The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-20
SCHOOL cHILDREN's EYEs1aHT.
English Reports on Conditions
 Which Threaten It.

London Times.
 The Board of Education has issued circular to managers and teachers os ue- ban elementary schools in reference to the eyesight oi scholars in schools in large towns. It states that the Board of Education is anxious to call the att tention to certain conditions injuriousiy | affecting the eyes and eyesight of the scholars and they do so in the hope that measures may be generally adopted for arresting the extension of evils prej- udicfal to the national welfare, in so far as these measur ss appear to fall within | the powers of teachers and managers. The sight of children is liable to be in- juriously affected by two distinct classes technically called errors of refracdon- that is to say, from faulty shape or pro- portion of the eyeball. producing the seV- eral conditions of myopia or shortsight. hypermetropia Or flat-eye, and astigma- tism, all of them liable to occasion rIrch strain and difficulty in using the eyes and some of them liable. to such an ex- tent of aggravation, during and in "on- nection with school life. as seriously 10 cripple the future usefulness of tho in- dividual; (b) from various forms of dts- ease, many of which are inconspicuous In their origin and might easily escape notice unless special attention were pAid
 to the possibility of their occurrence and some of which are highly contagious, ana
 might become of serious import to tte school as a whole, as well as to tie
 original sueffrers
 In relation to class (a) the board points out that, by means of test type, the
 vision of every child should be tcft"d
 upon admission, and again at any future
 time If any suspicion of ilnpa' :oct.on should arise concerning it. For children
 unable to read, test sheets are provided. exhibiting, as substitutes for letters.
 figures composed of three sides Of square. Whenever vision falls below the
 normal standard. or whenever small print is instinctively brought very near the eyes, the parents should be advised to take the child to an opthalmc hospital or to q surgeon. In the great majority remove all difficulty. In relation 70 class
 (b) 1t should be the duty of teachres to observe any appearance or unnatural redness or soreness of the eyes or any
 tendency on the part of a child to be often rubbing them when at work, and to
 take such precautions as the circum- stances of each case may require. Two especially common forms of disease are the contagious opthalmia chiefly affecting
 the insidcs of the eyelids, and the con
 tagious Opthalmia affecting the Il l mar
 gins and tending to destroy the. eye
 lashes at their roots. The effects of both
 these. forms of opthalmia ppon the sight
 are frequently serious. Manages and
 teachers. especially in poor districts, are
 therefore recommended to be Watchful
 with regard to this matter, 70 cxclude
 any child that is affected, and to take
 care that he shall not be reaimitted
 without a medical certificate of fitness.
 
 pleasure that in a few eases special Op-
 thalmic schools have been estabiiel"d in
 which children can be kept and educated until cure is effected.
 The Board of Education has learned with satisfaction that in few large cities the employment of school visiting nurses is being commenced. They are provided. it is believed, as rule, by VOL untaly associations to schools applying | for them Managers and teachers, as
 well as his Maiesty's Inspectors have | Ara testified to the. value or these nurses m | improving the health of the scholars snd 1 IT. increasing the regularity Of attcnd-
 ance The lighting of the schn ols is
 matter of great importance. The aspect | should admit sunshine freely. Light fall l ing directly upon the eyes should be par | ticularly avoided, as should also light l coming from behind, or, in q less degree. light coming from tho right hand CEly. | The right position and sufficient ply | of artificial light afe also matters of Inn- l portance. Electric light has the double advantage of consuming no oxygen and of | heinz movable and tn .'tfore convenient | If gas must be employed, inca ndescent | i.unlination is preferable tO the crdi- | !rv fish-tai burner. The obscure cases | Q, ocular defect of frr the greatest trou- | tle to teachers The inspectors not in- | fro1uentlv find chil l. VI described as l nc ntally deficient wh)sa deficiency pre- ceeds from partial blindness or deafness rather than from inferior brain power l The teacher should take steps to exclude | any possibility of this nature before pre- senting a child for admission to defec- | tive class Likewise any child calling forth frequent censure or punishment | should be carefully observed for siml- lar reason. There are, however, many cases which are less obscure and which
 the teacher can help to bring under su- l pervision.
 The board Is glad of this opportunity of expressing Its high appreciation of the devotion shown by managers and teachers in some of our great centres of | population In. rendering help to their | scholars Tn this and other directions be- yond the scope of their ordinary oHl- 1 cial duties. The board confidently ex-
 poets that 1t will be found possible. as
 contemplated in the Code of Regulations
 for Day Schools. 1901 to organize open l air outdoor lessons by frequent visits to museums, parks and country places It i Is hoped that this will prove beneficial, | inter alia to the eyesght of the scholars, | both indirectly. by improving the general | health, and directly, by providing what | Is for many town children a rare op- l pertunity of adjusting their sight to ob- jects smaller and more distant than