REPORT
OF THE
ROYAL COMMISSION
ON
THE BLIND, THE DEAF AND DUMB, &c.,
OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE,
BY EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, PRINTEES TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
And. to be purchased, either directly or through any Bookseller, from
EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.G., and 32, Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W. ; or
ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, G, North Bridge, Edinburgh ; or
HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., 104, Grafton Streot, Dublin.
1889.
[C— 578i.] Price Is. Id.
I
BLLND, &c. COMMISSION.
REPORT
OF THE
ROYAL COMMISSION
ON
THE BLIND, THE DEAF AND DUMB, &c.,
OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM.
VmettuH to tof^ Cornea of )?atUameut arommanH of l^ev msLmt^*
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE. BY ETEE AND SPOTTISWOODE,
PRINTERS TO THE QUEEN's MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY.
And to be piirchafeed, either directly or through any Bookseller, from- EYRE AND SPOTTISWOODE, East Harding Street, Fleet Street, E.G., and- 32, Abingdon Street, Westminster, S.W. ; or ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK, 6 North Bridge, Edinburgh ; or HODGES, FIGGIS, & Co., 104, Grafton Street, Dublin.
1889.
[C— 6781.] Price Is, Id.
r
NAMES OF COMMISSIONERS
WITH THE
DATES OP THEIR APPOINTMENTS.
His Grace the DUKE OF WESTMINSTER, K.G.
The Right Hon. and Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF
LONDON, D.D. The Right Hon. 'ANTHONY JOHN MUNDELLA, M.P. FRANCES JOSEPH CAMPBELL, Esq., LL.D. THOMAS RHODES ARMITAGE, Esq., M.D. WILLIAM TINDAL ROBERTSON, Esq., M.D.
Admiral SIR EDWARD SOUTHWELL SOTHEBY, K.C.B. EDMUND CHARLES JOHNSON, Esq.
WILLIAM AUCHINCLOSS ARROL, Esq.
ROBERT McDonnell, Esq., M.D., F.R.S. (since deceased)
> 28tli July 1885.
j. 13th August 1885.
}
SOth October 1885.
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The Right Hon. the LORD EGBRTON OP TATTON.
The Right Hon. and Right Rev. the LORD BISHOP OF
LONDON, D.D. The Right Hon. SIR LYON PLAYFAIR, K.C.B., LL.D.,
M.P.
The Right Hon. ANTHONY JOHN MUNDELLA, M.P. The Right Hon. SIR HENRY JOHN SBLWIN-IBBETSON, Bart., M.P.
Admiral SIR EDWARD SOUTHWELL SOTHEBY, K.C.B. BENJAMIN ST. JOHN ACKERS, Esq., Barrister-at-Law. THOMAS RHODES ARMITAGE, Esq., M.D. WILLIAM AUCHINCLOSS ARROL, Esq. FRANCES JOSEPH CAMPBELL, Esq., LL.D. EDMUND CHARLES JOHNSON, Esq. j ROBERT McDonnell, Esq., M.D., F.R.S. (since deceased). | WILLIAM TINDAL ROBERTSON, Esq., M.D. (now SIR
> 20tli January 1886.
TINDAL ROBERTSON, M.P.)
CHARLES FEW, Esq. (since deceased). WILLIAM WOODALL, Esq., M.P.
The Rev. WILLIAM BLOMEFIELD SLEIGHT, M.A.
The Rev. CHARLES MANSFIELD OWEN, M.A.
LIONEL VAN OVEN, Esq.
CHARLES EDWARD DRUMMOND BLACK, Esq. (Secretary).
J
4tli March 1886.
27th April 1886. 28th June 1886. 11th June 1887.
28th July 1885.
/ 24968. T. L. 178.
COMMISSIONS.
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria, by the Grace of Grod of the United Kingdom of G-reat Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our right trusty and right entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor, Hugh Lupus, Duke of Westminster, Knight of Our Most Noble Order of the Garter, Chairman, the Right Reverend Father in God Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, Frederick Bishop of London, Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, Anthony John Mundella, Our trusty and well-beloved Frances Joseph Campbell, Esquire, Doctor of Laws, Our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Rhodes Armitage, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, and Our trusty and well-beloved William Tindal Robertson, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine ; Greeting !
Whereas We have deemed it expedient that a Commission should forthwith issue to investigate and report upon the condition of the Blind in Our United Kingdom, the various systems of education of the blind, elementary, technical, and professional, at home and abroad, and the existing institutions for that purpose, the employ- ment open to and suitable for the blind, and the means by which education may be extended so as to increase the number of blind persons qualified for such employment :
Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your knowledge and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these presents authorise and appoint you the said Hugh Lupus, Duke of Westminster, Frederick Bishop of London, Anthony John Mundella, Frances Joseph Campbell, Thomas Rhodes Armitage, and William Tindal Robertson to be Our Commissioners for the purposes aforesaid :
And for the better effecting the purposes of this Our Commission, We do by these presents give and grant unto you, or any three or more of you, full power to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the subject of this Our Commission, and also to call for, have access to, and examine all such books, documents, registers, and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject ; and to inquire of, and concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever :
And We do further by these presents authorise and impower you, or any three or more of you to visit and personally inspect such places in Our United Kingdom or abroad as you may deem expedient for the more effectual carrying out of the purposes aforesaid:
And We do by these presents will and ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you, Our said Commissioners, or any three or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment :
And We further ordain that you, or any three or more of you, have liberty to report your proceedings under this Our Commission from time to time, if you shall judge it expedient so to do :
a' 3
iv
And Our further will and pleasure is that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any three or more of you, your opinion upon the several matters herein submitted for your consideration :
And for the purpose of aiding you in such matters, We hereby appoint Our trusty and well-beloved Charles Edward Drummond Black, Esquire, to be Secretary to this Qur Commission.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the twenty-eighth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, in the forty-ninth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Richard Assheton Cross.
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edward Southwell Sotheby, Knight Commander of Our Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral on the Retired List of Our Navy, and Our trusty and well-beloved Edmund Charles Johnson, Esquire, Greeting !
