Biennial report of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, Kinston, N.C. |
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North Cafoi;r!a c>ta(« Liorary Raleigh N. C. Doc. BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA School for the Feeble Minded KINSTON, N. C. For the Years 1913 and 1914 BALEIGH Edwaeds & BKOnPHTQN J?EH-rai:?rGTCo. , ,J9K '; ', ,' ; '. .\ BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA School for the Feeble Minded KINSTON, N. C. For the Years 1913 and 1914 RALEIGH Edwards & Beoughton Printing Co. 1915 \|A^ BOARD OF TRUSTEES Hon. J. Y. Jotnek, President ex officio Raleigh Dk. a. a. Kent (resigned) Lenoir Dr. R. N. Caetwmght (resigned) Fairfield Dk. L. B. McBkayek Sanatorium Hon. J. R. Daggett Littleton Dr. W. H. Dixon Ayden Hon. W. A. Thompson Aurora Hon. R. E. Austin Albemarle Hon. a. B. Justice Charlotte Hon. Chas. Dewey Goldsboro Col. a. C. Davis Goldsboro Rev. R. N. Caviness Morehead City Hon. J. D. Boushall Raleigh EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dk. a. a. Kent, Chairman. Chas. Dewey. J. D. Boushall. D, of D? FEB - 1 Wttl LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Hon". Locke Craig, Governor of North Carolina, Ealeigii, ISTorth Carolina. Deak Sir :—I liave the honor to present herewith the report of the Board of Tmstees of the Executive Committee and of the Superinten-dent of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded for the years 1913 and 1914. Veiy respectfully, J. Y. JOTNER, President ex-officio of the Board of Trustees. THE FACULTY C. Banks McNairy, M.D., Superintendent. Miss Sarah ShaW) Principal. Miss Coka Coceofft, Domestic Science. Miss Makie Christian, Primary. Miss Minnie Culver, Wood Carving and Assistant in the Literary Departments. Miss Agnes Puett, Music and Assistant in the Literary Departments. Mrs. Florence Leonard, " First Matron. Mrs. Emma Hickerson, Housekeeper. Miss Annie Nichols, Second Matron in Boys' Building. Miss Bettie Quinn, Second Matron in Girls' Building. Mr. Robert L. Wilson, Governor of the Boys' Building. Miss Annie Ramsey, Trained Nurse and. Steivardess. Walter Masset, . Farm,. Chas. E. Rosemond, Engineer. Miss Catherine Kluttz, Stenographer. BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE ISortK Carolina ScKool for tKe Feeble Minded KiNSTOjs^, N. C, December 1, 1914. To His Excellency, Locke Ckaig, Governor of Noiih Carolina. Sir:—We, the Board of Tinistees of tlie ISTorth Carolina School for tiie Feeble Minded, beg to ask your careful consideration of this, our bieunial repoi-t. of the work, progress and needs of the institution over which A\'e have been appointed to exercise supeiwision. The period from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914, covered by this report,, embraces the greater part of the life of this institution. Owing to the fact that no apipropriation was made by the regular session of the legis-lature of 1913 for continuing the constructive work of the institution, we were compelled to suspend active work till the appropriation made by the special session of the legislature in September, 1913, became available. At said special session of the legislature there was appro-priated $68,934.17 to be used for the following purposes: For paying old debts $19,891.17 Permanent improvements 24.508.00 JIaintenance 24,535.00 At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees on December 6, 1913, Dr. A. A. Kent, Mr. Charles Dewey, and Mr. J. D. Boushall were elected as the Executive Committee for the next year. They were instructed to use the first funds a^'ailable, for the pajanent of the outstanding indebtedness of the school and to resume and complete the constructive work, looking to the opening of the institution at the earliest date piossible. Prior to the meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 18, 1914, very little of this work had been done on account of lack of funds ; all expenditures up to that time of any consequence having been made in payment of outstanding obligations. The greater part of the debts had been i^aid prior to the date of this meeting which was duly reported to the Board by the Executive Com-mittee. At this meeting, Dr. C. Banks McNairy of Lenoir, jSI. C, was duly elected Superintendent of the school for the remainder of the year. His election and tenure of office to go into effect at once. Funds were now 6 available with, which to rush to completion and open the school, and in-structions were given to the Executive Committee and Superintendent to proceed with the work with all reasonable dispatch. At its annual meet-ing held at the offices of the school on December 16, 1914, the Board was highly pleased with the progress made and the character of the work done by the Executive Committee and the Superintendent in thus far completing, equijiping and furnishing the institution, and also in organizing a faculty and working force for the successfiil opening of the institution. The Board was greatly gTatified with the manifest gen-eral improvement and happy and healthy condition of the children under the very excellent management of the Superintendent and his efficient corps of assistants. The Board of Trustees beg to make the following recommendations to the coming legislature of 1915 for the welfare and urgent needs of the institution : 1. That the name of the institution be changed to the Caswell Train-ing School. 2. That the laws be changed and enacted as suggested by the Super-intendent's report. 3. And that appropriations be made for the different purposes as recommended in the Superintendent's report, as follows : 1. Building for dining room and school rooms (estimated cost) $30,000 2. Two dormitories or cottage buildings for imbeciles and idiots (esti-mated cost) 28,000 3. Additions to present boys' dormitory and present girls' dormitory for rooms for matrons and hospital wards; total (estimated cost) 5,000 4. Four cottages for carpenter, farmer, fireman, and engineer (esti-mated cost) 5,000 5. Dairy building and additional cows (estimated cost) 2,000 6. For wagons, horses and farm equipment (estimated cost) 2,500 7. Reinforcing foundations and concrete floors for dormitories (esti-mated cost ) 2,500 Total for these improvements (estimated) $75,000 Maintenance for year 1915 30,000 Maintenance for year 1916 60,000 The above additional buildings and equipment will enable us to take care of two hundred and fifty pupils. The biennial financial statement is herewith submitted. SCHOOL FOR THE FEEBLE MINDED FINANCIAL STATEMENT. From December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914. 1912. Dec. 1. Balance on band ?19, 612.13 1913. April 15. Appropriation for support 10,000.00 Oct. 23. Appropriation for maintenance 24,535.00 Appropriation for present indebtedness 19,891.17 Appropriation for equipping plant 24,508.00 Rent of land 610.00 Norfolk-Southern Ry., damage sewer pipe . . . 8.50 Sale of crushed stone 2.00 Sale of farm products 466.67 Total receipts ?99, 633.47 Disbursements. Audited vouchers from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914 $93,881.26 Balance December 1, 1914 $ 5,752.21 Fob the YiiiR 1913. From December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1913. 1912. Dec. 1. Balance on hand $19,612.13 1913. April 15. Appropriation for support 10,000.00 Appropriation for maintenance 24,535.00 Appropriation for present indebtedness 19,891.17 Appropriation for equipping plant 24,508.00 Rent of land 175.00 Norfolk-Southern Ry., damage sewer pipe . . . 8.50 Sale of crushed stone 2.00 Sale of farm products 24.93 Total receipts $98,756.73 Disbiirseme7its. Audited vouchers from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1913 $36,337.54 Balance December 1, 1913 $62,419.19 8 FOK THE Yeak'1914. From December 1, 1913, to December 1, 1914. 1913. Dec. 1. Balance on band $62,419.19 Sale of farm products 441.74 Rent of land 435.00 Total receipts : . . . $63,295.93 Disbursetnents. Audited vouchers from December 1, 1913, to December 1, 1914 57,543.72 Balance December 1, 1914 $ 5,752.21 The reports of the Executive Committee and the Superintendent were unanimously adopted and are herewith submitted. