§ 4201. Duties of commissioner of education. 1. The following institutions for the instruction of the deaf and of the blind shall be subject to the visitation of the commissioner of education: a. The New York school for the deaf;

b. The Lexington school for the deaf;

c. St. Mary's school for the deaf in the city of Buffalo;

e. St. Joseph's school for the deaf in the city of New York;

f. Rochester school for the deaf in the city of Rochester;

h. The New York Institute for Special Education in the city of New York;

i. Lavelle School for the Blind in the city of New York;

j. Mill Neck Manor school for the deaf in Nassau county;

k. St. Francis DeSales school for the deaf and hard of hearing in the county of Kings.

l. Cleary Deaf Child Center, Inc., in the counties of Suffolk and Nassau.

2. It shall be the duty of the commissioner:

a. To inquire into the organization of the several schools and the methods of instruction employed therein.

b. To prescribe courses of study and methods of instruction that will meet the requirements of the state for the education of state pupils.

c. To make appointments of pupils to the several schools, to transfer such pupils from one school to another as circumstances may require; to cancel appointments for sufficient reason.

d. To ascertain by a comparison with other similar institutions whether any improvements in instruction and discipline can be made; and for that purpose to appoint from time to time, suitable persons to visit the schools.

e. To suggest to the directors of such institutions and to the legislature such improvements as he shall judge expedient.

f. To make an annual report to the legislature on all of the matters enumerated in this subdivision and particularly as to the condition of the schools, the improvement of the pupils, and their treatment in respect to board and lodging.