As required by section 18, chapter 744, Laws of 1867, the Managers of the New York State School for the Blind at Batavia, N. Y., present to the Legislature their report for the year beginning July 1, 1920, and ending June 30, 1921.

BOARD OF MANAGERS

No changes occurred during the year in the membership of the Board. The term of Dr. F. Park Lewis of Buffalo expired in February, 1921, and Governor Miller reappointed him to the great satisfaction of the other members. Dr. Lewis has been continuously a member of the Board since 1893 and has been president of the Board since 1900.

Nine Board meetings were held during the year. The July, August and December, 1920, meetings were omitted because of the absence of several managers.

The average attendance for the nine meetings was five and one-third.

The Honorable John Knight, Senator, met with the Managers November 18th to talk over with them the needs of the school along the lines of appropriations and legislation.

REGISTRATION

Pupils enrolled during the year numbered 181, 102 boys and 79 girls, an increase of 14 over our registration of the previous year. We enrolled 34 new pupils, 19 boys and 15 girls.

The following table contains certain comparative data showing the registration of the school for the past twenty years:

HEALTH

The general health of the school family was excellent throughout the year, and we were obliged to employ help to care for the sick only occasionally. The hospital was not opened for the reception of pupils at all. We had three mild cases of chicken pox, several cases of ear trouble following colds, but none of them serious.

CAUSES OF BLINDNESS OF NEW PUPILS

The 33 pupils who were registered at our school during the year for the first time were diagnosed as follows: Optic atrophy, 10; corneal opacities, 7; secondary cataract, 2; congenital cataract, 2; neuro-retinitis, 2; panophthalmitis, 1; congenital lack of development, 1; phthisis bulbi, 1; congenital amblyopia, 1; retinal degeneration, 1; retino-choroiditis and corneal opacities, 1; choroiditis and optic atrophy, 1; congenital cataract and progressive myopia, 1; congenital dislocated lens and optic atrophy, 1; traumatism and sympathetic ophthalmia, 1.

CAUSES OF BLINDNESS

Following are the causes of blindness of the 181 pupils registered during the year: Ophthalmia neonatorum, 36; optic atrophy, 37; congenital cataract, 26; congenital amblyopia, 14; hydrophthalmus, 6; leucoma, 8; cataracts, 7; traumatism, 6; sympathetic ophthalmia, 4; corneal opacities, 7; choroiditis, 3; interstitial keratitis, 3; detached retina, 2; microphthalmus, 2; neuro retinitis, 2; phlyctenular keratitis, 1; myopia and choroiditis, 1; pan-ophthalmitis, 1; choroiditis and microphthalmus, 1; retinitis pigmentosa, 1; congenital malformation, 1; congenital lack of development, 1; glaucoma, 1; microphthalmus-hydrophthalmus, 1; keratitis, 1; iritis, 1; choroiditis with optic atrophy, 1; uveitis, 1; phthisis bulbi, 1; nebula of cornea, 1; irido cyclitis, 1; not diagnosed, 2.

CHANGES IN STAFF

We had only one new member on our faculty. Mr. Thomas A. Beadnell has very satisfactorily taken charge of the department of piano tuning. He is a graduate of our school and had several

years' experience in teaching in schools for the blind in the west. He has also had considerable experience in factory tuning and outside work.

At the close of the year covered by this report, Miss Harriet A. Lounsbury retired from the work of teaching after a career of thirty-seven years as teacher in the schools of the State. Our Board recognized her thirteen and a half years of service in our school with appropriate resolutions. She is to be succeeded the coming year by Miss Frieda Rubin of Gloversville, a graduate of the Oswego Normal School.

ENTERTAINMENT

The entertainment afforded our pupils for the year included the following: Maurice Marechal, a French cellist; Bentley Ball, baritone; the Silver Lake Orchestra; Miss Frances Washing, soprano; George Boughton, violinist; Frank Watkins, tenor; W. Ray Burroughs, pipe organist; Margaret Ferguson and Emelie Yoder, pianists. In addition we should mention the delightful entertainment afforded our pupils on Christmas afternoon by Mr. and Mrs. George Watson of Batavia; visit and gifts of Batavia Commandery, K. T., on New Years Day, and an auto ride and picnic given by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce May 24th.

GRADUATES OF 1921

Two young men and three young women graduated in June, 1921, one from the tuning department, one from the music department, two from the literary course, and one young lady from the literary, music and girls' industrial departments.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

The usual school organizations have functioned during the year. We would also mention the following activities: An exhibit at the State Fair in the fall of 1920; pageant, December, 1920, "Faith of Our Fathers," commemorating the tercentenary of the landing of the Pilgrims; annual athletic exhibition in March; prize speaking contest with the girls of the Batavia IIigh School in May.