Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-05
EDUCATIONAL TOPICS.
Near-Sightedness AIarmingIy Prevalent In
Public SchooIs-Its Causes and
the Remedy.
Pernicious Practices in the Teaching OF
Geography-Common Schools and
the Labor Question.
NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS.


The subject of myopia or near-sight-
edness, is one which especially con-
Germs teachers, to whom in large
measure is committed the care of the
eyesight of the coming generation, and
that at the most critical period of life.
Statistics show that very large ma
iority of all cases of near-sightedness
have their origin during the period of
school life; that is, from the sixth to
the sixteenth year. The body at this
period is undergoing rapid develop
ment, all the tissues are elastic, and
any undue strain upon the eye sight is
liable to produce results which would
not follow ten-fold greater strain at
later period in life; results, too,
which may prove fatal to the future
prospects of the pupil.
There are more near-sighted persons
in the city than in the country, in
schools where the light is poor than
where it is good, and among pupils
who spend much time in study than
those who spend comparatively little.
In Germany Cohn found IA per cent.
of the pupils in the village schools
near-sighted, and over 10 per cent. of
the same age in the city schools.
Among pupils in the same classes he
found IL per cent. of those who studied
two hours out of school near-sighted,
26 per cent. of those who studied four
hours, and 40 per cent. of those who
studied six hours. It has also been
found that in the city schools some
what larger percentage of girls than
boys are myopic.
1t was formerly taught that near
sight was due to too great a convexity
of either the cornea or the crystalline
lens, whereby the rays of light from
all but near objects were brought to a
focus in front of the retina; but actual
measurement has shown that the real
cause, in most cases at least, is an alb
normal elongation of the eye ball as a
whole from before backwards, where
by the retina is carried beyond the
normal focal point.
The more important causes operat-
ing to produce near-sightedness are the
following:
1. Hereditary tendency.
2. City residence, with its limited
prospects and more sedentary life.
8. Congestion of the head, and all
causes favoring it, as bending of the
neck in reading, close confinement, hot
rooms, excessive study.
4. Bad hygiene in general, which
operates by weakening the powers of
resistance.
5. A bad light.
6. 'sThe distribution of near-sight-
edness chiefly among the cultivated
ranks points directly to its principal
cause-teasior Of the eyes for near
sights"
The chances of removing the defect,
when once fixed, are very small.
Says Hasner, eff all employments
which require straining of the eyes for
near vision be given up during youth,
and the eye be exclusively or mostly
used for regarding distant objects, low
grades of myopia may improve, or
even entirely disappear" These cases
however, are rare. 1t is therefore of
the utmost Importance to remove or
avoid the conditions favorable to near
sightedness, and thus prevent its APP
pearance.
Some of the means of prevention are
the following:
1. Strengthen the general system,
thereby increasing the power of resist
ance and lessening the liability to dis
ease or debility of any kind.
2. Teach right positions and pro-
vide right surroundings for children
when engaged in study.
8. Do not send children to school too
yoa4ng.
4. Do not allow young children
to study out of school or by artificial
light.
5. Study should be mingled with
recreation, so as to avoid fatiguing the
eyes.
Q. Not before the sixteenth year, on
the average, should pupils be allowed
| to exercise their eyes on rear objects
| without great care and constant over
sight.
z. AU school rooms and other Studg
rooms should be properly lighted. This
includes the following points: (a)
There should be plenty of light, with
out dazzling the eyes. Co The sun
| should not shine directly upon the
book or desk in front of the pupil.
| (c) The light should not come from in
front, and it is best when it comes over
| the left shoulder.
s. Colored glasses may be needed
when the eyes are exposed to daz-
cling light, and convex ones when
near-sightednes has been developed;
but these should never be worn except
under competent medical advice.-J
H. French, IL. D., IN Journal of Edu-
| cation