SOLDIERS' ORPHAN
SCHOOLS/HOMES
TRESSLER ORPHANS' HOME
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
OF THE SOLDIERS' ORPHANS, 1881
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REPORTS OF PRINCIPALS.
TRESSLER ORPHAN HOME--P. Willard, A.M., Superintendent.
On the return of the children from spending their vacation at home a
few of them brought the remains of malarial fever with them. These
were over it in a few days, and the children soon put on a healthy
appearance. Since that period we have not had any sickness during
the year, more than colds during the early part of the spring.
We have had a good and experienced corps of teachers during the year, and
the children of the various grades have made commendable progress in every
department of study, which was plainly evinced in the readiness and
thought they exhibited at the last examination.
The examination was conducted by Deputy Superintendent Lindsey, in
connection with George F. Mull, A.M., of the Department; Professor
Fleckinger, county superintendent, and G. Scholl, Esquire, of New
Bloomfield, all of whom expressed themselves as highly gratified with the
thoroughness of the children in the various studies through which they had
passed during the year. We were especially gratified by the presence
of a representative from the Grand Army of the Republic, in the person of
our old and tried friend, Captain H. Crider, whose especial business was
to examine into the condition and management of the various Soldiers'
Orphan Schools throughout the State, who, in connection with a number of
others who are men of erudition, age, and experience, all expressed
themselves as highly gratified, not only with the progress and proficiency
of the children, but also with the furniture and arrangement of everything
in the building and its surroundings.
We have purchased, during the past winter, a very fine philosophical
apparatus, by which our facilities for imparting instruction to some of
the classes are very much increased. The various classes have also
had regular lessons in drawing during the year, according to their
capacity.
The drill has also been kept up by the boys during the year, and the
examiners were highly pleased with the knowledge and regular step
manifested in the exhibition of their display in military tactics, and
expressed themselves as such in the most flattering terms.
The morals of the children upon the whole are quite as good as we could
reasonably expect.
Religious exercises have been kept up in the school as in past years, and,
we have reason to believe, with salutary effect, as forty-one of the older
children have united with the church during the past year, and seem
desirous not only of knowing their duty as such, but also of doing it.
We have made some considerable improvement in the way of building large
play sheds, both for boys and girls, each separate, to afford them
opportunities for recreation and exercise in the intervals between school
hours, without exposure to the inclemencies of the weather when it is too
disagreeable to be out.
The children are all well supplied with good and comfortable clothing,
both for every day and Sunday wear.
The discipline of the school is entirely parental, and we have only to
refer to our remarks on this subject in our last year's report.
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