the best that could be made. There is possibly only one reason that might appeal to the public in thus disposing of the matter, and that is, the long distance that separates the children from their parents. The same objection, however, might be offered even if you had a school of your own, as British Columbia extends over a vast territory. "On the other hand, many arguments might be advanced that to an unprejudiced mind would leave no doubt as to the wisdom of the action of your Government. In the first place your children come to an Institution established for twelve years, and at once partake of the advantages of a graded school, and have the privilege of associating with educated children, or at least children far advanced in their education. The eleven children now here vary in their mental attainments, and could not be taught by one teacher. They naturally have the advantage in our school of being classified and placed in the grade suited to their capabilities. They will also have the privilege of industrial training, dressmaking, printing and carpentering, a training to the deaf almost as important as intellectual instruction. "I might add that to establish and equip a school similar to ours, or any well-equipped school for the deaf, would cost twice the amount per capita that it now costs your Government to maintain the children here. "I am glad to say that with one exception, Richard Lewtas, the boy sent home, the children have all made excellent progress, and are capable, in most instances, of intellectual advancement equal to our brightest pupils. "In conclusion, permit me to thank you for the prompt manner in which you have conducted all the details of sending the children to us, and the care that has been exercised in delivering them to our keeping. I do not hesitate to assure the parents and all those interested, that their wards of British Columbia will receive the best possible care and comfort during their residence with us. I also extend a cordial invitation to any person interested in the work or the children of silence to visit the Institution should they remain over in Winnipeg. "I have the honour to be, "Sir, "Your obedient servant, The over-crowding of pupils in some divisions of the city schools is a question that should receive your serious consideration. When the yearly amount of the per capita grant received for any division in our city schools exceeds the yearly salary of the teacher employed-when, in other words, certain school-rooms become a source of revenue to the City Council-the subject calls for prompt action on the part of the Government of the Province. Take, for example, the case of the public schools of Nanaimo. The actual daily attendance during the past year was 862.03. The Provincial allowance, on the basis of a per capita grant of $15, therefore, amounts to $12,930.45. The salaries of the seventeen teachers employed in the public schools of that city, as found in Table C, will amount, during the year, to the sum of $11,520. In other words, after paying the salaries of all the teachers employed, the City Council of Nanaimo will have on hand a surplus of $1,410.45 from the per capita grant alone. The Manual Training Schools established and supported through the liberality of Sir W. C. McDonald have proved a great success. Four centres, so called, two in Victoria and two in Vancouver, are now in operation. These schools have been established in every Province of the Dominion, and are everywhere meeting with strong local support. It is worthy of note that, in addition to the large sums already donated to McGill University and the Guelph Agricultural College, this gentleman has recently made an offer to the Provincial Government of Ontario to provide for the establishment of graded schools in sections where several small school-houses are now, with much waste of energy and money, doing work which could be better done by graded schools. I have already, in private conversation, called the attention of your predecessors to the opportunity afforded in this Province, especially in the case of the schools in Chilliwack, of giving this policy of the centralisation of the schools an honest trial. The plan was adopted in the Eastern States some years ago, and has steadily grown in favour, especially among the people of the sparsely-settled districts. The question of the establishment of a Provincial University has lately engaged the attention of several newspaper editors throughout the Province. Taking into consideration, however, the small number of University students that will for many years be available from British Columbia, the low rates offered by the Canadian Pacific Railway to young men desirous of prosecuting their studies in the East, and the incomparable advantages to be derived from associating with students from other Provinces, especially in large centres of population such as Toronto and Montreal, it would appear that the agitation for the establishment of such a University is premature. At any rate, when the University of British Columbia is established, the Government must endow it so liberally and equip it so thoroughly that its degrees will be treated with respect by other institutions of learning. The Normal School has done excellent work, but the necessity of providing a building is becoming daily more evident. I beg respectfully to again urge upon you to provide for the erection of such a building at the approaching session of the Legislature. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, ALEXANDER ROBINSON, |