Whereas We did by Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the twenty-eighth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, appoint Our Eight trusty and Right entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor, Hugh Lupus, Duke of Westminster, Knight of Our most Noble Order of the Garter, together with the several gentlemen therein mentioned, or any three or more of them, to be Our Commissioners to inquire into the condition of the Blind : '
Now, know ye, that We reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, discretion, and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these Presents authorise and appoint you the said Sir Edward Southwell Sotheby, and Edmund Charles Johnson to be Our Commissioners for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to and together with the Commissioners whom We have already appointed by the before-mentioned Royal Warrant.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the thirteenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, in the forty-ninth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Richard Assheton Cross.
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria by the G-race of God of the United Kingdom of G-reat Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our trusty and well-beloved William Auchincloss Arrol, Esquire, and Our trusty and well-beloved Robert McDonnell, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine, G-reeting !
Whereas We did by warrants under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date respec- tively the twenty-eighth day of July and the thirteenth day of August, one thousand eight hundred and eighty -five, appoint Our Right trusty and Right entirely beloved Cousin and Councillor, Hugh Lupus, Duke of Westminster, Knight of Our most Noble Order of the Garter, together with the several gentlemen therein respectively men. tioned, or any three or more of them, to be Our Commissioners to inquire into the condition of the Blind :
•
V
Now, know ye, that We reposing great trust and confidence in your zealj discretion, and ability, liave authorised and appointed, and do by these Presents authorise and appoint you the said William Auchincloss Arrol and Robert McDonnell to be Our Commissioners for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to and together with the Commissioners whom We have already appointed.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the thirtieth day of October, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, in the forty -ninth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Richard Assheton Cross.
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria, by the Grrace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our right trusty and well-beloved Wilbraham, Baron Bgerton, one of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England; the Right Reverend Father in Gcd, Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, Frederick Bishop of London ; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, Sir Lyon Playfair, Doctor of Laws, Knight Com- mander of Our most Honourable Order of the Bath ; Our right trusty and well -beloved Councillor, Anthony John Mundella ; Our right trusty and well-beloved Councillor, Sir Henry John Selwin-Ibbetson, Baronet, Second Church Estates Commissioner ; Our trusty and well-beloved Sir Edward Southwell Sotheby, Knight Commander of Our most Honourable Order of the Bath, Admiral on the Retired List of Oar Navy; Our i rusty and well-beloved Benjamin St. John Ackers, Esquire, Barrister- at-law ; Our trusty and well-beloved Thomas Rhodes Armitage, Esquire, Doctor of M!edicine ; Our trusty and well-beloved William Auchincloss Arrol, Esquire ; Our trusty and well-beloved Francis Joseph Campbell, Esquire, Doctor of Laws ; Our trusty and well-beloved Edmund Charles Johnson, Esquire ; Our trusty and well-beloved Robert McDonnell, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine ; and Our trusty and well-beloved William Tindal Robertson, Esquire, Doctor of Medicine ; Greeting !
Whereas We did by Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual bearing date the twenty-eighth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five, and by subsequent Warrants authorise and appoint certain noblemen and gentlemen therein respectively named, or any three or more of them, to be Our Commissioners to investigate and report upon the condition of the Blind in our United Kingdom, the various systems of education of the Blind, elementary, technical, and professional, at home and abroad, and the existing institutions for that purpose ; the employment open to and suitable for the blind, and the means by which education may be extended so as to increase the number of blind persons qualified for such employment :
Now know ye that We have revoked and determined, and do by these presents revoke and determine the said several Warrants and every matter and thing therein contained :
And whereas we have deemed it expedient that a new Commission should issue for the purposes specified in such Warrant of the twenty-eighth day of July, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-five ; and that the scope of the said Commission should be enlarged ; and that the Commissioners to be nominated for the purposes aforesaid should be authorised and appointed to investigate and report similarly upon the condition and education of the Deaf and Dumb, as well as such other cases as from special circumstances would seem to require exceptional methods of education :
a 4
Further know ye, ttat We, reposing great trust and confidence in your ability and discretion, have appointed, and do by these presents nominate, constitute, and appoint you, the said Wilbraham, Baron Bgerton ; Frederick, Bishop of London ; Sir Lyon Playfair ; Anthony John Mundella ; Sir Henry John Selwin-Ibbetson ; Sir Edward Southwell Sotheby ; Benjamin St. John Ackers ; Thomas Rhodes Armitage ; "William Auchincloss Arrol ; Frances Joseph Campbell ; Edmund Charles Johnson ; Robert McDonnell ; and "William Tindal Robertson, to be Our Commissioners to investigate .ind report upon the condition of the Blind in Our United Kingdom, the various systems of education of the Blind, elementary, technical, and professional, at home and abroad, and the existing institutions for that purpose ; the employment open to and suitable for the Blind, and the means by which education may be extended so as to increase the number of blind persons qualified for such employment ; and also to investigate and report similarly upon the condition and education of the Deaf and Dumb as well as such other cases as from special circumstances would seem to require exceptional methods of education ;
And for the better effecting the purposes of this Our Commission We do by these presents give and grant unto you, or any five or more of you, full power to call before you such persons as you shall judge likely to afford you any information upon the subject of this Our Commission ; and also to call for, have access to, and examine, all such books, documents, registers, and records as may afford you the fullest information on the subject ; and to inquire of any concerning the premises by all other lawful ways and means whatsoever :
And we do further by these presents authorise and empower you, or any five or more of you, to visit and personally inspect such places in Our United Kingdom or abroad as you may deem expedient for the more effectual carrying out of the purposes
aforesaid :
And We do by these presents will and ordain that this Our Commission shall continue in full force and virtue, and that you Our Commissioners, or any five or more of you, may from time to time proceed in the execution thereof and of every matter and thing therein contained, although the same be not continued from time to time by adjournment.
And We further ordain that you, or any five or more of you, have liberty to report your proceedings under this Our Commission from time to time, if you shall judge it expedient so to do.
And Our further will and pleasure is that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us, under your hands and seals, or under the hands and seals of any five or more of you, your opinion upon the several matters herein submitted for your consideration.
And for the purpose of aiding you in such matters, We hereby appoint Our trusty and well-beloved Charles Edward Drummond Black, Esquire, to be Secretary to this Our Commission.
Griven at Our Court at St. James's, the twentieth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, in the forty-ninth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's command,
Richard Assheton Cross.
