Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1914-04-09
erdtow Jefferson onComyW Thursday April 1914
speetaeles Cured Worst Boy In School.

Speetacles Cured Worst Boy In School.
A San Francisco school teacher, who
had suffered much from eye troubles her
self. at one other visits to her oculisrs
Office, described an incorrigible child in
her school who appeared to have some
defect of sight. This suspicion had been
repeatedly reported to his parents, but as
they were poor as well as ignorant,
nothing had been accomplished so far.
She decided, therefore, TO make an in
dependent effort in the boys behalf and
Solicited the assistance of her oculiSt'S
aid.
There were doubts of any good accom-
plishments being possible, as 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 frequently
played "hooky," associated with the
worst boys of all ages, smoked cigar
cites, swore like trooper and lied out
rageously; besides, he seemed TO take
stupid pride in learning nothing and
thwarting all her efforts. The only phys
ical defect noticed was that he held print
unusually close to his eyes. Examina-
ton showed one eye had two-seventhS
and the other one-fifth 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 then he showed symp-
toms of being almost human. The glasses
were ordered and the case gladly dis
missed.
More than year afterward the doctor
saw the teacher again and inquiries were
made with misgivings. The report was
iubilant and astounding. She said that
after she procured the glasses, and had
gained consent for his wearing them, the
child's transformation was rapid and COM
plete. He had become the willing slave
of the teacher. where before he seemed
to resent her every interest in him; he
never missed day in school, where for
merly playing truant was chronic with
him. He was head OF his class now,
where previously 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
as the JOY OF his parents, and so on.
The explanation of this metamorphoSiS
is simple and natural. The child was
more than three -fourthS blind and no one
had known it. He could not learn be-
cause 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 play
ing truant met the worst possible asso-
ciateS and learned from them his notable
array OF vicious habits.
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 opportunity
to show his real capablity, and by regu-
lar attendance at school lost the bad com-
panionship which was really responsible
for his show OF criminal tendencies.
After the boy became the pride OF the
school his parents took an interest and
aided hm, where before they ignored so
unlovable a child. A boy who at the
age of II was the worst child in the school
and neighborhood, and was absolutely
callous to all moral Suasion, would prob
ably have developed into criminal. 1t
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.