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149
of the letters, the sheet of paper must be pinned to the blackboard (not put on a
table surface) and the writing done at arm's length. The limit is set by the 1½
hour total for reading and writing, and the best apportionment of the time in each
dav will be arrived at after consultation between the mistresses teaching the Forms
concerned.
(4) Preparation periods and homework.—In some of the preparation periods
these children will have special poetry lessons. In others where the work is not
writing, the quick learners amongst the normal-sighted should be allowed to teach
the lesson sotto voce to the short-sighted, working in couples. It is hoped that
those at home will undertake a certain amount of such teaching, e.g., the scripture
verses and poetry, by repetition; some history and geography, by reading
through.
(5) In ordinary lessons these children should be encouraged to listen with their
eyes closed; they should have frequent questions to prevent their falling asleep.
(6) In science lessons they may momentarily read the markings on glass
cylinders, thermometers, balances, etc. If this is found difficult the short-sighted
child must rely on its partner's readings.
In botany no effort should be made to see nectaries or small structures, but
large diagrams should be consulted and the children encouraged to exercise the
imagination necessary to visualise details in their true proportion.
(7) In singing lessons, the ruled music boards should be used for tests instead
of manuscript books. As the word books may not be used, myopic children will
have to sing to "la" except in so far as they pick up the words.
(8) In handwork a beginning should be made with knitting. Girls who are
accurate knitters should be set to produce as many garments as they can, gradually
increasing their power of knitting without looking. Beginners must practice at
once to obtain accuracy without looking. Wool rug work on canvas, raffia and
cane work, netting and weaving are all suitable, and in them all the habit of feeling
the process rather than seeing it should be cultivated.
(9) In drawing plant form can be copied in brush work. Perspective and large
groups can be done in charcoal on white paper or in white chalk on brown paper.
Design with measuring should be attempted only on blackboard scale. The
ordinary art desk is unsuitable.
Careful enquiries have been made as to the most suitable occupations for children
suffering from marked myopia, and the following suggestions are offered for the
guidance of those concerned.
The occupations are in two grades, the first selection (A) is mainly of the outdoor
type, enabling the worker to be standing and moving—the general health is
likely to be better for the freedom of movement enjoyed and with the improvement
of general health the state of the eyes is likely to be benefited. The second selection
(B) involves sitting and stooping to some extent and is therefore not so good for the
body and the eyes.
Occupations
for myopes
Boys.
A. B.
Nursery gardening Stick and pipe mounting.
Messengers. Pipe makers.
Insurance agents. Some branches brush making.
Rent collectors. Basket making.
Piano tuners. Artificial flower making.
Poultry farming. Confectionery.
Hawking or street trading. Boot mending.
Travellers or canvassers. Metal punching.
Shopwork under good conditions. Upholstery.
Wire workerg (bird cages, etc.). Coffin making.
Hotel and club servants (no lifting). Builder's merchant.
Chemical soap and candle factories (wrappers Ironmonger.
and packets). Tobacco stopping and cigar making.