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE KiNSTON, ]Sr. C.J December 16, 1914. To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded: We, your Executive Gominittee, beg to submit the following report : ThirLking that you are more interested iu tbe things done and the work accomplished than in the details and tedious work of overcoming hindrances and obstacles, and especially of trying to obtain results with less f^inds than are actually nfecessary for their accomplishment, we give results briefly. Old Debts. The first matter of prime importance directed to be done by the Com-mittee was the payment of the outstanding debts of the School. Of the sum appropriated by the special session of 1913 for that purpose, $19,- 891.17, we found that $7,182.15 had been paid out by our predecessors on old accounts, leaving the sum of $12,709.02 to be expended by this committee. On January 1, 1914, we issued warrants for $8,849.10 of said debts, as was reported to your Board at its last meeting. In ac-cordance with the instructions of the Board on February 18, 1914, we issued warrants for $4,199.69 on said debts. There was so much trouble growing out of the fact that certain of these debts were not being paid that we held a meeting of the Committee iu Raleigh on May 16, 1914. The chairman of the Board, Dr. J. Y. Joyner, Attorney General Bickett, and Treasurer Lacy, were invited to meet with us for the purpose of considering how best to dispose of these debts. After consulting Mr. Bickett and Mr. Lacy and obtaining their ap-proval, it was ordered that these debts be paid out of the Maintenance fund, which was done and warrants issued them and subsequently for $1,941.36. The $250 due York & Cobb, contractors, was forfeited by them. There are now none of the old debts outstanding. Sewee. The sewer line which was being put in by the management of the school has been completed and all connections with the several buildings have been properly made, at a cost of $862.78 for the unfinished work. Great difficulty was encountered in finishing this work due to much quicksand to be gone through. An experienced man was finally em-ployed to finish it. Curbing and cofl^ers had to be used to retain the •walls of sand till the pipe could be laid, thus entailing additional cost. 10 Keseevoie. The excavation for the reservoir was done under the direction of Mr. Rosemond at a cost of $357.58. Competitive bids were asked for on the work of building the reservoir. The best bid being $1,198 which was accepted and paid upon completion of the resei-voir—the total cost of reservoir being $1,555.58. Watee Main and Steam Pipe Line. Bids were asked for on both of these lines and the work of putting them in was left to the lowest bidder in each case. As we had on hand much of the material for both lines, we furnished the other necessary material for the completion of these lines. The total cost of these lines were $4,085.64. We were later compelled to put in a duplicate steam pipe line from the boiler house to the laundry and kitchen, and to put in reducing valves on the main steam pipe line. Heating Two Doemitoeies. The plan of heating the two dormitories was changed because the original plan was found to be expensive to construct, and to entail heavy expense in running. Hence the steam heat system was adopted. The contract was let on competitive bid to B. MacKenzie of Greensboro, ISr. C, for the sum of $3,500. Two-hundred gallon hot water tanks to be put under each of the two dormitories being included in the bid. The contract was completed as to one of the buildings prior to ISTovember 1st, and the sum of $1,750 was paid for same. The other has been completed since. PowEE HousEj Pump and Laundry. A cheap structure was built over the boilers which had j)reviously been located, said boiler house costing $860. This cheap structure was built in order to keep within bounds of our appropriation. The contract which we found had been entered into previously for the laundry equipment to cost $3,400 was felt by the committee to be too expensive ; and the original plan of laundry building it was found would cost $5,000. We finally succeeded in getting the bill for the equipment down to $2,707.70 ; and changed the plan for the building so as to reduce the cost there also. The lowest bid on the new plan adopted for the building was $2,515. 11 Itemized cost of pump, power house and laundry: Power house ? 860.00 Laundry Building Plans 88.37 Contract for building 2,515.00 Laundry equipment 2,707.70 Dynamo 190.00 Meter and transformer 82.83 Repairs for pump 131.88 Foundation for pump, etc 1,243.19 $7,818.97 Cattle^ Fence ajn^d Barn. The Superintendent expended $580 in the purchase of nine good grade Holstein cows. We need five more cows to furnish milk for pres-ent use. We have built, in all, 550 rods of ham lot and pasture fence, some being made of 'woven wire and barb wire, enclosing between 150 and 200 acres of land. Cost of material in fence $498. We need about 150 rods additional fence to enclose the entire farm. Our barn is under process of construction and when completed will have cost about $2,500. rUHNITUEE AND FURNISHINGS. The matter of furnishing the buildings preparatory to opening the school has proven to be a much larger undertaking than we had antici-pated. We have expended for this purpose $5,254.72, but this equip-ment was absolutely necessary to the opening of the school. Screening Buildings. Since the school was to be opened in midsummer it was imperatively necessary that all windows and doors should be well screened so as to exclude mosquitoes and flies. This, we submitted for competitive bids, the price being $500. Water Supply. One of the most serious problems that we have encountered has been that of securing an adequate supply of water. One of the artesian wells was not flowing when we took in charge the work. We procured a specialist to put it in repair on contract at a cost of $100. We then found that we had only about fifteen gallons per minute which was to-tally inadequate for the present demands of the school. The water closets could not be flushed as needed, there was not sufiicient water for baths and ordinary domestic purposes and none whatever for fire protec-tion. Your committee negotiated and closed a contract with the Syd- 12 nor Pump and Well Company of Richmond, Va., to bore a ten inch well near the boiler house. This we did in full expectation of securing a water supply sufficient for all future uses of the school. To our great disappointment, after sinking this well .500 feet, we have found almost no water. We ha^'e suspended further effort to secure water awaiting the meeting of your board. Genekal Maintenance. We have expended for general maintenance $15,603.94. Thi.9 sum includes all expenses of board hieetings, executive committee meetings, salaries, feed purchased for teams and cattle, labor on fann, of making clearings and of building fences, and numerous other expenses in addi-tion to the ordinary living expenses of the school. This being both a custodial and an educational institution, it necessi-tates a force of attendants for custodial care and a faculty for educa- .tional work, requiring a larger expenditure per capita than for an insti-tution doing only educational or custodial work. Furthermore, these children are in the institution twelve months in the year, and to the '6theT expenses must be added that of clothing. The per capita cost in •opening the institution is of necessity higher than in an old established •one. Our estimate, based upon our short experience, is $20 per month. Thus far we have received only State wards. Financial Statement. Balance on hand December 1, 1913 . ; $62,419.19 Sale of farm , products 441.74 Rent of lands 435.00 $63,295.93 Disbursements. Paid on old debts $14,990.15 Permanent improvements 26,949.63 General maintenance 15,603.94 Balance in bank 5,752,21 $63,295.93 Permanent Improvement. Furniture and furnishings $ 5,254.72 Sewer line 862.78 Heservoir 1,555.58 Water main and steam pipe line 4,085.64 Heating dormitories 1,750.00 Power house, laundry and pumps 7,818.87 Barn, fence, and cattle 1,172.04 Screening buildings 500.00 iifi;.»tM iiiw^iVpj tM. iti ' ii ir ^ r iWi h> Mf «w , i^ji>pi;i 13 Cook house, work shop, coal house $ 650.00 Duplicate steam pipe line 600.00 Team, wagon, hack, and harness 700.00 Boring 10-inch well 2,000.00 ?26,949.63 In all of our planning, contracting and purchasing for the institution, Tve have constantly had two objects in mind, efficiency and economy. We have endeavored to the best of our ability to obtain efficiency in everything done and have, at the same time, endeavored to keep strictly within the bounds of our original appiropriation. Whatever of success we have had in the payment of debts, completing .and furnishing the buildings, and opening the school for the use and Teception of the unfortunate children of the State who are here now in numbers almost to the limit of the capacity of the institution, we •owe mainly to the untiring efforts of our Superintendent aided by Mr. Charles Dewey, the most faithful and attentive member of the Execu-tive Committee. All of which is respectfully submitted. A. A. Kent, j. d. boushall, Chas. Dewey, Executive Committee. