Library Collections: Document: Full Text

Syracuse State School For Mental Defectives, Seventy-First Annual Report

Creator:		n/a
Date:		1922
Source:		Steve Taylor Collection

Previous Page Next Page All Pages

Disbursements

1. Offices and employees	$100,259.65
2. Food	35,727.18
3. Fuel, light, power and water	27,802.93
4. Clothing	11,565.07
5. Furniture and furnishings	10,937.68
6. Medical and surgical	1,098.71
7. Farm and garden	10,677.94
8. Roads, grounds and walks	386.56
9. General administration	4,490.33
10. Office expense	1,499.87
11. Traveling expenses	1,324.17
12. Fixed charges and contributions	6,111.87
13. Repairs	7,452.81
Total expenses	$219,334.77
Lapsed appropriations	7,605.19
Balances returnable to State Treasurer	5,281.04
Amount forwarded to Comptroller and not returned	12,220.71
Total	$244,441.71

Assets

Due from counties	$280.00
Due from pay cases	150.00
Due from unexpended special appropriations	5,692.64
Total	$6,122.64

SCHEDULE OF SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS

	Balance July 1, 1920	Expended 1920	Balance June 30, 1921
Reconstruction of heating system and stokers	$3,020.14	$11.25	$3,008.89
Electric wiring at Fairmount	1,400.00	1,216.25	183.75
Water line to Fairmount	2,500	...	2,500
	$6,920.14	$1,227.50	$5,692.64

O. H. COBB, Treasurer.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT

To the Board of Managers:

I submit herewith my report on the condition of the Syracuse State School for the year ending June 30, 1921:

ADMISSIONS AND DISCHARGES

Applications on file July 1, 1920	66
Since received	214
	280

Admitted	202
Cancelled	42
Rejected	16
Applications on file July 1, 1921	20
	280

Died	4
Died on parole	1
Discharged to counties	18
Removed by relatives	7
Transferred to Craig Colony	3
Transferred to Letchworth Village	1
Transferred to Newark State School	4
Transferred to Rome State School	86
Total Discharges	124

ENROLLMENT

	Boys	Girls	Total
Present July 1, 1920	223	373	596
Absent on parole	35	17	52
Since admitted	115	87	202
	373	477	850
Died	0	5	5
Discharged	86	33	119
Present July 1, 1921	242	392	634
Absent on parole July 1, 1921	45	47	92
Total enrolled July 1, 1921	287	439	726
Average daily attendance	217	369	586

Per capita cost of maintenance, $385.08.

ADMINISTRATIVE

Conditions regarding employment and deliveries and prices of supplies improved toward the end of the year. The grade of new employees, particularly men, was noticeably higher. Abundant crops, milk supply and canned fruits and vegetables produced by the institution afforded a plentiful and varied diet throughout the year.

The health of the school has been excellent. Influenza appeared in a few mild and scattered cases. Two children and three uninoculated employees contracted typhoid. There were no epidemics. Children requiring endocrine treatment received special attention.

Improvements included an electric dough mixer, milk pasteurizer and electric lighting at Fairmount.

School

The large number of new children, nearly all of moron grade, made a busy year in the school. Most of these children are good material for later parole. The boys manual classes made 944 mattresses for the school and teachers training department and attractive flower boxes for all dining rooms. Three new teachers replaced those who had resigned, and Misses Hallett and Morrow visited the schools at Waverly and Wrentham to study methods. Dr. Davies conducted a six months' course in psychometric testing, attended by the teachers who also completed the course in the teachers' training department.

For entertainment, in addition to weekly movies and dances, the children attended the circus and State Fair, where the orchestra gave several concerts. All were entertained by Mrs. Cobb in group parties at the Superintendent's house or on picnics. For those with good work and behavior records frequent entertainments were given in Music Hall.

PAROLE

The purpose of parole is to place out every child capable of self-support and not liable to become a social menace, and to relieve the institution of the maintenance of all but those of school age or who because of limited mental capacity, poor health or personality defect require custodial care. As the mental defective is peculiarly susceptible to surrounding conditions it is essential that the best possible environment be provided and that by frequent visits and reports the parole officer know all that is well, or learn of developments in time to avert trouble.

Although the wishes of parents always receive due consideration it is in many cases advisable that the child be placed elsewhere. The average boy is better stabilized and more contented on a farm than in the city, and the best place for a girl is as assistant in a middle class home. The employers take a conscientious interest in their charges and amply provide for their welfare and happiness. In return the boy or girl does good work and more than makes up any deficiencies by loyalty and affection for his employer. The girls make tireless and devoted caretakers of children, as they are affectionate and endowed with the instinct of motherhood.