Report on the influence of school-books upon eyesight / British Association for the Advancement of Science.

  • British Association for the Advancement of Science.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report on the influence of school-books upon eyesight / British Association for the Advancement of Science. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    The Present Practice of Local Education Authorities in England and Wales. In a circular (No. 596) issued by the Board of Education in 1908 the functions of the School Medical Officer are defined. Under the heading of ‘ Arrangements for attending to the health and physical condition of school children ’ it is stated that he will advise the Local Education Authority with reference to improvements of the school arrangements. It is further stated in the Circular that ‘As regards cases of defective eyesight he will indicate such measures as can be taken to remedy or mitigate the defects by altering the position of the children in the class, or improving the lighting of the school in amount or direction ; and he will call attention to the strain imposed on eyesight by the use of too small type in text-books, the teaching of very fine sewing, &c.’ There can be no doubt that this suggested advice has in many cases led to an improvement where certain school arrange- ments have been prejudicial to vision ; but hitherto it has not been possible to deal effectively with the provision of satisfactory school text-books. A circular letter was sent to the Education Authority of each county and county borough stating the objects of the Committee, and asking for information on the following points :— (1) Whether the eyesight of the children in the schools of the Authority is tested at regular intervals ; (2) Whether advice on the care of the children’s eyesight is given to school teachers ; (3) Whether the teachers instruct the children in the general care of eyesight; (4) What regulations (if any) have been adopted for the selection of school-books and