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT KiNSTON, 'N. C, December 16, 1914. To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for the Feehle Minded: In making this, my first report, I deem it proper to make tlie follow-ing statement : I wish to express my high appreciation to my engineer, principal, stewardess, and matron, and all subordinates for the loyal support and encouragement they have given me. And further, I wish to make acknowledgment to the citizens of Kinston and Lenoir County for the courtesies and encouragement they have both shown and given me, which has been such a comfort and without which, my labors would have been more trying. On taking charge of your institution, I was somewhat aware of the magnitude of this work, and it was with considerable misgivings that I gave up my life's work and old friends for a new field and new work, but the truth is, the responsibilities and cares, labors and trials involved in this work had not fully dawned upion me, and I am frank to confess to your honorable body T have not accomplished what I had hoped. It was quite a disappointment to me when I found so much of the constructive work yet to be completed and the length of time necessary, and owing to the scarcity and high cost of labor and to the excessive rains of the early spring, I was unable to finish in the expected time that T thought I should, and had it not been for the encouragement of your -Executive Committee, and especially the advice, counsel and friendship of Mr. Chas. Dewey, I no doubt would have long since fallen by the wayside. "We were able, however, to begin to receive pupils July 1st, and as per instructions of your Committee on Reception, we admitted, to begin with, only fifteen girls. These were supj)Osed to be of the highest gi-ades of the applications on hand. The committee's instructions were that we receive the higher grade girls, a limited number, and gradually increase as circumstances and conditions would permit, giving preference to the applications on file. Owing to the fact that the Superintendent was inexperienced and not permitted to visit or see the pupils before being admitted, there were many errors and ahnost insurmountable obstacles brought about from these conditions, as we had nothing except the applications to guide us. We had hoped to give each child, upon entering the institution, the Simon-Binet Mental Test, and thereby grade them mentally, but we soon 15 found that we liad a herculean task in governing, providing food, cloth-ing, etc., therefore we were unable to give any special study of the men-tality of the individual pupil. Here agaiu many were the questions that ai'ose of which we had never dreamed. Not only in our duties to the children and our institution, but in relation to the public, and especially to the parents of our inmates. So far, we have received none except as State wards. We have been gradually increasing until we have received in all, 122. Two have been granted an indefinite leave of absence, two were taken back as per advice of the Superintendent, four being of a very low type, were returned over the protest of parents, two were permitted to visit homes, but were never returned, and nine were taken away by parents over protest and advice of the Superintendent. The object of our School Department is to train whatever is "train-able" in the child. Some are apt in their reading, some (a few) in arithmetic, some in drawing, in writing, there are others in nothing pertaining to books. The latter class, including the epileptics, idiots, the ones who can't talk, and the very simple minded, are in a class to themselves and are called the "Outdooi-" Class. These classes, one for boys and one for girls, are under the care of the matrons, supervised by the principal. They are taught to lace, tie and button their shoes. To do this, the top parts of old shoes are tacked on a board of convenient size, making them much easier to be handled. Likewise cloth with buttons and buttonholes is tacked on boards. Mats are given to those who have mastered the buttoning and lacing. These mats teach the beginning of weaving and darning. Some are skilled with their fingers, while others forget as soon as they have learned. The "School Proper" includes the ones who go in the school rooms and are taught as normal children are taught. Of course, with these children, "Patience and Eepetition" are the keynotes. The method used is the one which seems especially adapted for these children : namely, the Aldine Method, a combination of the word and phonetic method. The other subjects are taught using this method as a basis. Two characteristics, love of music and an apt memory, seem predomi-nant among these children. With some, they are the only foundations we have. With others, the peculiarity of the memory is that it has reference especially to personal favors or injuries and not so much as to the ability to retain what has been given them in the way of instruc- 16 tion. For instance; for a week or uioutli or so, they seem to improve and learn, then will come a period of lethargy in which the mind seems to lag and do nothing. Of all the training, musical, school, outdoor, the most important is the moral and ethical training. This, of course, is in no special de-partment, but is continuously impressed throughout all departments. Besides the regiilar school, the girls are trained in the dining-room, to arrange the tables, place the chairs and serve the food. In the laun-dry, to iron neatly and fold the sheets, etc., and in their building, to sweep, make beds and keep their dressing rooms in order. Also, they have lessons in domestic science, taught by the domestic science teacher. The boys are taught tO' haul, chop, cut wood and grub. They make very good dairymen, feeding and milking the cows. Of course, all of this is under the supervision of the governor of the boys' dormitory. While some of the boys, under the direction of the matrons, become very good housekeepers—sweeping, cleaning and making beds. With both boys and girls, the desire for personal neatness is always kept before them. We think quite a few of the boys will be able to do considerable fann work. As a personal reward for neatness and obedience we pennit a limited number of the boys to attend church and Sunday school in the city, a privilege very highly prized by them. Farm Report. Sold farm products, hay, etc., $100.25. Deposited in First ISTational Bank, Kinston, to the credit of .State Treasurer B. R. Lacy. Raised on the farm: Four acres in corn, estimated 150 bushels; made about 1% tons oat hay ; about 5^2 tons pea hay ; raised about ten bush-els Irish potatoes; about 120 bushels sweet potatoes; 5 bushels onions; various amounts garden vegetables ; quite a few watermelons. Had only a few acres to fainn. All the farm was leased save about ten acres. Killed 764 pounds pork. Killed 251 pounds beef. List of Bents of the Farm for 191^. Sutton farm—(Young) $175.00 Sweikhert farm and land right of the driveway to building to the Central Highway 260.00 Horner, between Central Highway and river 200.00 DeePree land, east of the driveway to river 137.50 Total $772.50 17 All the land laying east of the Hull road to the JSTeuse Kiver on the south and Dr. Pemberton's land on the east is reserved for the use of the institution. The Sutton and Sweikhert farms have been leased for 1915. We have, at present, more than one hundred and fifty applications, and requests coming almost daily for blanks accompanied by some of the most heart-rending and pathetic appeals from mothers .whose finan-cial conditions have become embarrassed and who are careworn and almost physical and mental wrecks, begging that our institution come to their relief, which makes it absolutely necessary that we make plans for the future. Therefore, I beg to submit, for your consideration, the following rec-ommendations : First. That the name of our institution be changed to something more euphonious and not so odious, such as the ISTorth Carolina Training School, The Caswell Training School, The Wiley Training School, The ISTeuse River Training School, The Tidewater Training School, or The Aycock Training School. Second. That the laws pertaining to our institution be changed as follows : An Act pertaining to manner of admission of feeble minded children and adult feeble minded women and men into the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (Caswell Training School) and matters properly connected therewith, repealing all laws in conflict therewith and declaring an emergency: The General Assemhly of Xorth Carolina do enact: Section 1. That hereafter there shall be received into the Age limits. North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (The Caswell Training School) subject to such rules and regulations as the board of trustees of said institution may adopt, feeble minded or idiotic boys and girls between the ages of six and sixteen years, and feeble minded women between the ages of sixteen and thirty years, who are not pregnant or helpless, and feeble minded men between the ages of sixteen and thirty years who are not afHicted with any contagious or communicable disease. Sec. 2. Application for the admission of a child between the Admission oi ages of six and sixteen years shall be made to the board of <''"''i''"'°- trustees of said school with the approval of the board of county commissiohers of the county wherein such child has a legal settlement, and in the following manner: (1) by the father, if the father and mother are living together: (2) if the father and mother are not living together, then by the one having custody of the child: (3) by a guardian duly appointed; (4) by the superintendent of any county poor asylum, or by 18 the person having the management of any orphanage, associa-tion, charity society, children's home workers, ministers, teach-ers, or physicians, or other institutions where children are cared for. Under items 3 and 4, consent of parents, if living, is not required. Commitment of In case of adult females or males between the ages of six-adults, teen and thirty years, any person may file