VII
VICTORIA, E.
Victoria, by the Grrace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our trusty and well-beloved Charles 'Few, Esquire, and Our trusty and well- beloved William Woodall, Esquire ; Greeting !
Whereas We did by Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual, dated the twentieth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, appoint our right trusty and well-beloved Wilbraham, Baron Egerton, one of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, together with the several Gentlemen therein mentioned, or any five or more of them, to be Our Commissioners to inquire into the condition and education of the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, and others :
Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, discretion, and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these presents authorise and appoint you, the said Charles Few and William Woodall, to be Our Commissioners for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to and together with the Commissioners whom We have already appointed.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the fdurth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, in the forty-ninth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Hugh C. E. Childers.
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our trusty and well-beloved William Blomefield Sleight, CJerk, Master of Arts, Greeting !
Whereas We did by Warrants under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date respec- tively the twentieth day of January and the fourth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, appoint Our right trusty and well-beloved Wilbraham, Baron Egerton, one of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, together with the several gentlemen therein respectively mentioned, or any five or more of them, to be Our Commissioners to inquire into the condition and education of the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, and others :
Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, discretion, and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these presents authorise and appoint you, the said William Blomefield Sleight, to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to and together with the Commissioners whom We have already appointed.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the twenty-seventh day of April, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, in the forty-ninth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Hugh C. E. Childers.
I 20082.
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viii
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Our trusty and well-beloved Charles Mansfield Owen, Clerk, Master of Arts, Greeting !
Whereas "We did by Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date the twentieth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, and by subsequent Warrants appoint Our right trusty and well-beloved Wilbraham, Baron Egerton, one of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, together with the several gentlemen therein-named, or any five or more of them, to be Our Commis- sioners to inquire into the condition and education of the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, and others :
'Now know ye, that We, reposing great trust and confidence in your zeal, discretion, and ability, have authorised and appointed, and do by these Presents authorise and appoint you, the said Charles Mansfield Owen to be a Commissioner for the purpose aforesaid, in addition to and together with the Commissioners whom We have already appointed.
Given at our Court at Saint James's, the twenty-eighth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-six, in the fiftieth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Hugh C. E. Childers.
VICTORIA, R.
Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the Faith :
To Oar trusty and well-beloved Lionel Van Oven, Esquire, Greeting !
Whereas We did by Warrants under Our Royal Sign Manual, bearing date respectively the twentieth day of January, the fourth day of March, the twenty- seventh day of April, and the twenty-eighth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty- six, appoint Our right trusty and well-beloved Wilbraham, Baron Egerton, one of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, together with the several gentlemen therein respectively mentioned, or any five or more of them, to be Our Commissioners to inquire into the condition and education of the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, and others :
And whereas one of Our Commissioners so appointed, namely, Charles Few, Esquire, has since deceased :
Now know ye, that We, reposing great confidence in you, do by these Presents appoint you, the said Lionel Van Oven, to be one of Our Commissioners for the purpose aforesaid in the room of the said Charles Few, deceased, in addition to, and together with the other Commissioners whom We have already appointed.
Given at Our Court at Saint James's, the eleventh day of June, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, in the fiftieth year of Our reign.
By Her Majesty's Command,
Henry Matthews.
TABLE OF HEADS.
Paragraph
INTRODUCTION.
EBPORT - - - . . - - . 1
Preliminary Remarks - .Q
BLIND - . - - . . . . . . -13
Accuracy of the Census - - - - - _ ..14
General Condition - - . -17
Causes of Blindness and Remedial Suggestions - - - - - 20
State of the Law - - - - - - - -30
Classification o£ Blind - - - _ . - 32
I. — Education of the Blind under 21- - - - _ _ -35
A. — In Day Schools - - - - 41
B. — In Boarding Schools - - 50 Technical Instruction of the Blind, when it should Commence - - - - 53
n._Adult Blind - - 70
Occupations of the Adult Blind - - - - - - .74
Condition )!»>.■• - - - - . 37
Higher Education of the Blind - - - - - _ . 99
Gardner's Trust for Blind - .99
Comparison of the Work of the Blind with that of Seeing Persons - - - - 104
Suggestions for Improyement of the Condition of the Industrial Blind - - - 108
Saxon {Fursorge) System - - - - , --118
III.— The Aged Blind - - - . , . - 124
Pensions - - - - - - - - -146
Blind in their Private Homes - - - - _ _ _ 152
Societies in Aid of the Blind j^53
Types - 170
Course of Instruction to the Blind 191
Teachers in Schools - - - - _ _ -193
Should they be " Blind " ? - - . - . - - 196
Management of Institutions - - - - _ . . 204
Cost of Maintenance in Institutions - . . ... 209
Election of Candidates - - - - - . -211
Gymnasia and Physical Exei'cises - - - . . - 212
State Inspection - - - - - - . 217
Proposals for State Aid - 220
Recommendations - - - - - , _ . _ . 240
Industrial Training - - - - . ._ 245
Endowments - .- - - - ^ _ . 248
Pensions - 254
Pensions — Further Suggestions - - - ... 256
Saxon System - - - - - . .. 26O
Higher or Secondary School . 262
Blind in Workhouses - . _ - _ . . 263
Teachers - - - - .- - - . 264
Statistics - , - - • . .. . . ogg
Miscellaneous Suggestions - _ 2b6
DEAF AND DUMB :
Census - . - - - - - - . 267
Classification of the Deaf - - - - _ - -283
Causes of Deafness - 293
Congenital Deafness - - - _ . _ 295
Education of the Deaf — Preliminary Remarks - - - - -315
History of the Education of the Deaf and Dumb - . . _ . 329
Present State of Education - - - - - . ' . 324
School Board in London - - - _ _ . . 326
„ the Provinces - 33q
Guardians of the Poor and Education of Deaf Mutes - - - - 331
Special Teaching Required - - - - - ' . _ 335
I. — Institutions - - - - - ■_ . 33^
II. — Day Schools - - - - - - _ . 343
Age of Entry and Duration of School Life - - - - . . 353
Course of Instruction - - - . _ . . 3^0
Course of Study and Industrial Training on the Continent and in the United States - - 365
Apprenticeship and Employment on leaving Institutions - - - . 372
Systems of Teaching — Preliminary Remarks - - -. - -381
(1) . The Sign and Manual System . _ . _ _ _ 3gg
(2) . The Oral System . . 494.
