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It is with sincere regret that I am obliged to say in this connection, that the very call to the managers of the schools for the blind to join in the deliberations of the "National Conference of Charities and Corrections" is a striking illustration of such understanding. It shows conclusively, that the nature and scope of the education of sightless children is not as widely understood as it ought to be. In consequence of this imperfect knowledge, they are arbitrarily separated from the deaf mutes and are unjustly and indiscriminately classed with paupers, criminals and insane.

I earnestly hope that the representatives of the various schools for the instruction of the blind will not assent tacitly to this unfortunate misunderstanding. It will be very unwise, to say the least, on their part to do so. Duty as well as the fundamental principles of their work and the vital interests of their charge alike demand that they should endeavor to rectify this error as soon as possible. For myself, I feel compelled to remonstrate against it. The school with which I am connected is founded upon the solid rock of equity and not upon the piers of pity and favor. It has therefore no official relation whatever with the state board of charities. It is placed by law where it properly belongs, namely under the supervision of the state board of education. It is classed with the state normal schools, the state art school, the state agricultural college and the schools for the deaf mutes; and I cannot allow myself to do the least thing which may have even the appearance of dragging it back among the eleemosynary and reformatory establishments. In my judgment, the discussions in which the instructors of the blind ought to participate are those of the "National Educational Association" and the "American Institute of Instruction," and to take an active part in anything pertaining to the improvement of the methods of teaching, mental development, physical and technical training, moral education, school discipline, and the like.

For these reasons I feel constrained not only to request that my name be dropped from the list of members of the standing committee which was appointed at the last meeting of the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, but to raise my feeble voice against the injustice of classifying the schools for the blind with charitable, penal or reformatory institutions.