New-York tribune., 1907-04-20
OPPOSE FREE GLASSES
Charity Organizations Fight against
School Plan.

Oculists. charity workers principals. teachers.
delegates from mothers meetings and members OF
the Board Of Education numbering near two hun
dred IN ALL among those in attendance at the
public hearing held last night by the Elementary
Schools Committee the question OF furnishing
free eyeglasses for the children in the pubhc
schools. There were many speakers and many OH
Serent views expressed. but no decision was
reached.
Representative Of nearly all the prominent char
sty organizations in the city were present ana OF
fered arguments opposing the manner Of furnish
sng the eyeglasses. All agreed that great many
children in the public schools needed eyeglasses.
but the charity workers argued that the Board OF
Education, in furnishing the glasses Hee' "'9 "
srenching their fed
Charles C. Birmingham chairman Of the Com
rnittee on the Physical Welfare Of Children anu
former president Of the Board OF Educa'loh' '
the charity organizations were IN syihPa'"s W.
tbe proposition Of the board TO furnish eyeglasses
10 the children. but said they objected 10 the ma
yer az providinR them. He said the Boafo "i
Health did not have thirty experts nj 10 ~ eAaiiIe
rbe ewes OF children and they could not gel lheii
AT a sa.-ryof 81 10 a year, all the board pioAos1
10 pay them. He said the thing they oolected 10
most was the giving away OF the glasses not le
cost Mr. Birmingham read a letter written 10y
Jacob Riis in which he strongly objected TO iur-
nishing glasses to all children not having norman
eyes.
rected with the New York Eye and Ear hosll'ai
since 1872 and in an his experience there ne .So S
found that il was an eNceptoial S "a =, ,la,- for
parents of children could not AFFORD 10 pay lo'
Edward T. Devine of the Charities orEanizatlon
society," and A X. Frankel, OF the I niied fitot'N
Charities offered furnish eyeglasses iiee IN
charge with examination and treatment Tree 70 az
children who came them properly reconnaissance
This was I'm 10 request from nan ma. M.
Stern for a proposition from any single DodS tHd'
was willing 10 undertake the work
Superintendent William H. Maxwell took up
each argument that had been advanced during the
evening by the opponents Of the measure ana tore
each 10 tatters. He said that the board qld
not seek 10 force eyeglasses on any one lie
thought that the estimate Of more than two nun
dred thousand children I'm the public schools with
defective ayesght too high. but. granting that
tire necessity FOR some decisive action
nv the board. he said, all the greater
called thfs work Of the board species Of outdoor
relief N should never he called by that name.
What the people pay for Is for their own use. he
shouted anErilv." and should never be called char-
ity. ,, a., 49,,
oughly worked-up superintendent come here ana
eaV Give as "A chance A chance 10 90 what
In 1l5 schools I'm the Borough of Manhattan siGce
Seutember T. 5.Ss cases of defective eyesight nave
been reported by the Board Of Health out of these
only $50 have gone dispensaTieS- S-only 81 per
cent Notwithstanding all the efforts principals ana
teachers have made To get them there.
You want a chance 10 redeem yourselves lot
YOU have not fulfilled your obligations. but the
people will permit il. They will not nave their
children treated charity patients