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58
"Those children who are 'Blind within the meaning of the
Act' are taught the Braille System of reading and writing
they also learn to typewrite in order to facilitate their means
of communication with a community largely unfamiliar with:
the Braille system.
"Arithmetic is worked out on Taylor Frames; this
apparatus is specially constructed for the use of blind people.
"All the children receive oral instruction in the ordinary
school subjects, and as the children run grave risks of eyestrain
if they attempt to read books printed in the ordinary
type, much information of a general order, as well as standard
works of literature, are read aloud by the teacher. Importantnews
is read to the children weekly.
"That every available opportunity may be enjoyed by thechildren
for broadening of their minds, and the enrichment
of their mental environment, the Education Committee has
during the year supplied the school with a radiogram. The
school is registered under the scheme of the British Broadcasting
Corporation for the reception of lessons broadcast
by their service of experts; through this the children are
not only increasing their general knowledge, and that in
the most pleasant manner, but they are also acquiring the
habit of 'listening-in' intelligently, which will stand them
in good stead all their lives, and contribute to the safeguarding
of their sight in years to come, when they will naturally
listen to lectures and acquire information with the minimum
amount of reading and its consequent eye-strain.
"Another benefit of inestimable value to the children, for
which the Education Committee earned the gratitude of the
children and their parents, was the school journey to Filey
and district, which was undertaken by 38 children and twoteachers,
in June, and which lasted a fortnight.
"From Filey the children were able to visit York, Ripon,
Whitby, Fountains Abbey, Bolton Abbey, Knaresborough,
Harrogate, Pickering, Thornton-le-dale and Saltersgate.
Many excursions were undertaken across the beautiful Yorkshire
moors, whilst the beach at Filey provided a centre of
enjoyment and adventure, as well as a source of knowledge,
new experience and interesting observation.
"In addition to the ordinary school curriculum, variousforms
of manual work are undertaken.