The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-05
EYE-sTRAIN AND CRIME.


A San Francisco school teacher, who
had suffered much from eye troubles
herself. at one of her visits to her
oculist's office described an incorriel-
BILE child In her school who appeared
to have some defect of sight TINS
suspicion had been repeatedly reported
to his parents, but as they were poor
az well az ignorant. nothing had been
accomplished SO far. She DECIDED
therefore, to make an Independent ef-
fort in the boys behalf and solicited
the assistance of her oculist's aid.
There were doubts Of any good accom-
plishments being possible az the boy
seemed both extraordinarily dull and
superlatively mean. His teacher said
that at the age of II years he was
the worst child in her experience OF
many years in school work. He fire.
quently played hockey" associated
with the worst boys of all ages. smoked
cigarettes, swore like a trooper ana
lied outrageously; besides. he seemed
to take a stupid pride in learning MOTH
ing and thwarting all her Efforts. Tne
only physical defect noticed was that
he held print unusually close to MS
eyes. Examination showed one eye
had two-sevenths and the other one
NTH Of normal vision.
The boy was dumbly Indifferent In
the beginning to the eye test. but after
much labor and aggravation. lenses
were placed before his eyes. giving
practically perfect vision at once; tnen
he showed symptoms Of being almost
human. The glasses were ordered anu
tho case gladly dismissed. More tnan
a year afterwards the doctor saw the
teacher again and inquiries were made
with naisgivings. The report was jubi-
liant and astounding. She said that at
ter she procured the glasses and had
GAINED consent for his wearing them
tn. child's Transformation was rapid
and complete. He had become the
willing slave Of the teacher. where be-
fore he seemed to resent her every IN
terest in him; he never missed day
in school, where formerly playing tru-
ant was chronic with him. He was
the head Of his class now, where previ-
ously he was too dull to be classed at
all: he had voluntarily stopped his
numerous bad habits and had become
the marvel of the neighborhood as well
az the Joy Of his parents. and SO on.
The cxple nation Of this metamor-
phosis is simple and natural. declares
the Journ.l Of the American Medical
Association. The child was more than
three-fourths blind and no one had
~ honQnQ4
he could not see, and his eyes and
head undoubtedly panied him when
straining to see. His incorrect and
absurd answers made the other pupils
laugh at and guy him. SO he hated
everything connected with the school.
and in playing truant he met the worst
possible associates and learned from
them his notable array of vicious hab-
its. When he put on his glasses he
saw the world for the first time clearly
and in comfort. He therefore was able
to learn and his ambition was aroused.
Hence he loved schooling and the op-
portunity to show his real capability.
and by regular attendance at school
lost the bad companionship which was
really responsible for his show Of crimi-
nal tendencies. After the boy became
the pride Of the school. his parents took
an interest and aided him, where be-
fore they ignored so unlovable child.
A boy who at the age Of IL was the
worst child in the school and neighbor-
hood and was absolutely callous to all
moral suasion, would probably have
developed into a criminal. It is no
exaggeration, therefore, to say that
the development of dangerous breaker
Of law and order of an extreme type
was prevented by a pair Of glasses.