in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of any county, his certiiied peti-tion stating that some woman or man (naming her or him) of said county is not being or cannot be properly maintained or cared for by those who have such person in charge. That such woman or man is a feeble minded woman or man; that she or he is over sixteen and under thirty years of age; that he or she is idiotic or feeble minded; that slie or he is in good bodily health; that she or he is not helpless; tliat she or he is not afflicted with any chronic or contagious disease; that she or he is a menace to society; that she or he is a legal resident of the state and county where the application is filed; together with such other statements as may be necessary to show that she or he is a proper person to be admitted to said department of said institution, and that her or his admission thereto would be in conformity to the rules and regulations estab-lished by the board of trustees of said institution for the ad-mission and care of such persons. Court procedure. Sec. 3. Hereafter, no adult woman or man shall be admitted into The North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (The Caswell Training School) unless committed thereto by the Superior Court of the county in which such person has a legal settlement. Upon the filing of an application or a petition in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of the county in which such applicant has a legal settlement, by the proper person, as designated in Section 2 of this act, the clerk of said court shall issue a summons to such person named in said applica-tion or petition, requiring her, or him. to be and appear before said court, or the judge thereof, at some time to be fixed by said clerk, not more than ten days thereafter, and shall bring said matter at once to the attention of the judge or clerk of said court. That the judge or clerk of said court shall, as soon as convenient, pass upon said application or petition, first hav-ing had reasonable notice she or he is unable to attend the hearing of said matter; and that it shall be the dutj' of said court to examine such witnesses (among whom shall be at least one physician) as may be necessary to prove the truth or falsity of the statements in said application or petition, (-jggjg And if the court finds that each and all of the allegations contained in said application or petition are true, and that said person is a proper person to be cared for in said institu-tion, it shall be its duty to make an order committing the care and custody of said person to said institution. And it shall be 19 the duty of the clerk of said court to make a certified copy of said application or petition, and of the finding and judgment of said court, and transmit the same, together with a state-ment of such facts as can be ascertained concerning the per-sonal and family history of such person, to the superintendent of said institution, at Kinston, North Carolina. The costs of said proceedings shall be allowed and paid by the board of county commissioners of said county. Sec. 4. Upon receiving such order of commitment it shall Clothing for be the duty of the superintendent of said institution, at once, if there is room for any more inmates, or as soon thereafter as there shall be room for such person in said institution, to notify the clerk of said court that such person will be received in said institution. That with such notice said superintendent shall send a list of such clothing as shall be prescribed by the board of trustees of said institution, and a blank form of certificate of health and freedom of exposure to contagious dis-ease at such time. In case the parent or custodian of such per-son shall be financially unable to furnish the clothing as re-quired, the said clerk shall procure such clothing at a cost not to exceed twenty dollars ($20), and the payment for same shall be made out of the county treasury upon the certificate of the clerk and order of the county auditor. Sec. 5. Upon receiving notice that such person can be ad- Transportation of mitted to such institution, the clerk shall order the parents, ''"i"'*^- custodian or applicant to convey such person to said institu-tion without expense to the institution or the county. In case such parent, custodian or applicant is wholly and finan-cially unable to bear such expense said clerk shall convey said person to said institution in the same manner and in accord-ance with the same forms as are now provided by law for the transfer of patients to insane hospitals, so far as they are applicable. Sec. 6. In case the parents of a child between the ages of ciotiiing and six and sixteeen years are wholly unable to bear the expense tin"sp°rtation of of furnishing the clothing required by the rules of the board of trustees of said school, or of furnishing the money for trans-portation of such child to said school, it shall be the duty of the county from which the child is sent to bear such cost, in the manner provided for adults in sections four and five of this act. Sec. 7. That the county commissioners of each county of which any child in this institution is a resident, to provide to pay the actual annual cost of the clothing of said child at the institution, a statement of each shall be annually, on or before the first Monday in September of each year, submitted by the Superintendent of the said institution to said board of commis-sioners, and that the institution shall be authorized to bring suit against any board of commissioners refusing to pay for said clothing, and to collect the same by law, providing further 20 that the county commissioners ot any county shall be author-ized to demand and collect by law said amount out of any parent or guardian of said child that in their opinion the county board of commissioners deem able. Sec. S. All laws or parts of laws in conflict with the pro-visions of this act are hereby repealed, mlpils"^'^ °* Sec. 9. Any pupil of said school may be discharged or re-turned to his or her parents or guardian when, in the judg-ment of the trustees, it will not be beneficial to such pupil, or will not be for the best interests of said school to retain the pupil therein. Sec. 10. This act shall be in force from and after its rati-fication. In view of the number of applications and the continued call and the "urgent aj)peals that are constantly being made that we receive more pupils, embracing all grades of feeble mindedness, and in order to keep pace "with the present demands of humanity and to accomplish "what we think is our mission, beg to present for your consideration, the following suggestions : First. That a building, the plans of which the Superintendent will gladly suggest, to be used, the basement for a general store room and cold storage department; the first floor to be used as a general dining room; the second floor to be used for four school rooms and an assembly hall or large school room, which, we think, can be constructed for $ 30,000.00 Second. That we 'secure an appropriation sufficient to build two buildings or a number of cottages, as you may advise, for the care of the low-grade imbecile and idiotic girls and a sim-ilar building for the imbecile and idiotic boys, at an esti-mated cost of 28,000.00 We would suggest that the girls' play room, or day room, now being used as the only assembly hall, he completed to a two-story building; and also ask for a similar building to be added to the boys' dormitory. We think these can be con-structed for 5.000.00 We must have homes for the engineer, carpenter, fireman, and farmer (estimated cost) 5,000.00 Additional cows, dairy (estimated cost) 2,000.00 Putting concrete floors in each of the dormitories and reinforcing foundations (estimated) 2,500.00 Horses, wagons, farm implements, and equipments (estimated cost) 2,500.00 First year's maintenance 'estimated cost) 30.000.00 Second year's maintenance (estimated cost) 60,000.00 Making a total appropriation for flrst year (estimated) . . 105,000.00 For second year (estimated) 60,000.00 21 We appreciate the interest the State Board of Health, the Board of Public Charities and the Board of Internal Improvements have mani-fested in lis. We have found all most cordial and sympathetic in their interest and endeavors to help us. The Secretary of the State Board of Health made the following rec-ommendations which we are glad to accept : That we keep a proper set of tables shomng the weights and measures for children at different ages, and that the school shall keep the weights and measures of all children entering school and also bimonthly weights and measures of each child. In closing, I frankly confess that I have not been able to come up to my ideal by any means, much less yours. I have simply done the best I could at the time and under the circumstances and conditions, and respectfully submit this as my report. C. Banks McIsTaiet, Superintendent. .... >...ui... .-.-^L .ji-.-.-L—i..,..,^.-..,.Vy..> '.^ ...^^?j'^.--,^-..'k..-:.^Av.^..''-^U^j^-.A^.'b.^(;i.>V.' joidn^'^
Object Description
Description
Title | Biennial report of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, Kinston, N.C. |
