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45
in carrying out suggestions and treatment. It is noteworthy that
a high standard of education has been achieved in every case with
little or no increase in the impairment of vision. A considerable
number of cases have been admitted during the year to the Western
Ophthalmic Hospital for operation."
Miss M. L. Balls, the Head Teacher, has kindly sent the following
notes:—
'"It will be readily understood that great care is required in
arranging suitable instruction for children of all ages handicapped
by various forms of Eye Disease. The aim of the school is, that
the children receive the maximum amount of instruction with the
minimum use of sight.
"The children are divided into two groups:—
1. Partially sighted.
2. Those 'Blind within the meaning of the Act.'
"The Partially sighted children use their eyes in doing their
work; reading and writing very large type, seated before blackboards,
or large type books, which are in an upright position, and
so require no head bending on the part of the child.
"Selected passages for reading are written on black paper by the
teacher, and then the boys copy these lessons, printing them with
large rubber type. The bookbinding class then binds the printed
sheets. In this way the school is accumulating a variety of suitably
printed books. Arithmetic exercises are dealt with in a similar
manner.
"After a course of typewriting lessons, the senior classes are able
to typewrite their essays; the junior children write on blackboards
or on large sheets of black paper.
"Those children who are 'Blind within the meaning of the Act'
number 16 at present. They are taught the Braille System of
reading and writing, and use the Taylor Frame for working their
Arithmetic Exercises. As the children are not permitted to read
books printed in ordinary type, the teacher reads some standard
work of literature to them for about half an hour daily. The
important news is read aloud each week. Oral lessons in history,
geography, hygiene, nature study and citizenship are given, scripture
history of course being taught in the time set apart for it.
The instruction given follows the same lines as that given in an
Elementary School.