Evening star., 1939-03-11
Mrs. Doyle Reports
On Efforts 10 Save
Pupils Eyesight
Facilities in District
Schools Cited at
Meeting Of Society

A description of the handicaps
faced by boys and girls with def
cient eyesight and the steps taken
to help them lead normal life"
was given last night by Mrs. Henry
Grattan Doyle, president of the Dis
trict Board of Education.
Speaking before the annual meet
ing marking the Sd anniversary
of the District of Columbia Society
for the Prevention of Blindness in
the American Red Cross Auditorium,
Mrs. Doyle described the work be-
ing done by special sight conserva-
tfon classes in the schools.
The classes, whose members are
recommended by physicians, have
three purposes, she said:
l. To provide the advantages of
education to those children who
would ordinarily obtain schooling
with great hardship and in many
cases at the expense of their sight;
2. To furnish a program of eye
hygiene which the children can use
after they leave the classes;
8. Emphasizes on educational and
vocational guidance so that the
children may adjust themselves and
become efficient and happy citizens
Of our country"
Special Equipment Provided.
Every facility in these classes is
aimed at easing the Children's eye
sight, Mrs. Doyle declared. She went
on to describe the unglazed paper
and thick pencils used in the classes,
the yellow chalk and the typewriters
all with large letters-"e everything is
done to keep any glare away from
them, to rest their eyes and at the
same time treat them as normal
children" she continued.
She recalled that the first special
class in the city for children with
deficient eyesight was begun in Sep
tember, 1888, after Congress author
lied the project in June of that
year, and paid tribute to Mrs. Allen
L. Worries, first vice president of the
society "for her hard work and
enthusiasm to the cause"
Appreciation was expressed by DR..
George c. Rutland, District health
officer, for the aid given by the Or
ganization to Health Department
work in the city.
Says Health an Obligation"
He said the dominant thought to-
day is that the health Of the in
dividual is the obligation OF society"
The entire public health program,
he continued. owes its origin to
private agencies such as this So
ciety."
The aims and achievements of
the society in its three years of eX-
1stence were enumerated in the So
cietys annual report submitted by
Mrs. Mary Hopper Spencer, execu-
tive director.
The threefold purpose of the or
ganization, which was organized
three years ago by the late DR.. Will
liam H. Wilmer, was given as fol-
lows: To discover possible causes of
blindness or impaired vision; to ad-
vocate measures which shall lead
to the elimination of such causes
and to disseminate knowledge CON
cerning all matters pertaining to
the care and use of the eyes"
Ihe following members were re-
elected to the board of directors for
a three-year term expiring March
10. 1912: DR.. S. B. Muncaster, DR..
James N. Greear, jr.; Robert David
son. Albert w. Atwood, DR.. William
Thornwall Davis. James C. Wilkes
and Joshua Evans, jr. Or. Mabel
H. Grosvenor was named corre-
spending secretary to fill the va
cancy caused by the resignation of
Mrs. Howard Nichols.