Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1916-10-27
TENNESSEE CARES FOR BLIND BABIES


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II was in 1915 that the international
Sunshine Society a newspaper club,
drew the attention Of the Legislature
of this State to the fact that there wss
no provision for the care Of CHILDREN
blinded in infancy or under the school
age of the seeing children, and asa con-
sequence the babies that did not die be.
fore they reached the sgeo eight were
as a general thing so crippled in body
and SO feeble in mind that they were
not eligible to eEter the State School
provided for the older blind.
Mrs. Cynthia Westover Alden, a
newspaper woman and philanthropist,
founder and President General Of the
International Sunshine Society, with
the aid of her associates gathered to-
gether lot of these little blind folks
ani gave them the very best nursing
and teac hing. medical and surgical
care. They have learned that it is an
exception when blind baby does rot
respond to this care but for eyesights
reaching the age of eight as bright, If
not brighter than the seeing chilli OF
that age.
The Legislators of 1915 passed bill
which is signed by Governor Rye, giving
the State Board of Education power to
provide for the suitable care, maintain
ance and instruction of blind children
of school age (who are not eligible to
the Tennessee school for the blind for
lack of training, and who need special
kindergarten training to prepare them
for admission in said school for fhe
blind residing in the State. who may
be borned blind, or become blind, in
any case where by lack of means the
parent or parents of such children are
unable to properly care for, maintain
and educate such children.
"That for the purpose of providing
such care, maintenance and educat.nl,
the said board of education shall hays
power to contract with any institution
having or furnishing facilities for such
care, maintainance and education in
this or amy other State at a contract
price to be agreed upon not exceeding
one dollar $1.0O per day. When neod
ed, the child can remain until twelve
years DID,"
Two children, one from Knoxville.
Tenn, and the other from EEzabei nton,
have been sent under this law. to the
Sunshine Arthur Home for blind babies
Summit, New Jersey.
The question arose then as to Che
"School age" of the blind and could
babies be appointed under this law, buG
the Attorney General has settled tLis
question by railing that the ''School,ege
of the blind child is from the day OF
blindness" and not eight years when
it is just eight years to late. Hence,
Tennessee will now give special care.
maintainance and education to al! blind
babies and children too small or too
backward to enter the State School If
their whereabouts are made known.
The School in which the State can
send its blind babies until sufficient
number is collected to permit the State
establishing an institution Of its own,
10 situated on hill among the pines at
Summit, New Jersey, Pine Grove ave-
nue., known as the Sunshine Arthur
Home for Blind Babies. Mrs. Cynthia
Westover Alder. Founder.
Anyone desiring pictures Of the chill
dren and the institution or reports Of
the work. can secure them py writing
to Mrs. Alden at the home.