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56
also taught to typewrite in order to facilitate their opportunities
of communication with a community largely unfamiliar with the
Braille system.
"All the ohildren receive oral instruction in the ordinary school
subjects, and as the children oannot read, books printed in the
ordinary type, the teacher reads aloud some standard work of
literature for at least half an hour daily. Important news is read
to the classes weekly. The method of instruction, and syllabus is
in accordance with those followed in the elementary school.
"In addition to the ordinary school curriculum, various forms
of manual work are undertaken.
"Printing, bookbinding, leatherwork, brushmaking, staining
and polishing are taken by the boys, while the girls learn handknitting,
machine knitting, leather work, raffia work, basketry,
cardboard modelling and passe-partout work.
"In addition, all the children work at gardening and clay
modelling, and the partially blind children make pastel drawings
on large sheets of paper.
"The Braille ohildren learn chair caning, rush seating and
cane weaving in addition to any of the above forms of manual work
they are capable of learning.
"At the handicraft exhibition organised by the Walthamstow
Education Authority all these forms of handwork were shown, and
the children here were highly gratified at hearing that the Parliamentary
Secretary to the Board of Education had been pleased to
accept a set of brushes in a leather case, all of which was the work
of a boy in the Brattle class. This craftsman was also most gratified
at receiving from the distinguished recipient of his work a letter
expressing his pleasure, and his appreciation of the standard of
craftsmanship attained by the maker.
"The Seniors learn all their lessons at the Myope Centre, as
they would be quite unable to join with the Seniors in the ordinary
school in lessons which entailed the use of text books printed in
ordinary type.
"The Juniors, in order that they may come into daily contact
with normal children of their own age and degree, attend the
adjacent elementary school for lessons in history, geography and
nature study.
"At the Wood Street Infants and Junior Schools the teachers
show extreme kindness to these visitors to their classes, and, in