(3) . The combined System 429 Visible Speech - 447 Comparison of the Three Systems - 44g Higher Instniction for Deaf and Dumb - - - - - . . 493 Training Colleges ,
b 2
X
■ Paragraph
Teachers 515
State Aid - _ 529
Proposals for State j^.id 532
No. 1. — Grants for Education of Deaf and Dumb Children on a Higher Scale than are given for
Attendance in Public Elementary Schools - - - . . 532 No. 2. — A grant in aid of the Education and Maintenance of a Deaf and Dumb Child in an In- stitution, or for Boarding out, and the Grant to come through the School Authority, and not
through the Board of Guardians 535
No. 3. — Grants to Training Colleges for Teachers of the Deaf and Dumb - . . 542
Inspection - 544
Miscellaneous Remarks 551
Time of Entry - 555
Should there be a Mixture of Sexes in the Schools ? - - - . - 559
Gymnasia - 571
Statistics 572
Medical Inspection - - - - - - - . _ - 573
Association of Deaf and Dumb with Blind - - - . _ -581
Blind Deaf-mutes - 583
Organisation of Institutions 537
Religious Instruction - - - - . . . 592
Head Masters - - - - - - . . 597
Missions and Aid Societies for Adult Deaf and Dumb 593
Literature and Press - - - - - - _ -612
Conferences - - - - - . . . . . . 617
Summary of Recommendations - - - - . - 620
IDIOTS AND IMBECILES - - - - - - - 621
Total number - - - . _ ^ . _ g23
State of the Law - - -- -- -- -- 626
Character of the Class of Imbeciles ------ 545
Congenital and Non-Congenital Cases 654
Causes of Idiotcy - - - - - - - - 655
How far Preventible or Capable of Diminution ? ------ 658
Improvement or Education of Imbeciles 660
Age of Entry - - - - - - 679
Occupations - - - - - - _ _ -681
Separate Schools - - - - - 681
Difficulty of Compulsion as regards Educational Conditions - ' - - - 682
State Aid to Imbecile Institutions - - - - - - ' - 694
Cost of Inmates at Asylums - 696
Inspection - - - - - 697
Classification - - - - - - - - 7OI
Supervision after Leaving Institution - - - - - - - 705
F'eeble-minded Children - -- -- . _ . 709
Recommendations -
SCOTLAND :
State of the Law - Blind :
Census 725
Institutions - - - - - - - - - 726
Industrial Training - 729
Pai'ochial Boards, &c. - 739
Adult Blind - - - - - - 732
Endowments - 733
Missions, &c. - - - •- - - - - - 735
Deae and Dumb :
Census - 738
Institutions - - - 741
School Boards - .. . - - - - - 743
Adult Deaf and Dumb - 744 Imbeciles :
State of the Law - - - - - - - - 745
Institutions - - - - - - 748
IRELAND :
State of the Law - - - - - - - - 756
Institutions or Day Schools - - -. - - --- - - 759
State Aid in Ireland - 776
Adult Blind . - - - . - . . - 786
Aged and Infirm Blind - - -- -- - . 790
Deaf and Dumb - 799 Schemes for Institutions ------- 803
Idiots and Imbeciles - - - . - - - qqq
Major Trench's Commission - - 819
Recommendations ----- . _ 532
ISLE OF MAN. - - - - - - - - 834
CHANNEL ISLANDS - - - - - - - - 840
REPORT
OP THE
ROYAL COMMISSION
ON
THE BLIND, THE DEAF AND DUMB, &o.,
OF THE
UNITED KINGDOM.
INTRODUCTION.
The original Commission was issued on the 21st July 1885, to the Duke of Westminster (Chairman), the Bishop of London, the Right Hon. A, J. Mundella, M.P., Dr. Campbell, Dr. Armitage, and Dr. Tindal Eobertson. Its terms of reference were to investigate and report upon the condition of the Blind in the United King- dom, the various systems of education of the blind, elementary, technical and pro- fessional, at home and abroad, and the existing institutions for that purpose, the employments open to, and suitable for the blind and the means by which education may be extended so as to increase the number of blind persons qualified for such employments.
On the 13th of August, Admiral Sir E. S. Sotheby and Mr. Edmund C. Johnson, and on the 30th October Mr. W. A. Arrol and Dr. R. McDonnell, F.R.S., were added to the above Commission.
On the 20th January 1886 a fresh Commission was issued in lieu of the above. Its terms of reference were extended by the inclusion of the deaf and dumb and of such other cases as from special circumstances would seem to require ex- ceptional methods of education. Lord Egerton of Tatton was appointed Chairman in the place of the Duke of Westminster, resigned, and the following new members were added to the Commission, viz., the Right Hon. Sir Lvon Playfair^ K.C.B., M.P., the Right Hon. Sir Henry J. Selwin-Ibbetson, Bart., M.P., and Mr. B. St. John Ackers. The following gentlemen were subsequently appointed as Commis- sioners : on the 4th March 1886, Mr. Charles Few and Mr. William Woodall, M.P. ; on the 27th April 1886, the Rev. W. B. Sleight ; on the 28th June 1886, the Rev. C. M. Owen ; and on the 11th June 1887, Mr. Lionel Van Oven.
We have to deplore the death of two of our colleagues during the course of the inquiry. Mr. Charles Few, who died on the 4th April 1887, had assisted regularly, and with great diligence, in our deliberations for a little over a year. More recently the death of Dr. McDonnell, F.R.S., has removed one of our most esteemed and valued colleagues. Dr. McDonnell, besides rendering great help during our general investigations, had spared no pains in obtaining and laying before us valuable information relative to all the branches of our inquiry in Ireland. We have every reason to believe that the Report met with his concurrence : his final suggestions and remarks were received a few days previously to his sudden death on the 6th May 1889.,
xii
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OP THE BLIND, &C. 5
REPORT,
1. We, Your Majesty's Commissioners appointed to inquire into the condition of tlie blind, the deaf and dumb, &c., do humbly certify to Your Majesty the proceedings under the said Commission in furtherance and execution of Your Majesty's commands.
