New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-31

Considering the constant and scricas diff
culties which present themselves as obstacles
TO the teaching of the blind, the progress OF
late years in this work has been one Of the most
remarkable things in the history Of education.
There is in this city, in the New-York Institu-
ton for the Blind. at Nnth-ave and Thirty
fourth-st. a school which ranks high among its
kind, where all the best modern methods OF that
branch Of instruction may be seen. To stranger
the sight OF the various classes working busiIy
away lin the darkness" seems pathetic as well
as interesting hut those who are accustomed to
being with the children daily lose much of this
feeling In accordance with the truth which APP
plies To the blind in general. these pills are. al
most without exception. Of happy, cheerful dis
positions Their alction apparently has not de-
priyed them of any power Of enjoying them
selves, and their chatter and laughter in play
hours are precisely lie those Of ordinary chill
drcn. Instead Of being obliged to encourage
them to amuse themselves with games. the
teachers say they have TO he continually on the
watch To restrain the pupils from too reckless
ro,nping about the rooms ard corridors They
are perfectly fearless. and IT ~ extremely rare
Tor one 10 NEE, with an accident in going around
the building.
The course Of study is modelled nearly as
possible upon that Of the public schools. The
pupils being enabled to pass the regular Regents
examinations Of the State University I'm all the
important subjects. But as the chief object in
educating the blind must be to make them self
supporting. most Of tho attention Is sport upon
the things which are Of practical value. 1t Is
impossible to describe all the various classes,
though from its peculiar nature the work in all
Of them is interesting. but there are some which
are more effective than others, 10y reason - the
apparatus used.
Geography is successfully taught hy means Of
disscctcd maps which the pupils III together
with quick clever fingers. seldom making mis-
takes after once approaching boundary line
and The shape Of country or continent. De
pressions in the surface of the map stand for
lakes or rivers. raised ridges for mountains. and
small brass pegs for cities. The power - loca-
tion through the s"nsc Of touch is now here more
clearly shown than in the childr"n's ably TO
distinguish between different cities IN a state
or country whcrc the pegs sprinklcd about
AZ thchly as pins OF "A cushion. Besides the
dssectcd maps. which are useful Tor details
there are whole ones both fiat and spherical.
rprescnting the world and in passing their
sensitive nnger-tips rapidly over these the chill
di,n gain Z, sill better idea ~ tho general for
nation Of the earth.
oncs accomplish the same sort Of work their
seeing brothers and sisters. They model in clay
and learn the various geomctrica forms, such
as angles and squares. by means Of Stats and
blocks. Whenever possible the practical appli-
cation Of such forms is illustrated 10y familiar
objects. and il is curious to see the children go
about The room feeling 81 the walls and fur
nturc, discovering many kinds Of angles. to
their great apparent delight.
The older pupils now taught to do all the
writing which is 10 be read by seeing persons
upon an ordinary typewriter. This is Of great
assistance to them in preparing examinations,
writing letters. etc. II they taking
animation they HAY" beside them a list Of the
questions written out IN the point system" Of
raised dots. Passing their hands lightly over
each question they ponder awhile until they
have decided upon the answer and then write
it off rapidly and accurately upon the type
writer when they have occasion 10 write any
thing t. bc read by their blind companions 1t
is done upon ia" "kI' telegraph" an instrument
somewhat resembling a typewriter. designed cs-
pocially for the production Of the embossed writ
ing Tangible signs" This kind Of writing is
also done by hand, Of course. but the kleido-
graph represents the same improvement upon
the hand process that the I,wriicr does upon
ordinary longhand.
Another interesting class is that In arithmetic
This study is taught 10y stephen Babcock, who
Is himself blind and "A pupil in the school
many years ago rhc "slatcs' used frames
divided off into little square holes. TYPES are
fitted into these like pegs the different letters
representing different figures according to the
position In which they are placed Mental arith-
metc is much more highly developed with the
blind children than with others and their quick