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52 tied to afford institutions of their own, they are sent to those of the neighboring states. The great majority of the states have, however, one or more public institutions to which all may be sent. In some cases both classes are educated in different departments of one institution, in others in separate schools.

These educational facilities are usually offered to children of "school age." Sometimes the term of instruction is fixed, and in many cases is very short. In most of the states, however, this entire matter is left with the board of directors of the institution. Usually maintenance and tuition are provided for all by the state free of charge. In some sixteen states, however, a distinction is made between indigents and those able to pay, the latter being compelled to pay their expenses. In Missouri the