El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-12
CONSERVATION OF
} CHILDREN'S SIGHT
Day For Urging Study of
Vision Saving Urged in
Educational Meeting.

!
San Francisco, Cal, July IA con-
servation Of vision day when the care
| Of the eyes will form the subject Of
consideration in the schools and public
assemblies throughout the United
| States was proposed by Dr. T. Park
Lewis, of Buffalo, in an address today,
before the department of special edu-
cation of the National Educational as
ISOLATION. This suggestion was made
in order that thought may be fixed
upon the subject, and the public en-
lightened as to the necessity. A GER
tain day in the fall of 1912 as con-
servation Of vision day was suggested.
In his address, DR.. Lewis said in part:
The children of the country are its
most valuable resources. To the ex-
tent that their efficiency is developed,
and their productiveness increased, viii
the standard of civilization be raised
The most valuable single asset in their
effectiveness is their eyesight, and this
is in a large proportion of cases need
1essly sacrificed. One-third of all blind
ness is preventable, and a much larger
proportion Of people with defective
vision need never have suffered this
handicap had right protective measures
been employed.
"a movement is under way to CO.
ordinate the efforts of the teachers, the
doctors, the social workers, the sani-
tariums, the architects the eliminating
engineers, the mothers and the public
| generally in making more widely I'M
! derstood and carrying into effect the
principles of the hygiene of vision This
is being developed through the Ameri-
can association for the conservation Of
vision, which included in its active
membership many Of the most distin-
| guished scientists in the country.
1T is proposed, and this work has
already been begun. to issue publica-
| lions under the authority of specialists
| In the various departments. These will
| include studies in the proper lighting
| Of schools-the' best form of type and
paper TO be employ more es-
pecially the lessening of the hours of
1 eye work. 1t will consider. also meth
/ DDS of protecting the eyes from neeu-
| less accidents These causes. contrib
! uting so largely to defective eyesight,
are largely goyernable''
| Public School Music.
The keynote sounded in a paper by
| Miss Elsie NJ. Shave, of st. Paul, Mimi,
| president Of the music department of
the National Educational association.
| at section meeting of the associat ton
/ today on Public School Music in Rela-
| ton to the Music of the Community"
| was that public school music is one of
| the largest factors in the making of
America a musical nation.
Civic Depravfty.
Civic depravity" was denounced by
| Richard yelling, of New York. one of
the speakers at a section meeting of
| the National Educational association
today His subject was Pupil Self
Government as a Training for Citizen
| ship" Mr.. yelling said, in part:
Eight years ago, 1 addressed this as
| sdeiation on Training for Citizenship.
! in the schools. We were then at the
| beginning of a wave of civic righteous
ness which passed over the country. I
| say passed over advisedly because
| there seems TO have been lapse into
the lethargy of the older days as is
evidenced by the conditions in many
| places.
"The vote selling in Ohio. Indiana,
and my own state Of New York indf-
cate not merely a low tone of citizen
ship but a civic depravity. The Lori
mer case gives clue TO the lack Of in
telligent interest of the citizens of IlI-
aois in the selection of their public
servants"