Date | 1913; 1914 |
Digital Characteristics-A | 34 p.; 0.93 MB |
Pres File Name-M | pubs_pubh_serial_reportcaswelltraining1914.pdf |
Pres Local File Path-M | preservation_content\statepubs\pubs_pubh\images_master |
Full Text | North Cafoi;r!a c>ta(« Liorary Raleigh N. C. Doc. BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA School for the Feeble Minded KINSTON, N. C. For the Years 1913 and 1914 BALEIGH Edwaeds & BKOnPHTQN J?EH-rai:?rGTCo. , ,J9K '; ', ,' ; '. .\ BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE NORTH CAROLINA School for the Feeble Minded KINSTON, N. C. For the Years 1913 and 1914 RALEIGH Edwards & Beoughton Printing Co. 1915 \|A^ BOARD OF TRUSTEES Hon. J. Y. Jotnek, President ex officio Raleigh Dk. a. a. Kent (resigned) Lenoir Dr. R. N. Caetwmght (resigned) Fairfield Dk. L. B. McBkayek Sanatorium Hon. J. R. Daggett Littleton Dr. W. H. Dixon Ayden Hon. W. A. Thompson Aurora Hon. R. E. Austin Albemarle Hon. a. B. Justice Charlotte Hon. Chas. Dewey Goldsboro Col. a. C. Davis Goldsboro Rev. R. N. Caviness Morehead City Hon. J. D. Boushall Raleigh EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Dk. a. a. Kent, Chairman. Chas. Dewey. J. D. Boushall. D, of D? FEB - 1 Wttl LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Hon". Locke Craig, Governor of North Carolina, Ealeigii, ISTorth Carolina. Deak Sir :—I liave the honor to present herewith the report of the Board of Tmstees of the Executive Committee and of the Superinten-dent of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded for the years 1913 and 1914. Veiy respectfully, J. Y. JOTNER, President ex-officio of the Board of Trustees. THE FACULTY C. Banks McNairy, M.D., Superintendent. Miss Sarah ShaW) Principal. Miss Coka Coceofft, Domestic Science. Miss Makie Christian, Primary. Miss Minnie Culver, Wood Carving and Assistant in the Literary Departments. Miss Agnes Puett, Music and Assistant in the Literary Departments. Mrs. Florence Leonard, " First Matron. Mrs. Emma Hickerson, Housekeeper. Miss Annie Nichols, Second Matron in Boys' Building. Miss Bettie Quinn, Second Matron in Girls' Building. Mr. Robert L. Wilson, Governor of the Boys' Building. Miss Annie Ramsey, Trained Nurse and. Steivardess. Walter Masset, . Farm,. Chas. E. Rosemond, Engineer. Miss Catherine Kluttz, Stenographer. BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE ISortK Carolina ScKool for tKe Feeble Minded KiNSTOjs^, N. C, December 1, 1914. To His Excellency, Locke Ckaig, Governor of Noiih Carolina. Sir:—We, the Board of Tinistees of tlie ISTorth Carolina School for tiie Feeble Minded, beg to ask your careful consideration of this, our bieunial repoi-t. of the work, progress and needs of the institution over which A\'e have been appointed to exercise supeiwision. The period from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914, covered by this report,, embraces the greater part of the life of this institution. Owing to the fact that no apipropriation was made by the regular session of the legis-lature of 1913 for continuing the constructive work of the institution, we were compelled to suspend active work till the appropriation made by the special session of the legislature in September, 1913, became available. At said special session of the legislature there was appro-priated $68,934.17 to be used for the following purposes: For paying old debts $19,891.17 Permanent improvements 24.508.00 JIaintenance 24,535.00 At the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees on December 6, 1913, Dr. A. A. Kent, Mr. Charles Dewey, and Mr. J. D. Boushall were elected as the Executive Committee for the next year. They were instructed to use the first funds a^'ailable, for the pajanent of the outstanding indebtedness of the school and to resume and complete the constructive work, looking to the opening of the institution at the earliest date piossible. Prior to the meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 18, 1914, very little of this work had been done on account of lack of funds ; all expenditures up to that time of any consequence having been made in payment of outstanding obligations. The greater part of the debts had been i^aid prior to the date of this meeting which was duly reported to the Board by the Executive Com-mittee. At this meeting, Dr. C. Banks McNairy of Lenoir, jSI. C, was duly elected Superintendent of the school for the remainder of the year. His election and tenure of office to go into effect at once. Funds were now 6 available with, which to rush to completion and open the school, and in-structions were given to the Executive Committee and Superintendent to proceed with the work with all reasonable dispatch. At its annual meet-ing held at the offices of the school on December 16, 1914, the Board was highly pleased with the progress made and the character of the work done by the Executive Committee and the Superintendent in thus far completing, equijiping and furnishing the institution, and also in organizing a faculty and working force for the successfiil opening of the institution. The Board was greatly gTatified with the manifest gen-eral improvement and happy and healthy condition of the children under the very excellent management of the Superintendent and his efficient corps of assistants. The Board of Trustees beg to make the following recommendations to the coming legislature of 1915 for the welfare and urgent needs of the institution : 1. That the name of the institution be changed to the Caswell Train-ing School. 2. That the laws be changed and enacted as suggested by the Super-intendent's report. 3. And that appropriations be made for the different purposes as recommended in the Superintendent's report, as follows : 1. Building for dining room and school rooms (estimated cost) $30,000 2. Two dormitories or cottage buildings for imbeciles and idiots (esti-mated cost) 28,000 3. Additions to present boys' dormitory and present girls' dormitory for rooms for matrons and hospital wards; total (estimated cost) 5,000 4. Four cottages for carpenter, farmer, fireman, and engineer (esti-mated cost) 5,000 5. Dairy building and additional cows (estimated cost) 2,000 6. For wagons, horses and farm equipment (estimated cost) 2,500 7. Reinforcing foundations and concrete floors for dormitories (esti-mated cost ) 2,500 Total for these improvements (estimated) $75,000 Maintenance for year 1915 30,000 Maintenance for year 1916 60,000 The above additional buildings and equipment will enable us to take care of two hundred and fifty pupils. The biennial financial statement is herewith submitted. SCHOOL FOR THE FEEBLE MINDED FINANCIAL STATEMENT. From December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914. 1912. Dec. 1. Balance on band ?19, 612.13 1913. April 15. Appropriation for support 10,000.00 Oct. 23. Appropriation for maintenance 24,535.00 Appropriation for present indebtedness 19,891.17 Appropriation for equipping plant 24,508.00 Rent of land 610.00 Norfolk-Southern Ry., damage sewer pipe . . . 8.50 Sale of crushed stone 2.00 Sale of farm products 466.67 Total receipts ?99, 633.47 Disbursements. Audited vouchers from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1914 $93,881.26 Balance December 1, 1914 $ 5,752.21 Fob the YiiiR 1913. From December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1913. 1912. Dec. 1. Balance on hand $19,612.13 1913. April 15. Appropriation for support 10,000.00 Appropriation for maintenance 24,535.00 Appropriation for present indebtedness 19,891.17 Appropriation for equipping plant 24,508.00 Rent of land 175.00 Norfolk-Southern Ry., damage sewer pipe . . . 8.50 Sale of crushed stone 2.00 Sale of farm products 24.93 Total receipts $98,756.73 Disbiirseme7its. Audited vouchers from December 1, 1912, to December 1, 1913 $36,337.54 Balance December 1, 1913 $62,419.19 8 FOK THE Yeak'1914. From December 1, 1913, to December 1, 1914. 