A VISIT TO THE DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 962, 24 September 1880, Page 3

A VISIT TO THE DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTION.

Having a day <*r two to spire in Christchurch m uiv ret 11 trip to tile Cn ie, I availed myse’f ot an opportunity offered to visit the New Zealand !Jeif . 1 Oilin') Institution. 1 happened to lie enj pirn; the gcniardompmy of Mr Tyke, M.'I.K, discoursing upon the latest topics of the times, smdi ns the omissions and commissions of the Lcgisk’ni-o so recently assembled, the “men and manners ” of Parliament, the Ihcn.icr and i!ie Sergcant-at-Arins. &e. I too it notice of the trifling, though unusual ciremnstance, that the Chairman of the Vincent County and member for Dnrstan had not robhod any neighbor’s conservatory that morning, an I inordertli.it his left button hole should bear its customed bloom, we re lied to AVUsi-’ - i store, where the presentation of a '■<<' ■■ ive bouquet brought forth a brief l*ii. ii wery speech, in the delivery of which few can excel the famous author of Will AViil Endcr'oy. Jusr.at this moment who should approach ns hut John barret;, once a councillor on tin sc wes'ern shores, 1 U! of late date the renowned barrets who has managed to receive the censure of the Licensing Bench, in the capital of tin 1 East, and which he is likelv to retain, unless ho can devise s nno means of blending the color of the orange with that of the Amcri-

can greenback, a difficult .achievement at Home or abroad. Failing this, and despite thedictuiu of fhe Attorney General, the ti it will most probably go forth upon him, that lie be driven from the font or out of the

•'borough.” An unholy judgment! -Mr l‘> kc enquired of Mr Barrett how far we weie from the township of Sumner, where stands the institution above mentioned. Mr Barrett replied that he would place his huso and buggy at our diposal, and would land us at the door of the establishment in forty dive minutes, which oiler was accepted, and the contract was most punctually fulfilled. Now let me proceed to describe the institution. On handing in our cards we were speedily attended to by Mr G. Van Aseh, under whose directorship the establishment is managed. It was opened on the 10th of March last for the education and training of deaf-mu'es. The objects of the institution are-To train young mutes (below twelve years, and in some eas, s over that age) to utter articulate sounds, ami to read spoken language from the lips of their teacher ; to alternately cause them to understand ami use easy language in reading and writing ; and at a still more advanced stage to teach them English Composition, Geography, History, Arithmetic, Brawinj, Elementary Science ,trc. ’ln fact. Untiliy to enable the pupil to read with thorough omnprene"shtn, and as state t in the Prosp ctus “to hold oral conversation «ith relatives, friends, and even strangers.” There were thirteen children in the school room, between the ages of live and foui tee", the majority being over ton years, and one youth of seventeen who was attending as a day bonder I was informed there were no West Coast children in the establishment, all having cine from Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Ot ego. The whole of the children appeared in the e.'joynrent of good health, and everything in the institntim was clean and lily. Five hours a day are set apart for instruction, and that time is devoted chhtly to mechanical exercises of the vocal organs. Mr Van Ascii asked us to sten into the front parlor, an 1 he would hold a short examination of Ids pupils, taking one at a time. Here we were enable 1 to witness the master teaching the poor mutes singly the art of Up leaoiugaud willing. He would take one of the little boys or girls, place one of limit- hands against his throat, and the other hand to lle ir own throat. Tiieu tile teacher w.uild commence by uttering sounds such as an, on, tali, foe, ote. This being accomplished lie would proceed to write these letters on til ■ s’ a l e, and direct I them to e ,py them. With the further ad--1 vaile d pupils he would praoti'-e Ills silent speech or lip language 1 y a-king a tew Unis 1 ions, which they would either repeat ior n-.ply to by saying yes or no. One of ■ the more advance I pupils was a young lad

named Tin yes who came from Otago, an I in whom Mr Fyke was particularly interested, having known the child to have keen quite deaf and dumb, in which condition he ha«l recently left his parents, To this ■hoy the master pv.it the question “whose hat is that?” The lad immediately pointed to Mr Fyke, whom he hid seen wearing it. The master then took the hat in his hj ind, saying “ this is my hat,” and the buy replied distinctly, stopping at every word, and speaking in monotone, thougn with sufficient animation to indicate that lie knew the meaning of what he was saving : —“ That—is—u-'t—-year—hat.” To show that absolute deafness ex> 3 ted i« this ! and othe” cases, Mr Yon Ascii would shout ( loll'i Uhiud the back of the pupil, while | t!ie latter would not move in the slightest 1 degree. When facmg the teacher however, he would, by seeing his lips move, thju;h! not a 3 mud was uttered, at mice to repeat the sentence an 1 subsequently write it on the slate. One or two of the boys could cmiit and multiply small sums, though with one exception they ha*l previously rec hved no tuition of any kind whatever. \ The result to my mind was really astonish- . ing, wlien We think that the institution lias 11 it yet been oponc 1 six m mtlis. Wh it a b.< s-ing r, will he ro some of the parents to hear their little ones utter intelligent i sounds, as many of ih on now do Ad the j ] up Is seem j I ]i i *rta , i!y happy, and Mr Vhi Ascii inform.'il ns that after a time he liojied to make arrangements f »r affording [ some of rlie buys an opportunity of learning a trade or of acquiring apracdc.il acquaintance wit hj gar lenin' and f inning, and that the girls, in tint course of rim-*, would receive instructions in household economy, necdlewoik iVe. I may state that llh*. children all board with the Director and ius wife, and arc consequently at all times Under their care an I attention. Mr Van Aseh was selewc I or the position lie now ho ds from among a number of applicants by Commissioners in England, who rep irted ID the (lovc’ iM'ent th it he had a thorough knowledge of the Herman system, that which he n«w teaches. The building which is occupied temporarily consists of two cottages, and is only capable of accommodating about ci htemi pupils. The locality is exceedingly healthy and there is ample garden and p ay ground for present purposes. Lyconcluri mlc in only repeat that our visit.gave us the utmost sit smell m, that the progress made by no inmates in such a short time was tru : y womb-ifui, and a;t->g -thor the insdtution is one of rhe recent a idi i.ms to the colony of which wc may feel proud. To the poor deaf mutes a good moral tiaining is imp.irte I. Thcv are already taught to utter sounds, and in the coins - of time will he able to speak, road aml write the English language. By this means their own happiness and usefulness in die world will be increased, sevo al of them already showing that they arc likely to lie raise ! from their wretched con U ion of dumbness to that of useful and intelligent members of society.—Special reporter of West Coast Times.