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"The first group constitutes a relatively simple administrative
problem, but it is far otherwise with the second and third, especially,
of course, the last, and the position is still further complicated by
the fact that scientific opinion is divided as to the value of the
procedure which is usually adopted to attempt to check the progress
of the condition (avoidance of reading, homework, sewing, etc.).
"Briefly there are two schools of thought. The majority of
ophthalmologists in this country believe that the progress of the
morbid process is accelerated by ordinary school work such as
reading and writing, and advocate that all homework should be
prohibited and only oral teaching adopted in school. The opposing
school, on the other hand, holds that these factors are of little
importance in these severe cases, and that the progress of the
disease depends on hereditary and constitutional factors. If this
latter view is correct, as it may well be, administrators who prohibit
such children from reading take a very serious responsibility. It
is well known that very many eminent men in the literary and
scientific worlds are high myopes, indeed myopes are traditionally
studious, and to deprive an intelligent child of twelve of books at
the time when normally he starts to acquire those habits of curiosity
and study upon which so much depends later, seems grossly unfair,
and may well be resented by the parent who wishes his child to
do well. In addition myopes are often unfitted by their general
physique, even by the very defect itself, from any but a studious
or sedentary life. They cannot excel at games or sports, and to