Remarks upon the tables. In presenting the statistics of the institutions for the care and training of the feebleminded it appears that there has been a large increase in the number of schools, of pupils, and of teachers. Returns have been received from 26 institutions, an increase of 4 over last year. Four thousand seven hundred and eighty-four pupils are in the institutions at present, an increase of 463 over last year's report. The increase of instructors has kept pace with the increase of pupils. The number of instructors reported this year is 141, an increase of 19 over last year. The amount appropriated by the States for the public institutions is $936,425, an increase of $10,168. Of the 26 institutions that have reported to this Bureau 15 are supported by States, 1 by a county, and 10 are private homes, which do not furnish any financial statistics to this Office. Eighteen have manual training and 16 have kindergartens. From four to five hours each day are spent in the schoolrooms. After the school hours the younger children are allowed to play and romp either in the play rooms or out of doors if the weather permits. The older ones, under competent instructors, are all given some useful employment, the males in the work shops or on the farm, the females at sewing or household duties. Statistics of institutions for the feeble-minded for 1888–89—Part I. Instructors. Pupils. Post-office aldress. Name. Year of first opening. Superintendent or prin cipal. 1 3 5 6 10 13 1 9 3 10 86 4 (402) 4 30 i Santa Clara, Cal California IIome for the Care and Training of Feoble- | 1884 A. Edgar Osborne, M. D... Alinded Children. 1853 G. II. Knight, M. 1) 1881 A N. Williamson, M. D.... Lincoln, Ill.. Illinois Asylum for Feeble-Minded Children 1865 Williain B. Fishi, M. D 1879 Jno. G. Blake 1876 F. M. Powell, M. I). 7 | Winfield, Kans. Kansas State Asylum for Idiotic and Imurcile Youth. 1881 C. K. Wiles, M. D 8 Frankforil, Ky Kentucky Institution for the Education and Training of 1860 John Q. A. Stewart, M. D.. Forble-Minded Children. George Brown, M. D.. Private Institution for the Education of Feeble-Minded 1848 Catharine Brown.... Geo. A. Brown, M. D 1870 Meselames Knight and Gre-n. 1850 Walter E. Fernald, M. D... 1844 Dr.C.T. Wilbur 15 Firtibault, Minn Minnesota School for Feeble-Minded.. 1879 Dr. A. C. Rogers 1887 | J. T. Armstrong, M. D Garrison Fome aud Training School for the Feeblo in Mind. 1889 | Rev. C. F. Garrison 1883 | Margaret Bancroft and Jennie Cox. Now Jersey State Institution for Feelle. Minded Women - 1888 Mary J. Dunlop, M. D New Jersey Home for the Care and Education of Feoble. | 1888 | Rev. S. O. Garrison Minnied Children.* 1888 Rev.0. F. Brown New York State Custodial Asylum for Feeble-Minded 1878 W. L. Willett. Women. 1851 Names C. Carson, M. D 1857 G. A. Doren, M. D) 26 Elwyn, Pa... Pennsylvania Institution for Feeble-Minded Children 1852 | Isaac N. Kerlin, M. D. 6 Statistics of institutions for the feeble-minded for 1888-89--Part II. 1 California IIomo for the Care and Training of Feeble-Minded Children 25,000 13, 776 6, 707 13, 675 21, 207 * Statistics of 1887-88. III.-REFORM SCHOOLS. The cottage system. The term “family system" seems to be used as though it were a synonym for the expression, “cottage system.” Thus, in answer to the inquiry, "Is your institution operated on the cottage system ?” ono school answers, “We have one family;" another, “The change to the family plan is now being made;" still a third, “No'; but we have the family spirit.” It is possible to consider the inmates of a large building having the usual assortment of stories and wings, as an overgrown family, and the building as an overgrown cottage; and it is also possible to conceive the inhabitants of such a building broken up into groups, just as a regiment is composed of companies. In both these instances the manner in which the family or families are organized is the main feature; but in the cottage system the distinguishing feature is in the isolation of the family by giving each a separate habitation. It would seem that the term "cottage system” may mean the organization of the family system, and something more. Among the institutions reporting for the year under review, there are forty which give information in answer to the inquiry as to whether they had adopted the cottage system. Fifteen answer"yes," and eighteen “no.” Three others give the responses noted in the preceding paragraph, and the others are introducing the cottage system. Movement of the population.-- Thirty-six schools, not including the Elmira State Reformatory for Men, report their population during the year, and also the number leaving during the same period. In these 36 schools there were 17,661 pupils enrolled, of whom 7,181, or 41 per cent. were disposed of or left the institutions under the following circumstances : Per cent. Discharged at expiration of term........ 3, 892 = Placed out 1, 870= 1, 053= 7, 181 40.5 Receipts from public funds, etc.—As far as reported the amount received from public funds is nearly $2,000,000, though the reports are somewhat imperfect. This goes to show that from 85 to 90 per cent. of the means of support of reformatory institutions is received from the public treasury. Of the amount received, $357,708 were expend in building and improvements, and $527,622 for salaries, 17 per cent. and 24 per cent., respectively, of the whole expenditure. Summary of Statistics of Reform Schools. ..... 271= 95 = 22 1 These figures are for the year 1888-89; the figures of the summary aro, in some instances, for 1887–88. |