SEVENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OF COLUMBIA INSTITUTION FOR THE DEAF, Washington, D. C., September 1, 1929. SIR: During the fiscal year July 1, 1928, through June 30, 1929, there were under instruction in the advanced department of the institution, known as Gallaudet College, 75 men and 54 women, a total of 129, representing 35 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada. This is a decrease of 15 compared with the preceding year. In the primary and grammar department, known as the Kendall School, there were under instruction 36 boys and 23 girls, a total of 59. This is a decrease of 1 compared with the preceding year. Of the total in this department, 54 were admitted as beneficiaries of the District of Columbia. There were admitted to the institution 29 males and 30 females; discharged, 25 males and 23 females. HEALTH The health of the students during the fiscal year was good. A number of mild cases of influenza appeared during the winter, but all recovered rapidly. A few surgical operations were necessary. One serious fracture of the arm, caused by a fall, was successfully reduced. Two pupils were operated on for the removal of tonsils. The usual care has been taken of the dairy to see that the milk supply for our students is reliable. Weekly bacteriological examinations were made as well as the necessary inspection of farm animals and dairy equipment. Regular physical exercise is required of all students not excused by our physician. COURSES OF INSTRUCTION Courses of instruction have remained practically unchanged during the year. At a meeting of the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf held at Faribault, Minn., in June, the institution was urged to provide more vocational courses, particularly in the advanced department, and to enlarge its normal-training department. SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON PROBLEMS OF THE DEAF A special committee on problems of the deaf, appointed by the National Research Council, presented to a gathering of educators of the deaf and other scientific men, in February, 1929, a very complete program of needed research which was adopted and placed in the 69301-29 1 hands of a permanent committee to be carried out as far as possible. The special committee, of which the president of this institution was a member, was then discharged. The program adopted calls for the investigation of the curricula of schools for the deaf, the training of special teachers of the deaf, the preparation of adequate speech, lip reading, intelligence and educational tests for deaf pupils, a study of discriminations against deaf people in law and elsewhere, a testing of instruments for the aid of hard-of-hearing persons, and many other important problems. MEETING OF CONVENTION OF AMERICAN INSTRUCTORS OF THE DEAF A meeting of the Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf was held at Faribault, Minn., June 17 to June 22. The president of the institution and two members of the faculty attended this meeting and were active on the program. Sixty graduates of the various departments of the institution now engaged in the education of the deaf were present at this meeting, 18 of whom are executive heads of schools for the deaf. NEEDS OF THE INSTITUTION To comply with the requests for an enlarged curriculum it will be necessary to add at least two instructors to our force, one of these to be a teacher in business practice and another a teacher in advanced mechanical drawing, both of which fields are open without difficulty to deaf people. There is no question, also, but that the pupils and students should have more opportunities for auricular training. In order to have this we should be furnished with electrical equipment for the magnification of speech. Such equipment should be provided both in small and large units for class and individual instruction. We should have also an additional instructor for auricular and oral work. Attention has been called a number of times to the need of an additional watchman on our grounds. These consist of about 104 acres, part of which is woodland. New building continues to bring a larger population into proximity to our grounds, and makes it more necessary to have some one on duty as watchman during the daytime to care for our property. Our dormitories will be filled practically to the limit during the coming year, and provision should be made for more room for students. at an early date. This can probably best be accomplished for the near future by the erection of a building to take care of classrooms, library, printing office, and other activities, removing these from the men's dormitory. With the broadening of the educational work of the institution, and the increase of pupils to be expected, an increase of 25 free scholarships in our advanced department, known as Gallaudet College, should be provided, making a total of 150. IMPROVEMENTS COMPLETED An appropriation of $15,000 for the remodeling of the power plant was carefully expended during the year. A 300-horsepower highpressure steam boiler was installed and put into operation, additional space for coal storage provided, old boilers were relined, laundry engine repaired, and many minor changes and improvements made. A new refrigerator for the main kitchen was installed which has saved a considerable amount of ice during the year. Approximately 600 square yards of old asphalt roadway which had become very bad was resurfaced with new asphalt. COMBINED STATEMENT OF THE DISBURSING AGENT AND THE TREASURER OF RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1929 1 The account for the year for the farm in its relation with the other parts of the institution was as follows: Combined statement of the disbursing agent and the treasurer of receipts and expenses for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1929-Continued Expenses for bookkeeping premium, bond of treasurer, safety deposit box.. Total Manual labor fund: Balance on hand July 1, 1928. Receipts from coupons.. Total........ For salary of manual training teacher. Balance on hand, June 30, 1929.. Total Memorial art fund: Balance on hand, July 1, 1928. Receipts from coupons.. Total... Repairs to works of art in chapel. Balance on hand, June 30, 1929. Total... Receipts Expenses $863.72 1, 448.93 2, 312. 65 EXERCISES OF PRESENTATION DAY The sixty-fifth public anniversary of the collegiate department was held in the college chapel on Tuesday, June 11. The invocation. was offered by the Rev. C. T. Warner, rector, St. Albans Parish. The orations given by members of the graduating class were as follows: The Unknown World, The Ocean, David Elmer Mudgett, Illinois. The following candidates were granted degrees: Honorary master of arts Arthur Percy Buchanan, Texas. Master of arts in the normal department Earle Kenneth Bouteiller, B. S., Trinity College. Lewis McLaurine Mayers, B. A., Centre College. Dwight W. Reeder, B. A., Colorado State Teachers' College. Bachelor of arts Louis Mark Byouk, Colorado. Glenn Arthur Gallagher, Missouri. Thomas Ralph Peterson, Nebraska. Arthur LeRoy Ridings, Missouri. Bachelor of science Ida Christine Hanson, Wisconsin. Certificate of graduation from the normal department Helen R. Allabough, Northwestern University. Alfred Cranwill, George Washington University. The Right Rev. John W. Hamilton, ex-chancellor, American University, delivered the address to the graduating class and friends of the college. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Arthur D. Bryant. All of which is respectfully submitted. The SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. PERCIVAL HALL, President. |