DEFECTIVE EYESIGHT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1088, 14 February 1918, Page 7

DEFECTIVE EYESIGHT.

(Teh Par.*" AtwicmtON A AUCKLAND, Feb. 13

The qte si ion of (he defective sight of chilIrenol primary schools was the subpet of a vport submitted to tie? Hoard of Education ,v Dr. Eli/.ab-lh Mac-Donald. Dr. MaeOona'tl said there appears to bu no doubt that defects in eyesight were increasing imongst children attending primary school.; ind it appears, from somewhat scanty investigation..! already made by undica.l inspectors ill New Zealand that these d-fcels 'ncrea.-e a- tbildren proceed from Standard L upwards lo Standard VI. It is. there'ore, natural (• cone'ude that the conditions under which the children ils-> th-ir ryta luring these yours h:«.ve some dii r C< lx»itin!« ii tho production of cM-ets of iye«ight. ;-!i.o] conditions must bear pan. of the 'dame: irteve-ising at tendances at p'etiire ihowv nrobablv is another imporlant factor. Kpe/Jiellv wh !•■' t-hildr n under 10 years of

v,'e, who.-:" e\es i|ie verv' imnvi'ti'e, attend :hows freipv n'ly. Dr. Mac Donald e\'"r-'Ss-i\ th" oninion that workuc; so much on riav.ed v.-hl'.. paper 's probably not a factor n oi'"du"M'on of <!"'f rts. un'cs. the pao-r ■ scd is fo high'y glazed as to bo dazzling ii so-iie decree'. Manv classrooms are vromrlv and inefficiently lit. end t'os_ fact, • : le r opinion, was the urealest single fa -tor •', tl„- (traduction of fight defects!. 11''. Mrc )ou«ld ! --Mi,ii-.|id''t that I'm Oo'dr.-n m V.anda'd I. I)- 1 l-'Ugld to wrhe midwn.v b f '- w en h(>avv end fntidimr lines and thus tiak > it a malter of niuseiiLtr and li'i'-vus ■oordinalion. rather than ten- Iv depending •l cv"-''hl for • ..■'..50.l I'hnl ehddren'in lower Mandiuda ,1-rht o.oliiab'v I- t.""''! k-Wliuf opd ol ■■ v, in r. as th- form r trained the hands . fine movement-; without eve strain.