1913. Dec. 1. Balance on band $62,419.19 Sale of farm products 441.74 Rent of land 435.00 Total receipts : . . . $63,295.93 Disbursetnents. Audited vouchers from December 1, 1913, to December 1, 1914 57,543.72 Balance December 1, 1914 $ 5,752.21 The reports of the Executive Committee and the Superintendent were unanimously adopted and are herewith submitted. REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE KiNSTON, ]Sr. C.J December 16, 1914. To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded: We, your Executive Gominittee, beg to submit the following report : ThirLking that you are more interested iu tbe things done and the work accomplished than in the details and tedious work of overcoming hindrances and obstacles, and especially of trying to obtain results with less f^inds than are actually nfecessary for their accomplishment, we give results briefly. Old Debts. The first matter of prime importance directed to be done by the Com-mittee was the payment of the outstanding debts of the School. Of the sum appropriated by the special session of 1913 for that purpose, $19,- 891.17, we found that $7,182.15 had been paid out by our predecessors on old accounts, leaving the sum of $12,709.02 to be expended by this committee. On January 1, 1914, we issued warrants for $8,849.10 of said debts, as was reported to your Board at its last meeting. In ac-cordance with the instructions of the Board on February 18, 1914, we issued warrants for $4,199.69 on said debts. There was so much trouble growing out of the fact that certain of these debts were not being paid that we held a meeting of the Committee iu Raleigh on May 16, 1914. The chairman of the Board, Dr. J. Y. Joyner, Attorney General Bickett, and Treasurer Lacy, were invited to meet with us for the purpose of considering how best to dispose of these debts. After consulting Mr. Bickett and Mr. Lacy and obtaining their ap-proval, it was ordered that these debts be paid out of the Maintenance fund, which was done and warrants issued them and subsequently for $1,941.36. The $250 due York & Cobb, contractors, was forfeited by them. There are now none of the old debts outstanding. Sewee. The sewer line which was being put in by the management of the school has been completed and all connections with the several buildings have been properly made, at a cost of $862.78 for the unfinished work. Great difficulty was encountered in finishing this work due to much quicksand to be gone through. An experienced man was finally em-ployed to finish it. Curbing and cofl^ers had to be used to retain the •walls of sand till the pipe could be laid, thus entailing additional cost. 10 Keseevoie. The excavation for the reservoir was done under the direction of Mr. Rosemond at a cost of $357.58. Competitive bids were asked for on the work of building the reservoir. The best bid being $1,198 which was accepted and paid upon completion of the resei-voir—the total cost of reservoir being $1,555.58. Watee Main and Steam Pipe Line. Bids were asked for on both of these lines and the work of putting them in was left to the lowest bidder in each case. As we had on hand much of the material for both lines, we furnished the other necessary material for the completion of these lines. The total cost of these lines were $4,085.64. We were later compelled to put in a duplicate steam pipe line from the boiler house to the laundry and kitchen, and to put in reducing valves on the main steam pipe line. Heating Two Doemitoeies. The plan of heating the two dormitories was changed because the original plan was found to be expensive to construct, and to entail heavy expense in running. Hence the steam heat system was adopted. The contract was let on competitive bid to B. MacKenzie of Greensboro, ISr. C, for the sum of $3,500. Two-hundred gallon hot water tanks to be put under each of the two dormitories being included in the bid. The contract was completed as to one of the buildings prior to ISTovember 1st, and the sum of $1,750 was paid for same. The other has been completed since. PowEE HousEj Pump and Laundry. A cheap structure was built over the boilers which had j)reviously been located, said boiler house costing $860. This cheap structure was built in order to keep within bounds of our appropriation. The contract which we found had been entered into previously for the laundry equipment to cost $3,400 was felt by the committee to be too expensive ; and the original plan of laundry building it was found would cost $5,000. We finally succeeded in getting the bill for the equipment down to $2,707.70 ; and changed the plan for the building so as to reduce the cost there also. The lowest bid on the new plan adopted for the building was $2,515. 11 Itemized cost of pump, power house and laundry: Power house ? 860.00 Laundry Building Plans 88.37 Contract for building 2,515.00 Laundry equipment 2,707.70 Dynamo 190.00 Meter and transformer 82.83 Repairs for pump 131.88 Foundation for pump, etc 1,243.19 $7,818.97 Cattle^ Fence ajn^d Barn. The Superintendent expended $580 in the purchase of nine good grade Holstein cows. We need five more cows to furnish milk for pres-ent use. We have built, in all, 550 rods of ham lot and pasture fence, some being made of 'woven wire and barb wire, enclosing between 150 and 200 acres of land. Cost of material in fence $498. We need about 150 rods additional fence to enclose the entire farm. Our barn is under process of construction and when completed will have cost about $2,500. rUHNITUEE AND FURNISHINGS. The matter of furnishing the buildings preparatory to opening the school has proven to be a much larger undertaking than we had antici-pated. We have expended for this purpose $5,254.72, but this equip-ment was absolutely necessary to the opening of the school. Screening Buildings. Since the school was to be opened in midsummer it was imperatively necessary that all windows and doors should be well screened so as to exclude mosquitoes and flies. This, we submitted for competitive bids, the price being $500. Water Supply. One of the most serious problems that we have encountered has been that of securing an adequate supply of water. One of the artesian wells was not flowing when we took in charge the work. We procured a specialist to put it in repair on contract at a cost of $100. We then found that we had only about fifteen gallons per minute which was to-tally inadequate for the present demands of the school. The water closets could not be flushed as needed, there was not sufiicient water for baths and ordinary domestic purposes and none whatever for fire protec-tion. Your committee negotiated and closed a contract with the Syd- 12 nor Pump and Well Company of Richmond, Va., to bore a ten inch well near the boiler house. This we did in full expectation of securing a water supply sufficient for all future uses of the school. To our great disappointment, after sinking this well .500 feet, we have found almost no water. We ha^'e suspended further effort to secure water awaiting the meeting of your board. Genekal Maintenance. We have expended for general maintenance $15,603.94. Thi.9 sum includes all expenses of board hieetings, executive committee meetings, salaries, feed purchased for teams and cattle, labor on fann, of making clearings and of building fences, and numerous other expenses in addi-tion to the ordinary living expenses of the school. This being both a custodial and an educational institution, it necessi-tates a force of attendants for custodial care and a faculty for educa- .tional work, requiring a larger expenditure per capita than for an insti-tution doing only educational or custodial work. Furthermore, these children are in the institution twelve months in the year, and to the '6theT expenses must be added that of clothing. The per capita cost in •opening the institution is of necessity higher than in an old established •one. Our estimate, based upon our short experience, is $20 per month. Thus far we have received only State wards. Financial Statement. Balance on hand December 1, 1913 . ; $62,419.19 Sale of farm , products 441.74 Rent of lands 435.00 $63,295.93 Disbursements. Paid on old debts $14,990.15 Permanent improvements 26,949.63 General maintenance 15,603.94 Balance in bank 5,752,21 $63,295.93 Permanent Improvement. Furniture and furnishings $ 5,254.72 Sewer line 862.78 Heservoir 1,555.58 Water main and steam pipe line 4,085.64 Heating dormitories 1,750.00 Power house, laundry and pumps 7,818.87 Barn, fence, and cattle 1,172.04 Screening buildings 500.00 iifi;.»tM iiiw^iVpj tM. iti ' ii ir ^ r iWi h> Mf «w , i^ji>pi;i 13 Cook house, work shop, coal house $ 650.00 Duplicate steam pipe line 600.00 Team, wagon, hack, and harness 700.00 Boring 10-inch well 2,000.00 ?26,949.63 In all of our planning, contracting and purchasing for the institution, Tve have constantly had two objects in mind, efficiency and economy. We have endeavored to the best of our ability to obtain efficiency in everything done and have, at the same time, endeavored to keep strictly within the bounds of our original appiropriation. Whatever of success we have had in the payment of debts, completing .and furnishing the buildings, and opening the school for the use and Teception of the unfortunate children of the State who are here now in numbers almost to the limit of the capacity of the institution, we •owe mainly to the untiring efforts of our Superintendent aided by Mr. Charles Dewey, the most faithful and attentive member of the Execu-tive Committee. All of which is respectfully submitted. A. A. Kent, j. d. boushall, Chas. Dewey, Executive Committee. REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT KiNSTON, 'N. C, December 16, 1914. To the Honorable Board of Trustees of the North Carolina School for the Feehle Minded: In making this, my first report, I deem it proper to make tlie follow-ing statement : I wish to express my high appreciation to my engineer, principal, stewardess, and matron, and all subordinates for the loyal support and encouragement they have given me. And further, I wish to make acknowledgment to the citizens of Kinston and Lenoir County for the courtesies and encouragement they have both shown and given me, which has been such a comfort and without which, my labors would have been more trying. On taking charge of your institution, I was somewhat aware of the magnitude of this work, and it was with considerable misgivings that I gave up my life's work and old friends for a new field and