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ADAPTATIONS OF AIDS STUDY

One of the recommendations of the Dartmouth report was that a study be made of the psychological factors involved in the use of magnifying devices. During the past summer, Dr. Walter F. Dearborn, Director of the Psycho-educational Laboratory of Harvard University, was interested in a study of this type, and a project to make a study of the adaptation of visual aids for use by the partially sighted was approved and underwritten by the National Research Council. The contract for this work has been given to Perkins Institution, and the technical supervisor will be Dr. Dearborn, who has enlisted the interest and support of some of the leading authorities in the fields of psychology and optics. The study is getting under way at the present time.

Continuing this report in the fields in which the Director has been active outside of the Perkins province, it may be stated that he has continued to serve as Secretary and Trustee of the American Foundation of the Blind, Trustee of the American Foundation for the Overseas Blind and Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Foundation for Vision, created by the late Dr. Theodore L. Terry, for research in the field of retrolental fibroplasia. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Eye Bank for Sight Restoration of New York, and has been interested in the group in Boston that has recently established an eye bank at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, where he is also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Social Service Department.

STAFF MEMBERS RETIRE

Coming back to Perkins, this report will conclude with a statement regarding changes of personnel during the year covered. At the close of the school in June, Perkins added to the retired list two members of the staff who have served for many years. Miss Mary B. Knowlton came to Perkins shortly after her graduation from the Massachusetts School of Art in 1893. From that time until June she taught in the Boys' Vocational Department, where she made a great contribution through her artistic ability, her devotion to the cause, and her great interest in the many boys who have felt the impact of her personality. The second person to be retired was Miss Lily B. Howard, who since 1924 has been the telephone operator, and the first to greet visitors to Perkins from her office at the entrance to the Howe Building. Miss Howard is an interesting link between Perkins and the Royal Normal College in London, which was established by a former teacher in Perkins, who became, because of his notable work in England, Sir Francis Campbell. When Mr. Campbell went to London in 1872, he took with him from Perkins six teachers, including Miss Mary Howard. While she was in England, Miss Howard adopted Lily, and brought her to this country. Here Miss Howard later married Elwyn W. Fowler, for many years head of the Piano Tuning Department at Perkins, and who was retired from our staff a year ago.

Miss Sharlie M. Chandler who has been associated with Perkins since 1911 as a teacher in the Girls' Vocational Department was granted a year's leave of absence. Three war substitutes have withdrawn from the staff: Dr. Dera Kinsey who has served so faithfully as school physician, Dr. H. B. C. Riemer, ophthalmologist, and Dr. George E. Crowell, dentist in the Upper School. Perkins is very grateful for their services during these years, and enjoyed their association and their interest in our pupils. Dr. Mark D. Elliott, who was a major in the Dental Corps of the Army Air Forces, has returned to his work as Upper School dentist, and Dr. Trygve Gundersen, who did such notable work in the Army overseas, and who is now Chief Ophthalmologist of the Veterans Administration, resumed in the middle of the school year his position as ophthalmologist at Perkins. He is being assisted by Dr. Joseph M. Clough, who served as ophthalmologist with the Navy in Iceland during the war. Dr. Victor C. Balboni, who served overseas with the Army, assumed the duties of school physician in the spring.

NEW SUPERVISOR OF GIRLS

At the close of the school in June, Miss Elsie H. Simonds relinquished her position as Supervisor of Girls, but will continue as a teacher in the fields of English and square handwriting, on which she is an authority. For fifteen years Miss Simonds was the head of the Girls' Upper School, and when the Girls' and Boys' Schools were Coordinated she became Supervisor of Girls, which office she has held for ten years. The position of Supervisor of Girls will be filled by Dr. Alice M. Carpenter, formerly head of the Ming Sum School for the Blind in Canton, China. Miss Carpenter was a member of the Harvard Class in 1934-1935. She was interned by the Japanese during the war, and upon her release came back to Perkins, where she taught during the year 1944-1945. She returned to China last year to terminate her work there. Miss Carpenter brings to Perkins a wide experience in the field of the blind, and a mature understanding of the problems of girls. In June she received from her Alma Mater, Hastings College, the honorary degree of Doctor of Pedagogy.