2. In obedience to Your Majesty's commands, we have inquired into all the subjects submitted to us for consideration. We have held 116 sittings in London. We have called before us such persons as we judged likely to be able to give us infor- mation as to the blind and deaf and dumb, and have received from them, and from other persons in the United Kingdom, the Continent, the United States, and the Colonies, books, documents, and reports bearing on the subjects of our inquiry. Such of them as we think material are printed in the Appendix to our Report. Our thanks are due to those gentlemen connected with the education of the blind, and the deaf on the continent and in the United States who have freely furnished us with information, and particularly to Mr. Graham Bell, of Washington, D.C., who paid a special visit to England for the purpose of laying before us a mass of valuable returns, most of which, in answer to a circular letter of inquiry to the Superintendents and Principals of American and Canadian Schools for the Deaf, he had collected and printed in a volume for our use (Facts and Opinions relating to the Deaf).
3. We have issued letters of inquiry to a large number of blind persons in the United Kingdom, and have drawn up in a tabular form the results obtained from the answers to the questions.
4. We have visited the principal schools and establishments for the blind and deaf and dumb in the United Kingdom, and have, by personal inspection, made ourselves acquainted with the systems of education, elementary, technical, and professional, pursued in the leading establishments for the blind and deaf and dumb, not only in the United Kingdom, but also in Paris, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The notes taken on the occasion of these visits are printed in the Appendix to our Report.
5. We have inspected the six principal institutions in the United Kingdom,* where the imbeciles and idiots who are capable of receiving some elementary education are trained, and so far as relates to the subject matter of our inquiry we have examined witnesses thereon.
Preliminary Bemarlcs.
6. Before discussing in detail the condition of the several classes with which we are about to deal, we would make a few preliminary remarks.
7. The blind, deaf and dumb, and the educable class of imbeciles form a distinct group, which, if left uneducated, become not only a burden to themselves, but a weighty burden to the State. It is the interest of the State to educate them, so as to dry up as far as possible the minor streams which ultimately swell the great torrent of pauperism.
8. Indigence is found to exist in the great majority of the cases of persons so aflfiicted, the greater part of the population from which such cases proceed being so little removed from want that such a calamity is sufiicient in itself to produce indigence.
9. It cannot be said that the group spoken of are as a rule impoverished by any fault of their own ; to deal with them, therefore, liberally in such matters as education or out-door relief cannot be viewed as offering any reward to vice, folly.
* Royal Albert Asylum, Earlswood Asylum, Starcross, Darenth, near Dartford, Larbert (Seotlaud) Stewart Institution at talmerston (Dublin).
REPORT.
xiii
or improvidence. They are as distinct from the " pauper," in the ordinary sense, as the " pauper " is distinct from the " criminal," and, if possible, they should not be subject to any legal disqualification in consequence of their infirmity.
10. The education of the classes referred to is more expensive than that of ordinary children and in many instances (especially in rural districts) necessitates the expense of both education and maintenance.
11. Fear has been expressed that if the education of these afflicted classes be under- taken by the State, the eff'ect might be to diminish that generous benevolence which has already done so much for them in this country: When it is remembered how much remains to be done . for them it is obvious that, even were such aid given,
there will still be room for the action of private benevolence, which experience 13,366, shows to be often stimulated rather than discouraged by State aid, when judiciously ^Gtallaudet.
given. Saxony, see
12. We shall now consider, in succession, their education, training, and general "^^i^^^*^^ condition, dealing in three separate sections with the cases of these different classes (Dresden) in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The recommendations, however, uud infro. which we make are equally applicable to the whole of the United Kingdom, except para. 1.23. on those points which demand different treatment and to which we have specially referred in our reports on Scotland and Ireland.
THE BLIND.
13. The number of the blind, according to the last census in (A.) England, is 22,832 ; (B.) Scotland, 3,158 ; (C.) Ireland, 6,111 ; (D.) Isle of Man and Channel Islands, 195. Total, 32,296.
Accuracy of the Census.
14. We have found it difficult to verify the number of the blind so as to test the accuracy of the census. The missions to the out-door blind for Grlasgow and the West I4,i83. of Scotland, in the three Scottish counties of Lanark, Renfrew, and Ayr, from inquiries '^j^'^yg^''^' they have made, have found that the number of the blind is 173 in excess of the Mel'drum Grovernment Return, owing probably to the fact that those who are of defective sight, 16,312. but practically blind, have a disinclination to return themselves as such. There, is, Walker, therefore, ground for supposing that the number must be sensibly larger than the
census returns would lead us to infer.
15. The popular conception of the term " blindness " is " total blindness," but many are not included among the blind in the Census return, since they can see enough to walk about and distinguish light and darkness. As regards education, however, these are practically blind, and must be considered in the same category with those who are totally blind.
16. The blind children in England and Wales between the ages of 5 and 15 are ,Sce census 1,710 out of a total of 22,832. The number at school is estimated at 1,544. There is statistics,
a large proportion of the blind who, from accidents or various causes, become blind as -^PP<^"dix 6. adults, especially between the ages of 45 and 65. From inquiries made by ourselves it would appear that the average age of the blind is 49, and the commencing age of blindness on' the average is 31 years. In the opinion of two of the witnesses the age 744. is 33. Tait.
17,507,
General Condition. '
17. The general condition of the blind is much improved since the time when it 459. was the popular opinion that little could be done for them. But there is still much Tait. wanting to improve their condition and to give them such an education and technical training as will enable them to become useful members of society, and to earn, as far
as possible, their own living.
18. The education and care of the blind have been entirely left to private' charity, with the exception of those who have been recipients of parochial assistance, and those who have availed themselves of the recently established school board classes.
19. Notwithstanding the large funds which are devoted to the assistance of the blind, and the great amount of attention and care which they receive from voluntary efforts and organisations employing paid agents, your Commissioners feel that the
b 4
xiv
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C.
present condition of the blind may be considerably ameliorated, and that both by legis- lative action and by the improvement of existing organisations, they may be rendered more independent of charitable aid than they are at present.
499 i. Dipnall.
Dr. Glas-
cott's paper, read at the annual meet- ing of the Henshaw's Blind Asy- lum, 1886.
4528-9, Hulke.
2625.
Carter
See
Appendix 9, also Army Medical Depart- ment Eepori for 1881, (Appendix) Page 240.
