Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-05-10
Myopia In the schools.

Many parents are alarmed at the in
crease of near-sightedneSs among the
pupils of our public schools. They at
tribute it to the examining system of
education and the absolute requirement
of French and other useless, or at least
unnecessary studies. DR.. Chisholm
saws snear-sightedness is the diseased
condition which Overwork at school
engenders," and "every year of study
adds to the percentage of myopic
children"
In country schools there may be two
per cent. of near-sighted pupils. These
are unusually children who have in-
herited defects of the eyes. In city
schools, where the eyes are more severe
~ taxed, the percentage may be from
three TO five per cent. of near-sighted-
ness. In the schools of Germany,
where the examining system and hered-
itary affection alike operate, there are
as many as thirteen per cent. OF the chill
dren near-cighted. All medical men
who have investigated the matter say
that eve diseases are on the increase,
and that this is jus ,ly chargeable on
our school system. The course Of study
embraces many branches and great
deal of worthless learning. The teachers
are anxious to advance their pupils and
stimulate them to the utmost, regard
less of the large percentage OF those
whose eyes become affected. 1t is diff
cult to estimate the injury that is done
to the community by this ill-judged
course. Many parents are forced to
take their children from the schools,
and doubtless more would do likewise
if the advice of competent medical men
was taken. Where there is no school
examining there is no near-sightedness.
Before the colored people of the South
had schools there was not one case of
myopia among a milliCl persons, and
among the untutOred the disease is UNI
known. DR.. Chisholm, who has earned
the gratitude of parents by calling at
tention to the evil in our schools, cites
the statement of DR.. Eismann in rela-
ton to the school children ofSt. Peters
burg. Among them thirteen per cent.
have inherited myopia. He selected out
of several thousand children all those
who studied two hours day outside the
school-house, and found by examina-.
ton that among those studieus little
ones near-sightedness had already in
creased to seventeen per cent. or those
who studied four hours out of school
twenty-nine per cent. of them had be-
come near-sighted, and of the most in
dustrious, who worked at their books
six hours at home to ensure perfect
marks from their teachers, over forty
per cent. had injured their eyes and
needed concave glasses for distant
vision. What should be done to stop
this injury to the oversight of the rising
generation? There should be general
demand for radical revision of the
course of study, and looping of of all
supernumerary branches, lessening of
the hours in the school-room, and a
change from the mere memorizing,
examining system. The popular idea of
education seems to be that our public
schools shonld give not merely thorough
knowledge, but the memorizing of lit
tie smattering of many branches, some
of which can never be of any service to
the majority of children. School COM
missioners selected by ward politicians
may be entirely incompetent to realize
the evils complained of or to divise the
needful reforms, but the matter is too
serious to go on uneOrrected.