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The Ohio State School For The Blind
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16 | What does the world into which he will go to live do for Harry? Ah! that is another story. Let us hope that you who hear me will be ready to give Harry a chance. Try to remember, for example, that a piano is tuned, not by the sense of sight, but by means of the sense of hearing. Try Harry, and if he "makes good" get him another piano to tune and recommend him to your friends. | |
17 | If Harry were a girl she would have certain training differentiated from his by the fact of sex, though her mental training is the same. If she shows ability in music, she has a pretty thorough course. She learns to sew, to knit, to crochet, to darn stockings, and to do housework. Monday she washes her own clothing, Tuesday irons, Wednesday and Thursday cooks, Friday -- oh, dreadful day of drudgery! -- she scrubs and cleans up. Our girl we do not expect to make a domestic, equipped for general housework, but we do send her home from this course ready to help out in the home, an acceptable helper in the household of which she forms a part. | |
18 | It remains for us to try to discover means of profitable employment for these, our young people. Of their own initiative they find this usually, but some must be helped. Of the first class graduated since I became superintendent we have heard from the majority, and they are at work. All three girls have been at once employed: one, a colored girl, has gone to a school for the colored blind in Florida as teacher of sewing and music; one is employed, as Mr. Campbell told you, in a box factory in Dayton, and earns from seven and a half to nine dollars weekly, and she is radiantly happy in her independence; the other is a young woman of such attractive personality and fine poise that, on the occurrence of a vacancy at the school in the position of door attendant, she was thought of at once as the right person for the place. Of the boys, word has been received from four out of the six, and each is employed in a gainful occupation. | |
19 | Much more might be said of the work of our school. If you have your doubts of the usefulness of the school, come and see its faithful, devoted teachers and its careful house-mothers at their tasks. And if you have any suggestions to offer, either before or after your visit, as to how we can improve the service being rendered to our state's youth who are blind, be sure they will be gladly received. |