View report page

51
used to keep books upright) so that the minimum amount of
head-bending, with its consequent eye strain is required of the
partially blind child.
"In the Senior classes the children are taught to typewrite on
Remington typewriters, so that in time they are able to typewrite
their essays, and this without using their eyes at all, the 'touch
typewriting method' being employed. The junior children write
their exercises on blackboards, or on large sheets of black paper,
affixed to the wall.
"Those children who are 'Blind within the Meaning of the
Act,' number 17 at present. They are taught the Braille System
of reading and writing, and use the Taylor frame for working
out their arithmetic exercises.
"These children are also taught to typewrite, in order to
facilitate their chances of communicating with a community
which is generally unfamiliar with the Braille System.
"As the children are not permitted to read books printed in
ordinary type, the teacher reads aloud some standard work of
literature for at least half an hour every day. The important
news is read to the children weekly. Oral lessons in history,
geography, hygiene, nature study and citizenship are given.
Scripture history of course, is taught in the time set apart for it.
The instruction given follows the same lines as that given in
an ordinary elementary school.
"In addition to the ordinary school curriculum, various forms
of manual work are undertaken.
"Printing, bookbinding, brushmaking, staining and polishing
are taken by the boys, while the girls learn hand-knitting,
machine knitting, cardboard modelling, leather work and raffia
work. In addition, all the children work at gardening, clay
modelling, and the partially blind do large pastel drawings.
The Braille children also learn chair-caning, rush-seating
and cane-weaving.
In order that the younger children 'may, come into closer
contact with normal children of their own age and capacity, the
Juniors attend the adjacent elementary school for lessons in
history and geography and nature study.
The seniors take all their lessons at the Myope Centre, as the
children of their age and capacity in the elementary schools learn
their lessons mainly from books, printed in type too small for the
myope child to read.