DEFECTIVE EYESIGHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 1509, 16 January 1914, Page 5

DEFECTIVE EYESIGHT.

CHEAP SPECTACLES PROVIDED.

[from our own correspondent. ] Sydney, January 10. One thing leads to another. This is the experience of the Education Department of New South Wales in relation to its system of free medical inspection of schoolchildren. It has been found that many of the children suffer from defective vision, and the Departmental doctors have not failed to point out to parents that in many cases this deficiency, perhaps unsuspected or ignored by the parents, means a great, handicap in the battle of life. In numerous instances parents have replied : " But what is the real good ot telling us this when we cannot afford to buy glasses for the child?" The wise is the same as regards other physical defects di.-covered by the inspectors in schoolchildren. In one recent case a father had four out of his six children who are attending school pronounced as in need of medical attention— two for throat and nose troubles and two for bad teeth. The father wrote that he was unable to pay for such attention. The Minister for Education says that this opens up a very large question, hut one that will have to be faced by his Department. As regards defective eyesight amongst schoolchildren, the Department finds itself able to do something right away. It has arranged with several firms of opticians to supply spectacles to schoolchildren at sub-stantially-reduced rate*. Parents will be informed what the glasses will cost, and will be expected to get and pay for the spectacles. In this way it is hoped that parents will be saved considerable outlay, and that many chidren who might otherwise suffer permanent injury will have their sight corrected.