The herald., 1898-05-10
CnIDRfN'S EYE SIGHT
IT Is DEFECTIVE IN MANY OF
THE PUPILS
0CULISTS WILL TEST THEM
Bids for Cement Sidewalks and Copy
Books Opened by the Board
of Education

meeting OF the DOarQ OF euuCatlOu WHeH II
convened all the members except Mr..
Braly.
Superintendent Foshay reported the re-
markable eagerness with which the school
pupils had contributed to the fund to- re-
place the Maine. The certificate to be
given to contributors will be ready for dis
tribution in few days.
The finance committee reported the ap-
proval of bills upon the county fund ag-
gregating S17s2.s5 and on the city fund Of
s347.27 Adopted.
The building committee recommended re-
pairs at a number of schools, which were
ordered made. 1t recommended as a model
for the new Pico Heights school, the
Union avenue building, with some modifi-
cations. The committee also reported the
receipt Of s61OO insurance money Of the
burned Pico Heights building, and that the
same had been paid into the city treas
urer.
On recommendation of the teachers COM
mittee leave of absence was granted to
La Verne Twining, teacher who volun-
teered in the Seventh regiment, until his
return.
President e. G. Davis submitted the fol-
lowing report to the board:
In connection with the poor lighting of
many of our rooms, which we are now at
tempting to remedy, have been i'm
pressed by the statements of the teachers
as to the large number of children whose
eyesight is defective; in one case general
inspection by the principal of the school
leading her to believe that fully one-third
of the children were suffering from de-
fective vision, and very few of them hav-
ing had any treatment or remedy pro-
vided.
The effects of defective eyesight, neg
lected In youth, may result in serious and
irreparable injury, as well as hampering
the child so in his studies as to discourage
him or make him appear stupid in his class.
and thus prevent his getting the full ben
efits OF the education he is receiving. The
matter therefore is one which should COM
mand our attention, as 1t does that Of most
of the progressive schools of this country
and the world.
Impressed with the Importance Of the
matter, have consulted number of phy-
sicians and practical school men, with the
result that some of the leading oculists of
the city have been so public-sprited as to
offer to aid us in this matter If we take
steps in 1t, by examining gratuitously
children whose parents are unable to pay
this expense.
The plan proposed is for the principal in
each school to make tests with an ordinary
opticians letter card, on which rules are
printed, so that the use of tho card is
simple. and report to the parents Of chill
dren whose eyesight is found to be out of
normal condition. The notification would
be by card, on which a statement would be
made, that, If in any case the parents were
unable to bear the expense of the examina-
ton, written statement of that fact, also
made on the card, signed by two taxpayers,
would enable the child to be examined
freely by any OF the physicians who join
in this offer. and whose names would also
be given. The physicians would fix GER
tain hours for the work. and would pre-
scribe the treatment found desirable.
By this plan we should accomplish here
what has cost other cities much expense,
and should do what otherwise would be
impossible with the funds at our disposal
The only cost would be the opticians cards
and the cards for the notification of the
parents, in all not to exceed s25.
Provision might also be made for the ex-
animation of children as they enter the
vent, by the adoption of this inspection,
much future weakness and suffering
among the children in our schools.
The public spirit of the gentlemen who
have thus rendered their services also de-
mands our warm appreciation and graft
tude. Doubtless others would join them
in this offer. but the fact remains that these
gentlemen have thus rendered their SER
to- Sc EoJ6 fDr It'll
that they are willing to undertake the bur-
densome work involved.
1 suggest that the matter receive imme-
diate consideration of the board
The oculists who have offered to aid in
the examination are Drs. w. B. Babcecx,
A. c. Rogers, H. Burt Ellis. w. w. Murphy.
II. w. Miller, George c. Lund, F. B. Kel-
logg, L. s. Thorpe, A. S. Russell, T. J. Nc
Coy and F. S. Church.
Mr.. Bragg suggested that some arrange
ment be made to procure glasses for indl-
gent children. The whole matter was re-
ferred to the committee on health, with
power to act.
Mr.. Bartlett reported that the committee
on flags had examined the school buildings
of the city and found them nearly all sup
piled with the necessary flags. On that
score, the expense to be incurred would be
small. He introduced a resolution for the
appointment of a color guard in the various
schools, providing how it shall be selected
and who may serve in 1t. The resolution
was adopted.
Mr.. Bragg moved that Miss Machold, a
teacher on the substitute list, be given the
first vacant place, on trial, during the pres.
ent term. Mr.. Webb seconded the motion,
which was carried.
Bids were opened for cement sidewalk
work. David Mulrein bid TIC per square
foot: ]. Helm, S1bc for sidewalks and SC for
pavilion flooring; Nieman & Co., 7.s5c; F.
W. Whittier, 7asc w. f. Hooker. Sc: Gray
Bros & Ward. 7sc; A. Holloway, Sc; +.
Rogers & Co., 71s@7Xc; E. r. Werdin G. Co.,
71R@Sc; ]. w. Carr, 7%c; F. c. Harmon, SAC:
Odemer Bros. & Co., 71k@sc; F. Lindenfeld,
s@10c; P. j. Richman, Sc; James Darling,
7.6oc. Referred to the building committee
with power to give contracts to lowest re-
sponsible bidders
The next bids that were opened were
those for the writing system copybooks,
They were as follows: H. r. Crocker CO.,
California vertical writing books, 81 per
dozen. and the charts $685. williams Il
Rogers, Rochester, N. Y, per set, s5c, 2Dc
and lie; E. w. Palmer, Cripple Creek, Coo
per dozen and 44c for smaller ones; CHM &
Co., vertical round-hand, small books, 7oc
per dozen, large books, 92c; Edward T.
Cook, normal review system, per dozen,
from 96c to $1.20; D. G. Heath & Co., natural
system, books, Nos. to 6, 75c per dozen;