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The Physical Education Department carried on its usual program of gymnasium classes and programs of physical fitness, stressing during the winter months swimming and wrestling. In swimming, the pupils were instructed by Walter Houston, the swimming instructor provided by the American Red Cross. The wrestling team was trained by Maxwell Rappaport, former New England wrestling champion, who did a good deal to develop a fine team at Perkins. Meets were held with several high schools and academies. During the spring months the boys were on the field preparing for track events, and held three meets on the school grounds: on May 13 with Watertown High School; on June 1, when the Overbrook team came to Perkins; and on June 8, when we were host to the New York Institute. Unfortunately we did not win any of these meets, but at least had the value of the association and competition with three unusually good teams.

A spring event of unusual interest was the visit of the Glee Club made up of girls, and the Octet made up of boys, to Tabor Academy, where on the evening of May 24 they gave a concert. During the afternoon they enjoyed sailing and other sports at this school with which Mr. Sherman was formerly connected. Both the Glee Club and the Octet had a great many opportunities for public performances during the year, and reflected credit on the musical training which Perkins has given to them.

GRADUATION AWARDS

Graduation was held this year on Wednesday, June 19. This was several days later than usual in order to shorten the gap between the closing of school and the beginning of the convention, as many of the staff members wished to remain for that event. Diplomas were awarded by Mr. Robert H. Hallowell, President of the Corporation, to Norma Farrar, Winchester, Massachusetts; Faye George, Barre, Vermont; Margaret Hayman, Chelsea, Massachusetts; Mary Martinelli, Bridgewater, Massachusetts; Edmund E. Berube, Fall River, Massachusetts; Thomas Cotter, Roxbury, Massachusetts; Richard Crane, Providence, Rhode Island; Bruno Kiwior, Ludlow, Massachusetts. The invocation was offered by the Rev. Edson G. Waterhouse of the Methodist Church in Watertown, and an excellent Commencement address was made by the Rev. Carl Heath Kopf of the Mount Vernon Church in Boston. The dances usually held by the boys and girls respectively on the night before and the night of graduation, were held this year prior to graduation on May 17 and May 18. After much consideration it was felt that it would relieve the crowding at graduation time to have these social events earlier in the year. The plan proved successful, and did give the graduation the dignity and the freshness which came through the elimination of other events. In the place of the dances, a reception was held in the museum of the Howe Building following the graduation. This gave opportunity for the officers of the school to meet the parents and friends, and for the graduates also to meet their guests in a pleasant social way.

At the graduation exercises, Winfield Lewis received his certificate as a Pianoforte Tuner, and Certificates of Efficiency were awarded by the Ediphone Company to the following members of the Commercial Department: Faye George, Ethel Murray, Clarice Rothe, Hideko Shimokawa, and Jane Waska. Faye George of the graduating class entered Middlebury in September, while Edmund Berube has been admitted to Brown University. Three posgraduate students entered college in September: Roman Mochernuk, School of Music, Oberlin College; Stephen Garabedian, Rhode Island State College, to major in landscape gardening; Robert Fried, to take courses in journalism at Boston University.

A. A. I. B. CONVENTION

Following graduation, attention was turned to the preparation to receive the American Association of Instructors of the Blind, who held their biennial convention at Perkins during the last week of June. Over 200 persons came to the convention, representing schools' for the blind from all parts of the country. Nearly all attending liveed at the school, and meals were served not in the cottages, as that would have divided the whole group, but in the Lower School assembly hall and gymnasium. This made it possible for the entire convention to have meals together, which is always one of the high points in gatherings of this type.

While the program for the convention was prepared by the Executive Committee of the Association, Perkins did have a part in planning some of the local features. One of the outstanding features of this convention was addresses from people outside the field of the blind, who came from educational institutions. They pointed out the general trends in education, which it was our desire to understand so that adaptation could be made to our special field, and we could keep informed of the new developments in general education. Under this plan, speakers came from the Graduate School of Education, Harvard University; the School of Education; Boston University; and from Wheelock College, the center for kindergarten and primary school training. Another speaker of general interest was Col. E. A. Baker, Head of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, who spoke at the open meeting held on the second night of the convention. Dr. Edward E. Allen, the Director Emeritus, gave a spirited talk on some of his ideas and principles in our special field. Sight-seeing trips to historic places around Boston were planned and greatly enjoyed. On Thursday evening, June 27, the closing night, a large section of Symphony Hall was engaged so that visitors could enjoy one of Boston's unique Pop Concerts. Following the convention, many letters of appreciation were received and everyone was unanimous in feeling that the convention was one of the most successful ever held.