New-York tribune., 1909-10-05
OF Tnferesf ~
" 10 GUornen
BLIND IN SCHOOLS
City Places SighHcss 7cith Seeing
PupIs for First Time.

1t was an anxious procession that went slowly
through the rooms of Public School 10, at Broome
and Cannon streets, yesterday morning First
came Miss AdeIine f, Simpson the principal.
leading little blind hoy six years old The boys
mother held his other hand Next came Miss
Gertrude Bingham inspector of the newly organ
lied public school casses for the blind. guiding
blind Jewish girl pale little creature of eight or
so. Miss Arahella F. eastman, special teacher Of
the blind i'm Public school 10, brought up the
rear with another blind pupil, Benjamin, tall
Italian lad of fifteen. Benjamiu's mother, who
I had brought him 10 school carrying her heavy
! baby in hep arms because she had no one with
whom 70 leave IL, brought UP the rear 1t was the
first trial of the Board of Educations latest innO-
walton, special classes for the blind, and the sight
less pupils We're seeing" the school in which they
work.
IN four other schools I'm greater New York
the same scenes took place yesterday-Pu
School 90. at Rtvington. Forsyth and Eldridge
streets: Public School 1856, at I45th street and
Amsterdam avenue. and two Brooklyn schools
No. 81. at Berriman street. Belmont and Atkins
avenues. and No 151. at Kent avenue and Taafe
Place. These schools were selected because they
cover areas in which the greatest number OF blind
children reside
The plan" Miss Bingham said, lis to put the
blind children in the regular classes with the
normal children a possible. But they
must have preparation and special guidance, so
there viii be teacher in each school who Will
instruct them in the BrauIe system of raised let
they need
1t will take some time to get the work really
started Miss Bingham continued, for the popu-
aton among which work is largely foreign, and
it's not easy to get al them. OF course. the chill
dren can't come TO school alone, and there's the
question Of getting guides. Where there's seeing
child of school age in the family, that child Will
be transferred if necessary to the blind brother or
sisters school. and act guide The transpOrta-
ou of every child is going to be arranged for and
rft,- -yyf he VVh hare
do we get hold of the blind children? Through Miss
Winifred Holt, of the New York Association for
the Blind and in other ways The names we find
in the census of the blind taken two years for
the state by Miss Edith Holt"
Miss Bingham is experienced in this work, hav
ing been for seventeen years teacher of the blind
in special schools in Philadelphia and other cities
Miss eastman. who Will have charge of the blind
pupils in Public School 10, has been teacher IN
that school for several years but she has made
herself familiar with the methods in use for the
blind and has taken up the work with enthusiasm.
So has the principal, who has given up her own Of
flee for the blind class. there being no other room
available Her table yesterday was Uttered with
special states for the blind and BraiIle primers
lust sent down from the De Witt Clinton High
School where special printing p-ess has been in
stalled
Miss eastman Will have to teach little of
eytrythine." Miss simpson said. she viii accom-
pany the children 20 the regular classes when they
enter and she will correct their exercises, for while
they can understand what the teachers say they
viii have write and figure. OF course, in their
own characters She will teach them geography by
making maps a cushion with tacks- They To
have manual training-eveTythng in short, that the
seeing chiGrer have. And they'll have twenty
three hundred pairs of eyes TO help them for we've
taken them through all the rooms and introduced
tlem to all IF the tweuty-three hundred pupils. and
every child is ready and eager To help them
IL was curious ? the different ways the blind
children had of getting acquainted with their sur
toundings SiN-year-old Sammy used his nose
Shown a boys desk, he sat down and smeIled it.
and then seemed To feel that he knew il. Eight
year-oId Annie scorned the railing when she went
upstairs and seemed 20 take in things without
touching. Blind she IS she acts interpreter
for her family. being the only who can speak
English The girls on the street learned me-" she
said
Fifteeu-year-oId Benjamin has been blind only
two years Pressed TO say what he would like To
learn do for a living. he answered. Anything.
anything but finally said bashtuly. Music
These Italians all musical" said Miss Bling
ham. We nope by and by. 10 have a teacher of
music for the blind pupils"