2624.
Carter.
2648, Carter.
4521, Hulke.
Glascott'? paper, {See above) page 22.
Causes of Blindness and Bemedial Suggestions.
20. Many causes of blindness are preventible. Blindness has not increased in England, comparing the numbers of the blind with those of the general population ; on the contrary, there has been a proportionate decrease of the blind to the general population with each successive decade, the number of blind per million persons being in 1851, 1,021 ; in 1861, 964; in 1871, 951 ; and in 1881, 879. There has been pro- bably an increase of blindness among the workers in certain trades, such as iron- puddlers, glass-blowers, and railway engine-drivers, yet on the other hand there has been a diminution or a shortening of the period of blindness, due to the progress of ophthalmic science, raccination, and greater care taken in factories and workshops.
"Injuries to the eyes in males are chiefly accidents occurring \yhile at work ; in women and children mostly purely accidental, or produced by wilful violence. * * * Xhe particular kinds of injury may be classified as follows : — Burns from fire, acids, corrosives and lime, may be held to cause 12 per cent, of all injuries ; accidents from flying pieces of stone or chips of metal amounting to 58 per cent."
21. Great danger to sight after injury of one eye arises from the risk of sympathetic affection of the other; according to Cohn 24*2 per cent, of cases of blindness of one eye are due to direct violence, and a large number of these are followed by total blindness from sympathetic affection of the second eye at a later period. Sympathetic inflammation is almost exclusively caused by an injury of one eye, and in such cases inflammation of the eyeball is an ever present menace to the sight of the remaining eye.
22. Total blindness ensues in from 4 to 4^ per cent, of all injuries to one eye.
" In Lancashire accidents from shuttles flying out of the loom are unfortunately very frequent, and generally are of a very destructive character. Of late years, by the introduction of shuttle guards, something has been done to reduce their frequency. At the Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, during 1885, they had had only nine cases of shuttle accident, as against 21 the year before." (In 1886 the number of such accidents was 11.)
" The systematic use of strong protective glasses, made either of talc or mica, if glass should be considered too fragile, or the enforced use of fine wire goggles, would in some trades greatly reduce the liability to accidental injury. * * * * Many an injured eye is irretrievably lost, bringing the misfortune of blindness upon its fellow simply through the application of domestic remedies, such as the inevitable poultice, be it of linseed, bread, or rotten apples, until secondary inflammation has produced such a disorganisation of the contents of the eye as to render skilled treatment useless. * * * * Early surgical treatment, then, is of the highest importance in persons who have lost an eye by injury. An eye lost from any cause whatever, being prone to set up sympathetic inflammation of the sound eye from a variety of slight causes, should, as a matter of precaution, be carefully watched, and, if at all irritable, be at once removed to prevent affection of the sound eye."
23. Granular ophthalmia is a frequent cause of blindness, and is very infectious, it occurs in the case of those who live in badly ventilated dwellings, badly lighted rooms, as, for instance, among the crowded workshops for slop clothing at the Bast End of London, and at one time it prevailed among the inmates of Irish Workhouses ; it is preventible under proper sanitary conditions.
24. This form of ophthalmia has been at times epidemic in large schools and in armies, and has been stated to have been first introduced into Europe on the return of Napoleon and the French army from Egypt. This historical assumption, though generally accepted, is, however, contested by the Professor of Military Surgery, Army Medical School, Netley. We believe that in consequence of improved surgical know- ledge this disease no longer spreads, and no case of loss of eyesight from that cause resulted in our recent occupation of Egypt.
25. Another frequent cause is the inflammation of the eyes of new-born infants, which can be prevented, and, if taken in time, cured. It has been found by the Ophthalmological Society that 30 per cent, of the inmates of asylums {i.e. schools for the blind) are blinded from purulent ophthalmia in early life ; and about 7,000 persons in the United Kingdom have lost their sight from that cause.
Mr. Brudenell Carter recommends —
" A weak solution of perchloride of mercury as the best preventive in such cases."
Mr. Hulke prefers alum. Dr. Glascott states that —
" It has been distinctly proved in the large maternity and foundling hospitals of the Continent, that the percentage of cases of purulent ophthalmia in the new-born can be materially diminished by simply cleansing
REPORT.
XV
the eyes of all children with clean water as soon as they are born. More recejauy ite number of sufferers has been further diminished by the use of antiseptics, such as weak solutions of boracic or salicylic acid, a two-per-cent solution of carbolic acid, however, giving the best results. As a further development of the preventive plan of treatment, the method of Crede has been introduced. It has the merit of being extremely simple and very efficient. It consists in washing the infant's eyes with pure water as soon as it is born, and then by means of a drop-tube instilling a single drop of a two-per-cent. solution of nitrate of silver into the eyes. This simple method of prevention should be known to, and carried out by every, midwife in the country, and what is more, purents should insist upon it being done."
The information might be circulated by the sanitary authorities or through the Post Office.
26. In Germany special precautions are enforced by law on the midwives. In Saxony as throughout Germany —
" (1.) Women who have passed through an obsletric school, and have obtained the prescribed certificate of professional competency, may be licensed to practise in the particular districts in which they have a per- manent residence. The midwives so appointed are bound by oath to the conscientious discharge of their duties ; they may not practise except in the district to which they are assigned, or without specific appoint- ment. Lists of the local midwives are kept by the ofPcial medical men of the districts.
"(2.) * * * * Midwives are expressly prohibited from treating any derangement of the eyes or eyelids, however slight. On the appearance of the first symptoms of eye disease, the midwives are to represent to parents, or others, that medical assistance is urgently required, or, if necessary, they are to report to the local authorities and the district doctor. Neglect of these regulations makes them liable to punishment.
27. The Society for the Prevention of Blindness, &c., has done very excellent work in drawing up and distributing, gratuitously, advice to mothers.
28. There is a good deal of defective sight and myopia (short-sightedness) in ordinary schools, and a periodical inspection of elementary schools has been recom- mended as useful, not merely in detecting myopia but in detecting the opposite condition of hypermetropia. Again and again children are blamed because they will not do their work, when they simply cannot see, and need glasses.
