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Report of the County Medical Officer—Education.
99
decision arrived at, e.g., the age of the child; whether one or both eyes is affected; the nature and degree
of the affection; the probability of amelioration or aggravation of the affection during school age; the
possible effect of school attendance and work; the possible educational advantage of a change of regime,
may be, of school and of home; lastly, in the case of the blind or partly blind, the most suitable school
for the particular child, in the knowledge of his or her age and capability.
Up to the end of 1912, 313 had been entered on the roll of "myopes," some of these are now
in myope schools, some have left London, others again have passed the school age, but there is still a
considerable list of children for whom there are as yet no places. They are for the most part attending
ordinary elementary schools, to which they are admitted under special conditions for oral instruction
onlv, but are likely to be seriously harmed if these directions are not followed.
Children admitted to elementary schools under such limitations are obviously in an anomalous
position, and their presence is a source of some difficulty to the teachers in that they disturb the normal
routine. Despite these difficulties there is on the whole some advantage to the child, who is better off
in school than loafing at home or in the streets; and it would be quite easy to demonstrate that the
children themselves prefer to be in school.
To make clearer the nature of the condition of the eyes of these children, and the limitation of
the educational treatment that is to be received, both these points are explained to the parent in
attendance at the office, who is given at the same time a card printed as follows:—
Notice Regarding the Care of the Eyes.—To the Parents or Guardians of
Your child suffers from a defcct of vision that prevents him or her from joining in the ordinary work
of the school. If it is impossible for you to obtain admission for the child to a special class for shortsighted
children he (or she) may attend an elementary school with a view to gaining the educational advantages
of school discipline and such general knowledge as can be given in the oral lessons of the classes. Reading
and writing of any kind will not be allowed except blackboard work. You are particularly asked to watch
your child at home, to teach games and outdoor play, and to stop all reading and writing. (In the case of a
girl, sewing should be completely stopped, but knitting may be learned provided the child does it by feeling
the stitches and not by looking at them.) The child should be out of doors as much as possible.
It is equally necessary that the teachers to whose care these children are committed should be
clear as to the necessary limitation of their work, and to this end a circular letter, which reads as follows
is sent to the head teacher of the school to which any such child is admitted :—
Visual defects.-—Children recommended for "easy treatment."—These children usually suffer from a
defect of one eye only, or they have defective vision in both eyes of a moderate degree. With reasonable
care school work should not cause strain of the eyes or entail the risk of exaggeration of their visual defect.
These children should sit in the front row of the class, sit upright, and not be allowed to stoop over any literary
work allowed them. Girls must do no sewing, but may learn knitting, provided it be taught by touch and not by
sight. Boys and girls should be prohibited the use of books with small print or writing of any sort other than
a bold large-lettered hand. They should not join in exercises that involve the reading or writing of masses
of numerals or geometrical figures. They may read or write in large type preferably for periods not exceeding
20 minutes without a break. They should not be allowed to stoop over their work, and, if it be possible, the
writing should be done free-arm fashion on a blackboard or millboard set up on the desk.
So far as school arrangements allow they should attend all the object-lessons, demonstrations, and oral
lessons that are given in the school.
Drill, dancing, games of all kinds may be freely indulged in.
Home lessons of any sort should bo prohibited.
Children recommended for " oral teaching only."—These children suffer from some serious defect of vision
such as gradually increasing short sight. When no place can be found for them in a special school they are
admitted to the elementary school with a view to their gaining the educational advantage of school discipline
and such general knowledge as can be given them in the oral lessons of the classes.
The use of books, pens, paper, pencils, and slates of any kind and for any purpose is to be prohibited
and the child should be reminded at intervals by the teacher in a friendly chat that the prohibition is for his
or her own benefit, and that they must do at homo what they are trained to do at school.
If the class arrangements permit they may be allowed to write or draw on the blackboard in large
characters freearm fashion.
If a girl shows aptitude for handwork she may learn knitting by touch, but not by sight. Similarly
a boy may do the larger kinds of carpentry, but he must not use the rule or draw measured plans.
For the most part, these childien may drill and dance, but they should be warned against using
gymnastic apparatus or dumb-bells, for example, in connection with the Children's Happy Evenings Association.
They should be cautious in the playground games.
The head teacher should, in the course of each year, draw the attention of the school doctor to these
children, and give the doctor information as to their educational progress or any difficulties which may have
arisen in connection with the eases.
Even presuming the greatest understanding and watchfulness of the parents at home, and the
greatest readiness of the teacher at school to make the necessary allowances for these abnormal units
in their classes, this arrangement for the admission of myopes of high degree to elementary schools for
oral teaching only is a makeshift.
The work of the myope class.—The scheme of work laid down for these classes was as follows:
(1) Oral teaching with normal children, for such subjects as can be taught orally; (2) Literary work,
such as is necessary for the knowledge of the ordinary means of communication, to be learned without
books, pens, or paper, but by the Use of blackboards and chalk, the writing to be done free-arm fashion;
(3) A very full use of every sort of handicraft that would develop attention, method, and skill, with the
minimum use of the eyes.
After four years' experience with the experimental class, and the extended observation of the
work of the two larger schools, it has been found quite possible to carry on the teaching of children in
this manner ; and the experience has shown that the scheme is a success not only in that the condition
of the eyes of the children under observation has remained as satisfactory as could be anticipated, but
also from the attraction it presents to both teachers and scholars. Both enjoy it, notwithstanding
that for the teachers the method calls for a degree of alertness and constancy of effort that is greater