new work, but the truth is, the responsibilities and cares, labors and trials involved in this work had not fully dawned upion me, and I am frank to confess to your honorable body T have not accomplished what I had hoped. It was quite a disappointment to me when I found so much of the constructive work yet to be completed and the length of time necessary, and owing to the scarcity and high cost of labor and to the excessive rains of the early spring, I was unable to finish in the expected time that T thought I should, and had it not been for the encouragement of your -Executive Committee, and especially the advice, counsel and friendship of Mr. Chas. Dewey, I no doubt would have long since fallen by the wayside. "We were able, however, to begin to receive pupils July 1st, and as per instructions of your Committee on Reception, we admitted, to begin with, only fifteen girls. These were supj)Osed to be of the highest gi-ades of the applications on hand. The committee's instructions were that we receive the higher grade girls, a limited number, and gradually increase as circumstances and conditions would permit, giving preference to the applications on file. Owing to the fact that the Superintendent was inexperienced and not permitted to visit or see the pupils before being admitted, there were many errors and ahnost insurmountable obstacles brought about from these conditions, as we had nothing except the applications to guide us. We had hoped to give each child, upon entering the institution, the Simon-Binet Mental Test, and thereby grade them mentally, but we soon 15 found that we liad a herculean task in governing, providing food, cloth-ing, etc., therefore we were unable to give any special study of the men-tality of the individual pupil. Here agaiu many were the questions that ai'ose of which we had never dreamed. Not only in our duties to the children and our institution, but in relation to the public, and especially to the parents of our inmates. So far, we have received none except as State wards. We have been gradually increasing until we have received in all, 122. Two have been granted an indefinite leave of absence, two were taken back as per advice of the Superintendent, four being of a very low type, were returned over the protest of parents, two were permitted to visit homes, but were never returned, and nine were taken away by parents over protest and advice of the Superintendent. The object of our School Department is to train whatever is "train-able" in the child. Some are apt in their reading, some (a few) in arithmetic, some in drawing, in writing, there are others in nothing pertaining to books. The latter class, including the epileptics, idiots, the ones who can't talk, and the very simple minded, are in a class to themselves and are called the "Outdooi-" Class. These classes, one for boys and one for girls, are under the care of the matrons, supervised by the principal. They are taught to lace, tie and button their shoes. To do this, the top parts of old shoes are tacked on a board of convenient size, making them much easier to be handled. Likewise cloth with buttons and buttonholes is tacked on boards. Mats are given to those who have mastered the buttoning and lacing. These mats teach the beginning of weaving and darning. Some are skilled with their fingers, while others forget as soon as they have learned. The "School Proper" includes the ones who go in the school rooms and are taught as normal children are taught. Of course, with these children, "Patience and Eepetition" are the keynotes. The method used is the one which seems especially adapted for these children : namely, the Aldine Method, a combination of the word and phonetic method. The other subjects are taught using this method as a basis. Two characteristics, love of music and an apt memory, seem predomi-nant among these children. With some, they are the only foundations we have. With others, the peculiarity of the memory is that it has reference especially to personal favors or injuries and not so much as to the ability to retain what has been given them in the way of instruc- 16 tion. For instance; for a week or uioutli or so, they seem to improve and learn, then will come a period of lethargy in which the mind seems to lag and do nothing. Of all the training, musical, school, outdoor, the most important is the moral and ethical training. This, of course, is in no special de-partment, but is continuously impressed throughout all departments. Besides the regiilar school, the girls are trained in the dining-room, to arrange the tables, place the chairs and serve the food. In the laun-dry, to iron neatly and fold the sheets, etc., and in their building, to sweep, make beds and keep their dressing rooms in order. Also, they have lessons in domestic science, taught by the domestic science teacher. The boys are taught tO' haul, chop, cut wood and grub. They make very good dairymen, feeding and milking the cows. Of course, all of this is under the supervision of the governor of the boys' dormitory. While some of the boys, under the direction of the matrons, become very good housekeepers—sweeping, cleaning and making beds. With both boys and girls, the desire for personal neatness is always kept before them. We think quite a few of the boys will be able to do considerable fann work. As a personal reward for neatness and obedience we pennit a limited number of the boys to attend church and Sunday school in the city, a privilege very highly prized by them. Farm Report. Sold farm products, hay, etc., $100.25. Deposited in First ISTational Bank, Kinston, to the credit of .State Treasurer B. R. Lacy. Raised on the farm: Four acres in corn, estimated 150 bushels; made about 1% tons oat hay ; about 5^2 tons pea hay ; raised about ten bush-els Irish potatoes; about 120 bushels sweet potatoes; 5 bushels onions; various amounts garden vegetables ; quite a few watermelons. Had only a few acres to fainn. All the farm was leased save about ten acres. Killed 764 pounds pork. Killed 251 pounds beef. List of Bents of the Farm for 191^. Sutton farm—(Young) $175.00 Sweikhert farm and land right of the driveway to building to the Central Highway 260.00 Horner, between Central Highway and river 200.00 DeePree land, east of the driveway to river 137.50 Total $772.50 17 All the land laying east of the Hull road to the JSTeuse Kiver on the south and Dr. Pemberton's land on the east is reserved for the use of the institution. The Sutton and Sweikhert farms have been leased for 1915. We have, at present, more than one hundred and fifty applications, and requests coming almost daily for blanks accompanied by some of the most heart-rending and pathetic appeals from mothers .whose finan-cial conditions have become embarrassed and who are careworn and almost physical and mental wrecks, begging that our institution come to their relief, which makes it absolutely necessary that we make plans for the future. Therefore, I beg to submit, for your consideration, the following rec-ommendations : First. That the name of our institution be changed to something more euphonious and not so odious, such as the ISTorth Carolina Training School, The Caswell Training School, The Wiley Training School, The ISTeuse River Training School, The Tidewater Training School, or The Aycock Training School. Second. That the laws pertaining to our institution be changed as follows : An Act pertaining to manner of admission of feeble minded children and adult feeble minded women and men into the North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (Caswell Training School) and matters properly connected therewith, repealing all laws in conflict therewith and declaring an emergency: The General Assemhly of Xorth Carolina do enact: Section 1. That hereafter there shall be received into the Age limits. North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (The Caswell Training School) subject to such rules and regulations as the board of trustees of said institution may adopt, feeble minded or idiotic boys and girls between the ages of six and sixteen years, and feeble minded women between the ages of sixteen and thirty years, who are not pregnant or helpless, and feeble minded men between the ages of sixteen and thirty years who are not afHicted with any contagious or communicable disease. Sec. 2. Application for the admission of a child between the Admission oi ages of six and sixteen years shall be made to the board of <''"''i''"'°- trustees of said school with the approval of the board of county commissiohers of the county wherein such child has a legal settlement, and in the following manner: (1) by the father, if the father and mother are living together: (2) if the father and mother are not living together, then by the one having custody of the child: (3) by a guardian duly appointed; (4) by the superintendent of any county poor asylum, or by 18 the person having the management of any orphanage, associa-tion, charity society, children's home workers, ministers, teach-ers, or physicians, or other institutions where children are cared for. Under items 3 and 4, consent of parents, if living, is not required. Commitment of In case of