Iowa School for the Deaf. The institution for the deaf and dumb was established at Iowa City, in 1853, permanently located at Council Bluffs, July 4, 1866, and removed to that place in 1871. Every deaf and dumb child in the state, of suitable age, is entitled to an education in this school, at the expense of the state. The instruction given is of a very practical nature, and the course of study embraces those branches that will be of the greatest benefit to the pupils. Institution for Feeble-Minded Children. In the words of the statute, "The purposes of this institution are to train, instruct, support and care for feeble-minded children." It is located at Glenwood, Mills county. The management is in the hands of a superintendent, who is appointed by the Board of Control. He gives bonds for the faithful performance of his duties, in such a sum as the board may direct. Every resident of the state, between the ages of five and twenty-one years who by reason of deficient intellect, is rendered unable to acquire an education in the common schools, is entitled to the advantages offered by this institution, free of charge. The term "feeble-minded" is intended to include idiotic children, and a separate department is provided for those who cannot be benefited by educational training. All feebleminded persons under the age of forty-six, and residents of Iowa, may now be received as members of this, institution. QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 1. In what kind of school corporation do you live? Name the present directors. 2. What are the advantages of consolidated rural schools? How does the state encourage consolidation? 3. Is a school township more like a congressional township or more like a civil township? Distinguish the three kinds of townships. Do the school township and civil township differ more in physical area or in organization and function? 4. Name the general powers of school directors. Make a list of as many specific things as you can which a board might do under its power to have charge of the general management of the schools. 5. Distinguish clearly between the school meetings that occur on the first Monday in March, the second Monday in March, the third Monday in March, and the first day of July. 6. From what different sources does the money come for the support of schools? In what funds is all this 'money placed? 7. Name as many advantages as you can of well-equipped and well-directed school playgrounds. 8. Can pupils study better in well-ventilated schools? Name the things in which great care should be taken in constructing new school buildings. If you do not have a modern school building, secure plans and specifications of one from the county superintendent or from an architect, and make a careful study of them. 9. For what activities is your school plant used as a community center? 10. What is vocational education? What is vocational guidance? What vocational subjects are required by law to be taught in all Iowa schools? Do you know of any vocational subjects that are being taught in schools? What are "blind alley" vocations? Secure as much information as you can concerning the vocations in your community. 11. Why must we have free schools in a government "by the people"? In what ways may ignorant voters be dangerous? In what ways may intelligent voters help to make their community, their state and their nation better? THE SONG OF IOWA I You ask what land I love the best, The fairest state of all the West, From yonder Mississippi's stream Iowa, O! Iowa. II See yonder fields of tasseled corn, Where Plenty fills her golden horn, See how her wondrous prairies shine III And she has maids whose laughing eyes, To him who loves were Paradise, O! happiest fate that e'er was known, IV Go read the story of thy past, Iowa, O! Iowa, What glorious deeds, what fame thou hast ! So long as time's great cycle runs, -S. H. M. BYERS. PART II STATE GOVERNMENT CHAPTER I IOWA I. HISTORY Discovery. The discovery of Iowa was made by two Frenchmen, James Marquette and Louis Joliet, in 1673. Iowa is an Indian name which means "The Beautiful Land," and the state seems to have been properly named. France laid claim to the territory along the Mississippi River on account of the so-called right of discovery, and, for ninety years, Iowa belonged to France. In 1763 the French king granted his possessions in the Mississippi Valley to Spain, but Napoleon compelled that nation to make a secret grant of this territory to him, in 1801. In 1803, the United States bought from Napoleon the tract of land known as the Louisiana Purchase, for $15,000,000. The tract contained about 1,000,000 square miles, and the purchase price amounted to less than two and one-half cents per acre. Settlement. In 1788, Julien Dubuque obtained permission from three chiefs of the Sacs and Foxes to dig for lead ore on the west bank of the Mississippi. The same year, he staked out a claim containing nearly 200 square miles, and opened several mines which he continued to work for more than twenty years. Dubuque, with his ten associates, formed the first settlement made by the whites in Iowa, and the city and county of Dubuque were named in his honor. Other Frenchmen settled along the Mississippi north of Dubuque, about the beginning of the present century, but the settlements were very feeble. History of Territory. In 1804, the Louisiana Purchase was divided by the thirty-third parallel of north latitude, the southern part to be known as the territory of Orleans, the northern part, as the district of Louisiana. The district of Louisiana, embracing the present states of Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa and Minnesota, and the unexplored regions westward to the Rocky Mountains, was attached to Indiana, with William Henry Harrison for first governor. Eight years later, Iowa was organized as a part of the territory of Missouri. In 1821, when Missouri was admitted into the Union, Iowa was left out in the cold, politically, and no provision was made for the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase until 1834, when it became a part of the territory of Michigan. This connection lasted but a short time, however, for two years later, Iowa became a part of the territory of Wisconsin. Iowa Territory. In 1838, that part of the territory of Wisconsin lying west of the Mississippi was organized as the territory of Iowa, and Robert Lucas, of Ohio, was appointed governor. Under his direction, the first census was taken, members of the legislature were chosen, and civil government in Iowa was begun. The act of congress that provided for the organization of this territory gave the governor full power to veto any and all acts of the legislature. Constitutional Convention. In 1840, and again in 1842, attempts were made to call a convention to draft a state constitution, but without success. In 1844, however, a con |