Library Collections: Document: Full Text

Why Not A National Bureau For The Blind?

Many of the friends of the cause have decanted of the possibility of a National Bureau for the Blind, and for that reason we are printing in this issue a full account of the Volta Bureau, the National Bureau for the Deaf, which is located in Washington, D. C. Such a Bureau for the Blind would naturally have many features similar to the one already established for the deaf, and we assume that our readers will be interested to know something of the scope and history of that interesting institution for the deaf.

The elements of a National Bureau for the Blind already exist to a greater or less extent in different parts of the country. Every school for the blind is, in a measure, a Bureau of Information, not only for its own State but for the Nation. There is not a Superintendent in the country who has not received requests for information ranging all the way from "how to feed and clothe a blind baby' to suggestions about the instruction of adults. The Ziegler Magazine is a recognized bureau of information for the blind, and the OUTLOOK FOR me BLIND is constantly receiving requests for advice with regard to the greatest possible variety of subjects. The editor received in the same mail, letters from three states, a thousand miles apart; one was a request for tions for a person to fill a vacancy which had occurred in an institution, the second was for an opinion upon the possibility of a blind man serving as a field officer, and the third was from a department store with an international reputation asking for suggestions as to how to help a woman who had recently lost her sight while in their employ. Most superintendents can duplicate letters of this kind. If a National Bureau existed, many of these requests could be referred at once to such an institution, which would serve as a Clearing House for all our schools, shops and organizations for the blind.

The collection of a comprehensive library of material relating to the blind would be another important feature of this Bureau. Through the farsightedness of that scholarly educator of the blind, Michael Anagnos, the Perkins Institution and Massachusetts School for the Blind has the largest and most complete library of books in the English language (in ink print) relating to the blind. The hoped-for National Bureau could somehow co-operate with this admirable library to make its fund of information of more general service to workers for the blind.

When this central bureau is established it will be able to make investigations such as are now being conducted by the Uniform Type Committee of the American Association of Workers for the Blind. Aside from the valuable information regarding the fundamental facts relating the various types for the blind, this investigation is bringing to light the fact that in very few schools is adequate instruction being given to the pupils as to the best way in which the arms, hands and fingers should be held to read most successfully. Within a few days, we heard an experienced teacher of the blind say: "I wish that I might have had the opportunity to go with the Investigating Committee to observe how the pupils are being instructed in the mechanical work of reading, and I should be greatly helped if I could have information upon this subject." If a National Bureau existed one of its functions might be that of securing authentic information upon such a subject as this and then sending to every school, which wished for it, a trained person who would give instruction to the teachers about the best method of using the hands in reading tactile print. Superintendents and a few of the teachers from schools for the blind meet and exchange views once in two years, but very few of those who ore giving the actual instruction have an opportunity of deriving the benefit which seeing teachers have by attending Teachers' Institutes or visiting other schools. The traveling-agent of our ideal Bureau would, in a measure, make up for this lack.

Another department in schools for the blind which would be greatly aided by such a traveling-expert would be that which has to do with the industrial training of young blind women. What a help it would be if a thorough course could be evolved in sewing, knitting, crocheting and similar industries by the collection of information with regard to the best of this work in all of our schools! When a complete collection of samples had been made and information as to the best methods for producing them had been collected, a trained agent could then travel from institution to institution and put into the hands of every teacher concerned with instruction along these lines a complete set of samples and advice for the reproduction of them.

Another field of great usefulness would be the collection and classification of data regarding the best methods of aiding the adult blind, and the same general procedure would prevail. After a careful collection of facts about the various organizations devoted to the interests of the adult blind a representative of the Bureau could help in the organization of similar work its states where such work was not yet established.