adult females or males between the ages of six-adults, teen and thirty years, any person may file in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of any county, his certiiied peti-tion stating that some woman or man (naming her or him) of said county is not being or cannot be properly maintained or cared for by those who have such person in charge. That such woman or man is a feeble minded woman or man; that she or he is over sixteen and under thirty years of age; that he or she is idiotic or feeble minded; that slie or he is in good bodily health; that she or he is not helpless; tliat she or he is not afflicted with any chronic or contagious disease; that she or he is a menace to society; that she or he is a legal resident of the state and county where the application is filed; together with such other statements as may be necessary to show that she or he is a proper person to be admitted to said department of said institution, and that her or his admission thereto would be in conformity to the rules and regulations estab-lished by the board of trustees of said institution for the ad-mission and care of such persons. Court procedure. Sec. 3. Hereafter, no adult woman or man shall be admitted into The North Carolina School for the Feeble Minded, or (The Caswell Training School) unless committed thereto by the Superior Court of the county in which such person has a legal settlement. Upon the filing of an application or a petition in the office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of the county in which such applicant has a legal settlement, by the proper person, as designated in Section 2 of this act, the clerk of said court shall issue a summons to such person named in said applica-tion or petition, requiring her, or him. to be and appear before said court, or the judge thereof, at some time to be fixed by said clerk, not more than ten days thereafter, and shall bring said matter at once to the attention of the judge or clerk of said court. That the judge or clerk of said court shall, as soon as convenient, pass upon said application or petition, first hav-ing had reasonable notice she or he is unable to attend the hearing of said matter; and that it shall be the dutj' of said court to examine such witnesses (among whom shall be at least one physician) as may be necessary to prove the truth or falsity of the statements in said application or petition, (-jggjg And if the court finds that each and all of the allegations contained in said application or petition are true, and that said person is a proper person to be cared for in said institu-tion, it shall be its duty to make an order committing the care and custody of said person to said institution. And it shall be 19 the duty of the clerk of said court to make a certified copy of said application or petition, and of the finding and judgment of said court, and transmit the same, together with a state-ment of such facts as can be ascertained concerning the per-sonal and family history of such person, to the superintendent of said institution, at Kinston, North Carolina. The costs of said proceedings shall be allowed and paid by the board of county commissioners of said county. Sec. 4. Upon receiving such order of commitment it shall Clothing for be the duty of the superintendent of said institution, at once, if there is room for any more inmates, or as soon thereafter as there shall be room for such person in said institution, to notify the clerk of said court that such person will be received in said institution. That with such notice said superintendent shall send a list of such clothing as shall be prescribed by the board of trustees of said institution, and a blank form of certificate of health and freedom of exposure to contagious dis-ease at such time. In case the parent or custodian of such per-son shall be financially unable to furnish the clothing as re-quired, the said clerk shall procure such clothing at a cost not to exceed twenty dollars ($20), and the payment for same shall be made out of the county treasury upon the certificate of the clerk and order of the county auditor. Sec. 5. Upon receiving notice that such person can be ad- Transportation of mitted to such institution, the clerk shall order the parents, ''"i"'*^- custodian or applicant to convey such person to said institu-tion without expense to the institution or the county. In case such parent, custodian or applicant is wholly and finan-cially unable to bear such expense said clerk shall convey said person to said institution in the same manner and in accord-ance with the same forms as are now provided by law for the transfer of patients to insane hospitals, so far as they are applicable. Sec. 6. In case the parents of a child between the ages of ciotiiing and six and sixteeen years are wholly unable to bear the expense tin"sp°rtation of of furnishing the clothing required by the rules of the board of trustees of said school, or of furnishing the money for trans-portation of such child to said school, it shall be the duty of the county from which the child is sent to bear such cost, in the manner provided for adults in sections four and five of this act. Sec. 7. That the county commissioners of each county of which any child in this institution is a resident, to provide to pay the actual annual cost of the clothing of said child at the institution, a statement of each shall be annually, on or before the first Monday in September of each year, submitted by the Superintendent of the said institution to said board of commis-sioners, and that the institution shall be authorized to bring suit against any board of commissioners refusing to pay for said clothing, and to collect the same by law, providing further 20 that the county commissioners ot any county shall be author-ized to demand and collect by law said amount out of any parent or guardian of said child that in their opinion the county board of commissioners deem able. Sec. S. All laws or parts of laws in conflict with the pro-visions of this act are hereby repealed, mlpils"^'^ °* Sec. 9. Any pupil of said school may be discharged or re-turned to his or her parents or guardian when, in the judg-ment of the trustees, it will not be beneficial to such pupil, or will not be for the best interests of said school to retain the pupil therein. Sec. 10. This act shall be in force from and after its rati-fication. In view of the number of applications and the continued call and the "urgent aj)peals that are constantly being made that we receive more pupils, embracing all grades of feeble mindedness, and in order to keep pace "with the present demands of humanity and to accomplish "what we think is our mission, beg to present for your consideration, the following suggestions : First. That a building, the plans of which the Superintendent will gladly suggest, to be used, the basement for a general store room and cold storage department; the first floor to be used as a general dining room; the second floor to be used for four school rooms and an assembly hall or large school room, which, we think, can be constructed for $ 30,000.00 Second. That we 'secure an appropriation sufficient to build two buildings or a number of cottages, as you may advise, for the care of the low-grade imbecile and idiotic girls and a sim-ilar building for the imbecile and idiotic boys, at an esti-mated cost of 28,000.00 We would suggest that the girls' play room, or day room, now being used as the only assembly hall, he completed to a two-story building; and also ask for a similar building to be added to the boys' dormitory. We think these can be con-structed for 5.000.00 We must have homes for the engineer, carpenter, fireman, and farmer (estimated cost) 5,000.00 Additional cows, dairy (estimated cost) 2,000.00 Putting concrete floors in each of the dormitories and reinforcing foundations (estimated) 2,500.00 Horses, wagons, farm implements, and equipments (estimated cost) 2,500.00 First year's maintenance 'estimated cost) 30.000.00 Second year's maintenance (estimated cost) 60,000.00 Making a total appropriation for flrst year (estimated) . . 105,000.00 For second year (estimated) 60,000.00 21 We appreciate the interest the State Board of Health, the Board of Public Charities and the Board of Internal Improvements have mani-fested in lis. We have found all most cordial and sympathetic in their interest and endeavors to help us. The Secretary of the State Board of Health made the following rec-ommendations which we are glad to accept : That we keep a proper set of tables shomng the weights and measures for children at different ages, and that the school shall keep the weights and measures of all children entering school and also bimonthly weights and measures of each child. In closing, I frankly confess that I have not been able to come up to my ideal by any means, much less yours. I have simply done the best I could at the time and under the circumstances and conditions, and respectfully submit this as my report. C. Banks McIsTaiet, Superintendent. .... >...ui... .-.-^L .ji-.-.-L—i..,..,^.-..,.Vy..> '.^ ...^^?j'^.--,^-..'k..-:.^Av.^..''-^U^j^-.A^.'b.^(;i.>V.' joidn^'^ |
OCLC Number-Original | 18777807 |