Omaha daily bee., 1895-06-16
INJURIOUS SCHOOL BOOKS
ohildren's Eyes Seriously Affected by Small
Type and Poor Print
RESULT OF RECENT INVESTIGATIONS
Reform Demanded In Existing Systems OF
Grading-Growth of College oratory
and Orators in the west-schooi
aud college Notes.

The result OF the Investigations conducted
by a professor in Yale college regarding the
effect OF small print text books on the eye
sight OF pupils awakened interest in matter
Of grave concern to parents. 1t was shown
that in a large majority Of individual tests
the text books in common use were injurious
to the eyes Of the young, while some OF the
books were printed from type that would
unduly strain the eyesight of grown persons.
AS a clncher TO his argument the professor
proved by statistics that the use of glasses
by school children is markedly on the in
crease.
The subject is one that should arouse
among parents a strong, persistent demand
for reform as will obviate the dangers so
clearly shown. Defective eyesight is an
affliction not only of lifetime, but extends
through generations. This has been proven
by tests recently conducted in the public
schools OF Toronto. over 500 children be-
tween the ages of and II we're subjected to
rapid individual sight tests. The examination
revealed some interesting facts concerning
the prevalence of defective vision among
Juveniles.
Out OF the 500 children examined fifty, or
10 per cent of the whole, were found to pos
sess marked defective sight. OF these fifty,
| thirty-five were girls and fifteen were young
| boys. The doctor said that the percentage
would have been higher had the children
| been those of professional men or students
rather than Of business people.
"There is nothing more hereditary than
| tendency to short sight" he remarked.
| People who misuse their eyes must remem-
| ber that they are injurng them for two
| generations"
| fact worth remembering the doctor says,
is that no child is born short sighted. In
| Germany much investigation has been re-
| Gently made concerning this particular, and
| infants eyes have been subjected to every
possible test. A predisposition to short sight
may exist, but the actual evil does not exist
| at the time of birth. And. although II the
| hereditary tendency be marked, 1t will de-
velop itself, parents may do much to ward 1t
| off during chinldhood.
| In many instances children's eyesight is per-
manently injured by strainng the muscles
| of the eye. The doctor says that no child
| should be allowed to get too close to his
| work, while printed matter and writing
| should always be from fourteen to eighteen
| inches from the eye of the child. Pale yell
low and pearl gray are the colors least trying
| to the eye, and should be used as much as
possible in the materials with which children
| work.
Only ten of the 500 children examined were
entirely color blind, but in nearly % per
cent the sense was proved markedly de-
fcient. The color test was very simple
one. From light wooden rod hung a fringe
of small skeins Of WOOL the colors being
arranged in a certain order-greens mingled
with fawn shades, pinks with blues, and reds
with yellows. knot Of green was placed
in the child's hand and he was told to throw
over the rod any similar color he discovered
among the fringe of skeins. Where the sens5
of color was acute the greens were instantly
| selected; where it was feeble much hesi-
fancy and searching were displayed.
In cases where the sense was markedly
deficient fawns and greens were mingled
, blues were pronounced identical with pinks
, and no attempt was made to distinguish be-
| tween yellows and reds. The child in whom
| the color sense was wanting chose every
color in turn.
In no instance was the child aware OF his
!, defect, the deficiency apparently not having
| come under the notice OF its parents.
> In view Of these facts, 1t becomes the duty
OF parents and school managers to insist OF
such changes as will check and ultimatel!
, schools.
IMPROVED SYSTEMS.
: Whatever may be the merits of the pres
ent system Of grading in the public schools
says the Chicago Post, its demerits are 81
glaring as to be the subject of attack b,
r educators of all ranks and classes. Some o
t these have been bold enough to advocate
b | return to the old system of ungraded schools
I while others, more conservative In their ideas
= think that the two systems might be ad
n | vantageously blended by dropping the veal
points and adhering to the strong points o
v both. Among the latest advocates of
= change of some sort is W. ]. Shearer, superin
| tendent Of the Newcastle, Pa, schools Fl
: ), has evolved a plan OF his own which he ha
y named "the Newcastle plan," and for whic
he claims that it approaches more nearly al
Il ideal plan than anything that has yet bee
t suggested.
/ One of the chief objections, according t
n this authority, to the graded school as
o exists today is its failure to respect the indi
|. vidual differences Of the pupils. The brigh
: ones are held back, discouraged and RUNE
y by having to wait on the slow pupils. Eve
e the brightest cannot gain time by prompt
o receiving the promotion which their meri
n deserves. The system demands so muc
r uniformity at every step that many ar
" forced to leave school before graduating an
= those who do graduate come out too late
!, get fair start in life The ideal syster
u of grading would demand an accurate classif
y y cation OF all pupils, according to ability, int
/ small classes, with but a short interval be
It tween the classes. This will make 1t poss
e BILE for any pupil at any time to pass froI
ID one class to the next higher when his wor
and ability put him ahead of his own class
& Those who lose time can drop back into
a division where they can work to advantage.
s. The proposed new plan abandons examine
s tions as test for promotion. The recor
l. made from day to day Is the sole gauge
a merit on which promotions are made.
~ certain amount OF work is required of an
70 section in given time. Each division
= expected TO go just as last as 1t can and
faster. An accurate grading Of pupils az
et cording to ability into classes of from ten
N twenty, instead Of herding them in class
81 of fifty or over, furnishes a practical
lie method Of reaching individuals secures fro
lg each his best work and close attention
n. Every child under the system is touche
with hope and inspired with enthusiasm
The consequence of the whole is that Il
average pupil is able to get through the el
tire course in shorter time and to much bett,
advantage.
COLLEGE oRAToRY IN THE WEST.
For twenty-five years the ruling passiC
Of the western college student has been II
passion for oratory. So far as we are awar
says the Review Of Reviews, one HI
ever attempted a general estimate Of Il
causes or the results of this unexamplt
devotion on the part Of at least a hundrt
student communities through the enti
period since the war to the a
Of public address. But to deny Il
fact itself would be TO confe
total ignorance OF all the springs and m
tives of the life that has long dominate
the undergraduate groups from Ohio to CO
orado. To some extent this ardent stude
passion for proficiency in public speakiI
has been encouraged by the college author
ties. But for the most part II has be-
neither encouraged nor recognized by q
90 OF