29. It has been stated as desirable that a more special knowledge of ophthalmic surgery among general practitioners should be encouraged. We, therefore, learn with satisfaction that a general knowledge of ophthalmic surgery, among medical prac- titioners, is regarded as an essential part of a professional education, and that the treatment of the diseases of the eye is increasingly commanding attention, in the general infirmaries of the country, as well as in the special hospitals.
State of the Law.
30. We proceed first to state shortly the existing state of the law as to the education of the blind in England and Wales : —
Extract from
letter from
Charge
d' Affaires at
Dresden to
Secretary
of State,
dated
February
20th, 1889.
5832. Roth,
4569, Hulke.
4589-90. Hulke.
ENGLAND AND WALES.
Poor shall be maintained by their Parents or Children.
43 Eliz. C. 2. s. 6. And be it further enacted. That the father and grandfather, and the mother and grand- mother, and the children, of every poor, old, blind, lame, and impotent person, or other poor person not able to work, being of a sufficient ability, shall, at their own charges, relieve and maintain every such poor person.
Justices in Petty Sessions empowered in like manner to order Relief by Parents, Sfc.
59 Geo. 3. c. 12. s. 26. And whereas by the said Act, passed in the forty-third year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, for the relief of the poor, it was enacted, &c
And whereas it is expedient to extend the power which is by the said Act given to justices in their general quarter sessions to justices in petty sessions : Be it further enaoted, that it shall be lawful for any two or more of His Majesty's justices of the peace for the county or other jurisdiction in which any such sufficient person shall dwell, and they are hereby empowered, in any petty session, to make such assessment and order for the relief of every poor, old, blind, lame, impotent, or other poor person not able to work, upon and by the father, grandfather, mother, grandmother, or child (being of sufficient ability) of every such poor person, as may by virtue of the said Act be made by the justices in their general quarter sessions ; and that every such assessment and order of two or more justices in any petty sessions shall have the like force and eflfect as if the same were made by the justices in their general quarter sessions ; and the disobedience thereof shall be punishable in like manner.
Poor Persons liable for Relief to Wife or Children unless Blind or Deaf and Dumb.
4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 76. s. 56. And be it further enacted. That from and after the passing of this Act all relief given to or on account of the wife, or to or on account of any child or children under the age of sixteen, not being blind or deaf and dumb, shall be considered as given to the husband of such wife, or to the father of such child or children, as the case may be, and any relief given to or on account of any child or children under the age of sixteen of any widow shall be considered as given to such widow : Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall discharge the father and grandfather, mother and gi-andmother, of any poor child from their liability to relieve and maintain any such poor child in pursuance of the provisions of a certain Act of Parliament passed in the forty-third year of the reign of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, intituled " An Act for the Belief of the Poor."
1 20082
C
xvi
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF IHE BLIND, &C. :
Gvardians may niamtain and educate Deaf and Dumb or Blind .Poor Children in Certified Schools.
25 & 26 Vict. (1862) c. 43. s. 1. The guardians of any parish or union may send aDy poor child to any school certified as herein-after mentioned, and supported wholly or partially by voluntary subscriptions, the managers of which shall be willing to receive such child, and may pay out of the funds in their possession the expenses incurred in the maintenance, clothing, and education of such child therein duiing the time such child shall remain at such school (not exceeding the total sum which would have been charged for the maintenance of such child if relieved in the workhouse during the same period), and in the conveyance of such child to and from the same, and in the case of death, the expenses of his or her burial.
9. No child shall be sent under this Act to any school which is conducted on the principles of a religious denomination to which such child does not belong.
10 The word " school " shall extend to any institution established for the instruction of
blind, deaf, dumb, lame, deformed, or idiotic persons, but shall not apply to any certified refoi^matory school.
Guardians may provide for Maintenance and Education of Blind or Deaf and Dumb Adults.
30 & 31 Vict. (1867) c. 106. s. 21. The guardians may provide for the reception, maintenance, and instruc- tion of any adult pauper, being blind or deaf and dumb in any hospital or institution established for the reception of persons suffering under such infirmities, and may pay the charges iucurred in the conveyance of such pauper to and from the same, as well as those incurred in his maintenance, support, and instruction therein.
Guardians may send Deaf-Mute or Blind Children to Uncertified Schools.
31 & 32 Vict. (1868) c. 122. s. 42. Tlie guardians of any union or parish may, with the approval of the Poor Law Board, send any poor deaf and dumb or blind child to any school fitted for the reception of such child, though such school shall not have been certified under the provisions of the Act of the 25th and 26 th years of Victoria, chapter 43.
Guardians may subscribe towards support of Institutions, Associations, SfC.
42 & 43 Vict. (1879) c. 54. s. 10. Whereas by section 4 of the Poor Law Amendment Act, 1851,' guardians are authorised, with such consent as is therein mentioned, to subscribe towards the support and maintenance of any public hospital or infirmary as therein mentioned ; and it is expedient to extend the said section. Be it therefore enacted as follows : —
The provisions of the said section shall extend to authorise the guardians, with such consent as is therein mentioned, to subscribe towards any asylum or institution for blind persons, or for deaf and dumb persons, or for persons suffering from any permanent or natural infirmity, or towards any association or society for aiding such persons, or for providing nurses, or for aiding girls or boys in service, or towards any other asylum or institution which appears to the guardians, with such consent as aforesaid, to be calculated to render useful aid in the administration of the relief of the poor.
Provided always, that nothing herein contained shall authorise any subscription to any asylum or institution unless the Local Government Board be satisfied that the paupers under the guardians have, or could have, assistance therein in case of necessity.
Guardians may pay a reasonable charge required by a certified school for Blind or Deaf-Mute Children.
45 & 46 Vict. (1882) c. 58. s. 13. The guardians of any union, who send any pauper child to a school certified under the Act of the 25th and 26th years of the reign of Her present Majesty, cap. 43, mav pay the reasonable expenses incurred in the maintenance, clothing, and education of such child whilst in such school, to an amount not exceeding such rate of payment as may be sanctioned by the Local Government Board, for pauper children sent to such school, anything contained in the said Act to the contrary notwith s landing.
