EDUCATION OF THE BLIND

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25739, 26 February 1949, Page 2

EDUCATION OF THE BLIND

MISS M. MCKAY’S VIEWS Miss M. McKay, of Glasgow, who has devoted her life to the education of the blind, is visiting Christchurch. Yesterday, when she met members of the Christchurch advisory committee of the New Zealand Institute for the Blind, she gave them much information about methods adopted in educating the blind in Glasgow. Glasgow’, she thinks, is unique in its method of educating blind children. There the blind are educated in ordinary schools side by side with other children and this method has been most successful. The children like it and it makes those who are blind less conscious of their handicap. When the authorities decided to adopt this method, centres were formed in different parts of the city. Transport was arranged and the blind pupils did the ordinary work of the school for part of their time and special work for the remaining time. The system. Miss McKay says, is expensive but most rewarding and has ' proved that many of these handicapped children are capable of great things if they receive help at the right time. By the time they reach secondary schools, they have become an integral part of the school. The teachers find that many blind children excel at languages, probably because their sense of hearing has been keenly developed. At one large secondary school in Glasgow, a few years ago. the dux and the runner-up were both blind boys. The dux won a bursary to Oxford where he graduated B.A. and is now studying for his doctorate of philosophy. Others, not scholastically so successful. become skilful in workshops. In Glasgow, business firms were generous in placing orders for goods with blind persons. An interesting point made by Miss McKay is that the incidence of blindness in children in Glasgow has de- ‘ creased greatly in. redent years, perhaps because of the good work done by welfare organisations. On the other hand, she says, it, is saddening to note the increase in blindness amongst adults. This may be due to the stress and strain of modern life. She has been W’orking recently with between 50 and 60 blind persons who attend classes at night. She commends the system by which teachers go to the homes of adult blind persons and teach them Braille. These teachers find that those who become blind are. at first, nearly always depressed and dispirited, but they soon become interested in Braille and, within a year, are cheerful and comparatively happy. Of great benefit, she says, is the . big library in London. where nearly all worthwhile books are pi inted in Braille. These books are distributed to smaller libraries and are made available to the blind.

“Anyone with leisure, anxious to be of service to their fellows, could hardly do better than to learn Braille and then write books in Braille for the benefit of those who are blind,” Miss McKay said yesterday.