The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1915-07-27

ndNc lOl yet tOUt1lcu IN SO |
word of my subject-the Economics"
OF the situation. Physicians are aware
that it is very expensive to properly
educate and train the blind. The
United States Commissioned of Edu-l
cation, DR.. ClaXton. tells us in his
recent report to the government that
the average per capita cost of in
struction and maintenance of the ga
public schools for the blind in our
country was q little more than 1925"
("Tell it not in Gath, publish it not
in the streets of Askelon,') but the
Legislatures of our State have appro-
priated less than 5000 per capita for
the obstruction and maintenance of
our blind students for the past eight
years-in fact less per capita than
was given eighteen years ago.
Taking this 1923 per capita as a
basis, it will be seen that it costs the
State of North Carolina at least $25,-
900 annually to instruct and Main
tain" the needlesSly blind children in
the school. In the course Of ten years
this amounts to a quarter of a million
dollars. And this takes no account
Of the scores of such children in the
State who never enter the schoOl-fOr
there are more than 200 blind children
Of chOOl age within our borders who
have never entered the school. And
SAhSAN ~iS N~AA Ati AAAoI VIZ -
now too old to be admitted who will
be a care and an expense upon their
relatives, or their respective counties,
SO long as they live. 1t is impossible
to calculate to what this amounts. Is
it not worth considering?
Others think it worth while to pre-
vent, and the United Steel Corporation
spends a half million dollars annually
for devices to prevent accidents to the
eyes of it's employees. The Russell
Sage Foundation, too, is spending
thousands Of dollars annually in this
work Of prevention. This enterprise
is pretty well organized in the nor
thern and some Of the mid-western
| States, but North Carolina is the only
| Southern State which has given much
attention to the subject.
? Some ten years ago one person be-
: IA to study the situation, thinking
r little of it's Importance at first, be-
, cause Of the homogeneous and rural
character OF u population. He was
8 soon amazed to find that the meagel
D information furnished in the applica-
8 ton blanks filed for the admission o.
: students into the State School for the
S Blind showed 1870 of blindness from
ophthalmia neonatOrum. AS more at.
S tentlon was given to the subject {
r much more appalling condition wa'
manifest. He began to raise his voic,
n at public gatherings and to writ'
n through the State press, calling at
tention to what existed. He has beef
amply rewarded by the hearty sup
o port accorded by the medical profes
sion and the encouragement extende.
: almost unanimously by the editors O
O cur commonwealth. The physicians l.
q the General Assembly the last thre
sessions have wrought manfully TO
legal measures to aid in the work O
prevention. Special mentor is du
Drs. Kent, Carr, Macon and other
who have been most active in thi
= movement. Is the time not rip 70
aggressive work for prevention?
The problem before our school no'
Ia is to do the best that can be lone fo
those already blind. The one pleas
re ing phase of our work is h a $50 {
mr. the graduates Of the school are sell
IN supporting, self~-reSpecting, independ
in ent citizens. making a comfortabl
w living for themselves and their tam.
d. lies. If the State would be NOR
a, liberal in its appropriation for til
I'd maintenance of the school,, we are lie
Sc to the conclusion that even better re
st suits would arise. The operations al
of now seriously handicapped for lack
in funds. l should like to enter a pie
d. that the members Of the medic,
he profession aid us in creating a publ
he sentiment which would result in be
?" ter equipment for the solution of tt
Ery serious problem confronting US.
to Our State has not been cursed wit
Use trachoma as some others have bee
10 In the mountains Of Kentucky ar
ls West Virginia. as we'll as in parts
of Ohio thorn have hoer oo;dornics
ire this dread disease omounting to .
nost q Sco,r.o To. vs ro;o;oa ~
. our State is comparatively free fro
this curse.
1 wanted to speak of c~onsanguin
Gus marriages. but time forbids.
n,+ know there is considerable divergen
six n-PNu ho s"o1oo'' ou' |
al az slaieo NE
10 ~ l.0e : ~ cui Scht
in oisy-eisn. VIII M ci.Iioren' U