Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-17
OBJECTS TO EYE TEST
Henry P. Blair Opposes Board
of Education Action.
WOULD BURDEN TEACHERS
Asserts That They Now Have All
They Can Do.
FAVORED BY SUPERINTENDENT
Trial to Be Given Of Proposed Ex-
animation Of the Vision Of
the Pupils.

Il may be behind time, but / don't be-
lieve the board of education ought to take
care of childrens eyes. or finger nails.
their ears or their teeth. Teachers have
all they can do now without going outside
their regular duties to record whether or
not children have normal vision"
These few lines represent the sentiment
Of Henry P. Blair, the newest member of
the board Of education, who stirred up a
warm discussion on the subject Of teach
ers testing the eyes of school children.
The subject was part of the meeting Of
the board yesterday and was brought UP
by the Recommendation of Supt. Stuart
that teachers be required to make a
superficial examination of the eyesight of
children who appeared to be in need Of
treatment at an eye doctors There were
only two members of the board in opposi-
ton to the idea, Mr.. Blair and Mr.. Hor-
ner, but the vigor OF their arguments off,
set the numerical strength of the propo-
nents of the idea in everything except
the matter of votes, for the board voted
that this eye examination be given a trial
when the proper machinery for making
records, ETC., could be installed.
Mr.. Blair's Objections.
Suppose a teacher makes an Inaccurate
record" said Mr.. Blair, then a parent is
told that the child has abnormal vision
and will perhaps be put to the trouble of
going to an oculist when nothing at all
is wrong. How do these teachers know
when child's vision is. normal or abb
normal? That is matter for experts, l
take 1t. Furthermore, I understand that
our teachers have all the work they
can attend to now. With the teaching
and the additional duties on their Shout
ders they have all they can do to get
through the week. Why, / have had
teacher in my office within the past few
days because she complains that a GER
tain exercise takes fifteen minutes a week
from her schedule. and that she simply
cannot spare 1t. Think of it! Complain
ing that only fifteen minutes a week is
taken away from her. and yet you want
to give them the additional trouble of
testing eyes. 1t would take a whole
school day when the time is added to-
gether."
Supt. Stuart's Contention.
Supt. Stuart. who introduced the SUBJ
ject, defended it.
''Mr Blair's objections" he said, "are
the most impressive have heard. There
N
to do, but the matter Of school hygiene is
so important that We cannot afford to
overlook it. We are just waking up to
the enormous Importance of the RESPONSE.
bility upon US in that respect.
"A child who sits in the back Of the
room may be called a dulIard, when in
reality 1t is his short-sighted eyes which
prevent him from seeing everything on
the blackboard. Sometimes the children
cannot hear well, and they are called
backward There is no reason for exam
lining the children for abnormal vision in
a rush. Teachers can take their time
about it. Only those children who seem to
need some treatment need be examined
with the aid of very simple chart. The
big question at the forefront Is the child'S
health, and the child's progress In school
is closely related to his physical welfare
Mrs Mussey defended the eye-testing
proposition. and the matter was voted on.
1t carried, although Mr.. Blair and Mr..
Horner are on record as opposing it.
Stanton c. Peele. the attorney for the
swer in the test case for vaccination. He
stated that the law, of 1864 is still in
force and perfectly good and that the
boards vaccination regulations are in ac-
cord with this law. The answer will be
filed in the Supreme Court of the District
Of Columbia.
Proposed to Set Precedent.
The names for schools were the SUBJ
ject of a recommendation by Supt. Stuart,
who wants further school names to be
CLEANED from the. hosts of famous edu-
Gators whose names have been prominent
in Washington. AS q first recommends
ton he suggested that the new Normal
t,, 0r.
mond Wilson. Mr.. Wilson, now eighty
Ave years old, was q member of the
hoard of trustees Of the schools. taking
h,s first position in 1862. From 1870 to
1885 he was superintendent Of schools. He
Introduced the New England graded
school method into the District. He es-
tablished the Washington Normal School,
in 1873, organized the first high school
for girls In 1876. one for boys In 1877 and
awakened much public sentiment for the
necessity of better school buildinrs.
A COMMITTEES OF the board OF education
will consider this matter, as IL Is not Gus.