Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
Blind Learn Almost to See
Continued from Page one.)

NCOnlluueu lIOuu rage OneJ
use Of their hands and limbs as we'll as
the control of their finer muscles and tao
tile sense organs. Some of them have,
like little Henry, never been allowed to
walk about alone, and a great many have
never had occupation for their little
fingers.
They begin by learning to put pegs into
holes on a square board; at first the OBJ
ject is Just to get them in. That trick be-
ing mastered, they try to put them in reg
ular sequence and finally 10 make pat
terms with them and to count as they do
it. This is also the first step leading to
the Braille point system.
All this work means patience for the
teacher, courage and tact. Sometimes,
when the children are mentally deficient
as well as blind, the task Of teaching them
anything seems almost unsurmountable,
The beginners need a great deal Of en-
oouragement, and II the teacher doesn't
seem to give them this they give it to each
other.
In the uptown class there is a twelve
year-old girl who has never been to school
before and who has never even heard Of
counting, reading and writing. She is very
restless and eager 10 learn, but she does
not seem able to acquire the first knaok
OF fitting those pegs into the holes. In
stead of being chagrined that the little
boy next to her, who arrived some time
later, is advancing very rapidly she is over
joyed at his progress and spends all Of
her time talking about it and pushing him
on with her praises.
Mary can't learn, Mary can't learn"
she says. but Rudolf, he's a good boy,
he's smart. He'll go up soon and then
Mary's left all alone"
And Rudolf takes all this praise as a
matter Of course.
Another reason for putting the blind
children into the same classes with the
bright-eyed youngsters Is that they may
serve as an impetus to sluggards, Since
outward things offer no distractions the
child without sight Is capable Of very
keen concentration. It is not infrequently
the case that such children are counted
among the best scholars and have their
names enrolled upon the honor list
The grade teachers who have blind chill
dren In their classes report that the work
OF the entire class has improved percep-
tibly; in fact. that the marks I'm this short
time have advanced from 10 to u per cent.
1t seems a sort Of humiliation to the
children" said one Of these teachers, TO
think that a little girl who cannot see
should do better work than they who are
not thus Handicapped. The blind child.
on the other hand. loves to be with the
seeing children because they bring new
interests into her life by their jolly, lively
prattle. their games and their fun. More
over the presence OF the litle blind folk
helps TO arouse the sympathetic qualities
in the other children and TO cultivate their
powers OF unselfishness.
why, the children just vie with ono
another to see who can do the most for the
specials. II Is considered a privilege 20
fetch and carry for them. TO escort them
20 the playground and 70 see that they
get their lunch al recess time.
Those who cannot be monitors or guides
content themselves with bringing a tidbit
for their favorite's lunch or allowing them
20 play with some cherished toy, To keep
peace iu the colony we have 20 appoint
new guides every few days or some one
sill be heartbroken and proclaim aloud
0he cruelty Of their teacherl'