The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-06-05

| Is 10 see SuCn lttle Cnilu
~ wear glasses" 1t is. but did
i you ever stop to consider how much
| sadder 1t is when some child who
needs glasses does not wear them?
1t is estimated that 5000. geo children
of the school-going age. that is, one
fourth of the school children of the
| United States. suffer from eye dis
eases or eye defects that seriously i'm
pair their school progress. 1t is OF
| value, also. in this connection. to note
that the 100000 blind dependents in
| the country cost $15.000,000 Of public
! money.
Dr. Frank Airport. of Chicago chair
man of the committee for the conser-
walton of vision. of the American
Medical Association. puts himself on
record as saying. THE use of a 2
per cent solution Of nitrate of silver
in the eyes of all newly-born infants.
and the annual. systematic examina-
ton of all school children's eyes would
almost obliterate blindness from this
country"
How can these reforms best be &C
complished? There is no doubt that
eve defect is a most serious handicap
to child starting life. Often the
child himself does not know why he
is falling behind his class What to
the other children are figures and let
tiers on the blackboard to him appear
only as senseless wavering lines and
dots. The teacher. unless more than
usually observant, rates him as stupid
and the child either becomes nervous
and irritable from trying to do some
thing beyond his power. or drifts into
a discouraged. apathetic condition.
Compulsory. physical examination
has had many opponents, but an ex-
animation or rather report made by
the teacher after DIR. Allport's sugges-
tion. could hardly meet with the same
objections. To make this easy and
practical a visual chart has been pre-
pared. This contains the usual test
letters for testing vision. one line for
children who do not read showing the
letter E in different positions. and d.
rections as to its use for the beneht
of teachers.
This plan is inexpensive. involving no
cost beyond that of the chart which is
a trifle. 1t Is simple and uncoinplicsted:
no medical education on the part Of the
examiner is necessary; any intelligent
teacher. by following the directions. Is
able to make these reports.
The suggestion is that at the beginning
n, each school year the school board
should set aside a day for this purpose.
A. there are only about forty children
in each room. and as 1t does not take
more than five or six minutes to examine
a child. 1t will be seen that the whole
class can easily be examined in one day.
From this examination the teacher has
valuable information as to the normal
~ undernormal sight Of the children In
he, charge. Johnnie Jones Is not stupid
after ALI; he needs glasses or seat near
ar the blackboard. The change In seat
ing can be made by the teacher, but a
written report also goes to Johnnie
Jones' parents. advising that the boys
sight il faulty and suggesting that they
Immediately consult their family physi-
clan or an eye specialist
This examination by the teacher may
bring to light other defects besides as
tiematism. Infiamed lids or eyes are
not uncommon among young school chill
dren. Many Of these troubles date back
10 birth and could have been prevented
by proper care at that time.
A few drops Of a 2 per cent solution
Of nitrate Of silver. which all doctors
or trained nurses can procure. and which.
In some States IL provided by the health
department free Of charge, should be
nut into the baby's eyes. by means Of
a medicine dropper. Immediately after
birth. This wise precaution IL practical
Nv sure to preserve the sight.
We lay great stress In this country on
the advantage Of our public schools. No
child needs to lack education. but many
a child Is prevented. through physical
disa bilities, from taking advantage Of
theSe opportunities. Our responsibilities
do not end with providing the school
room and the teacher. Our schools are
for the purpose Of training men and
women properly to adjust themselves to
life. and to fit themselves for use In
the world. We need to teach them kind
ness. jusuce balance With their eyes