81. It lias been brouglit to our notice that in several cases where the parents of deaf and dumb or blind children, were unable to afford the cost of their being educated and maintained in proper institutions, the guardians considered themselves exempted from the duty of educating the child at the cost of the union under the above Acts, on the ground that the parents were not paupers. We accordingly requested the Local Government Board to furnish us with their interpretation of the law on this point. The annexed letter shows that it is not a condition precedent to such action on the part of the guardians that the parents should be paupers.
Local Government Board, Whitehall, S.W., SiK, February 21, 18S8.
I AM directed by the Local Government Board to ackno'wledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th ultimo, asking, on behalf of the Royal Commission on the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, &c., the Board's view as to the power of guardians to contribute to the maintenance in suitable institutions of deaf and dumb children whose parents are not paupers. The Board direct nae to state that in their opinion it is competent to the guardians to send to a suitable school a deaf and dumb or blind child whose parent, though poor, may not be a pauper in receipt of relief. The approval of this Board is, however, necessary to the sending of the child unless the school has been certified under the 25 & 26 Vict, c, 43. (see s. 42 of the 31 & 32 Vict. s. 122).
Moreover, it appears to the Board that, having regard to s. 56 of the 4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 76. relief given to or on account of a dea iand dumb or blind child is not relief to the father of such child.
The Board may add that the power given to the guardians in this matter should, of course, only be exercised when the parent is unable to pay for the child's maintenance, education, &c. in the school,
I am, &c. (Signed) S. B. Pnovis,
The Secretary to the Assistant Secretary,
Koyal Commission on the Blind, the Deaf and Dumb, &c<, 6, Old Palace Yard, S.W.
RKPORT.
xvii
Classification of Blind.
32. In considering the condition of the blind it may be convenient to divide them
=> " Clarke,
mto three mam classes : —
I. From birth up to 21.
11. „ 21 to 50.
III. „ 50 upwards.
33. There are 61 institutions for the blind in the United Kingdom, which may bo Appen- classified as follows : —
Schools for resident pupils - - - - - - 9
"Workshops, mostly for non-residents - - - - - 23
Combination of the two (both workshops and schools) - - - 26
Homes or asylums - 3
Total - - .. - 61
34. Most of them have been visited by this Commission.
I.
Education of the Blind under 21.
35. The problem to be solved in the education of the blind, so as to enable them to earn their living, is not only hoio to teach them but what to teach them.
36. There is a general feeling in favour of compulsory education of the blind, and their attendance being enforced as early as that of other children ; but there is great difference of opinion in what way children should be taught. In Scotland and the 3733. North of England the opinion of the blind is now in favour of the blind being taught Burnett, in board schools with the seeing, and of separating education from technical instruction. 10,285o!. Our report on the different schools and workshops visited shows what the practice now ^^^Pp®^^' is. At present there are Board school classes for the blind in some of the large towns, '^^^ and these are gradually increasing in number, but most of the blind of school age are in macd'onal'd institutions, though, unfortunately, some are not educated at all, in consequence of the &c., &c. ' present unsatisfactory state of the law.
37. It is the unanimous opinion of the London teachers of the Home Teaching 458 and 734 Society that, say to the age of ten, children should be educated during a portion of Tait. their time with the sighted, and the Charity Organization Society's enquiry long ago
came to the same conclusion.
202.
38. Some of the witnesses recommend that — Tait.
'734
Blind children should be sent as early as possible, at least after seven or eight, to -j-g^j^*
an ordinary sighted school, if not before to an infant school, and kept there at least 933
till ten years of age. Objections may be raised by the teachers of ordinary day schools, Best,
to their assuming this additional responsibility, but their objections may be and have 12,802.
been overcome by a number of teachers who have taken the trouble to learn Braille Byers.
and other types, and so qualify themselves for the work as not to interfere in any 953-4. way with the performance of their ordinary duties.
The fears that " the blind might be subjected to ill-treatment from their sighted play fellows have been Tait, quoting " shown by experience to be groundless ; on the contrary, owing to the compassion with which they are Report of " regarded, they meet with the greatest kindness." Charity Or-
ganization
39. The free intercourse with the seeing gives courage and self-reliance to the blind,
and a healthy stimulus which enables them to compete more successfully with the Westlake, seeing in after life than those who have been brought up altogether in blind 1516. institutions. Scott.
40. We recommend that the provisions of the Education Acts be extended to the 295 and 230. blind, and that the compulsory attendance at a school or institution be enforced up to (rreene. the age of 16. The evidence tends to show that blind children should be educated in
either of the following ways :
A. — In Day Schools.
41. — {a.) In rural schools, —
The teacher must have some knowledge of the Braille or some raised type, and 296, the child should have acquired such knowledge either at a preparatory school or by Greene, being taught by its parents or by a district visitor, or, as in Scotland, by an agent 1956, of the outdoor mission to the blind. John?
c 2
xviii
BOYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
42.— (b.) In towns, —
10,910. rj}^Q board scliool is suitable for all tliose children who have good health, live at a rmitage. convenient distance from the school, and for whom arrangements can be made that they have a guide to take them to the school.
A'ee Reports 43_ g^t where, as at Sunderland, the children cannot be compelled to attend in 'sun-ler consequence of their residence beyond the two mile limit, we think it would be iaiid).' necessary to extend the statutory limit of compulsory attendance, and that in such
cases the children of necessitous parents, as at Berlin, should have their fares by train
or tramcar paid for by the school authority.
Report for 44. In April 1875, the London School Board appointed an Instructor of the Blind (Mr. Finchard) who, with an assistant, acted until the year 1879, when the Board engaged a lady as Superintendent of the Instruction of the Blind.
45. The blind children usually attend the ordinary day schools, and share as far as possible, in the instruction there given ; but they also, on specified days, receive special instruction at centres, of which there are 18. The attendance at these centres ranges from three to 15. The total number under instruction at Lady-day 1888 was 132. At the centres the children are taught reading and writing by means of the " Braille " system, and reading by the aid of Moon's type ; written arithmetic by means of Taylor's arithmetic boards ; and geography by the aid of relief maps and globes. Special attention is given to the teaching of mental arithmetic.
46. The children are examined with the other scholars at the annual Government examinations of the ordinary day schools which they attend.
47. At Lady-day 1888 the staff consisted of a superintendent and five female assistants, all of whom had been trained at the Eoyal Normal College.
48. The school boards at Bradford, Cardiff, Sunderland, and Glasgow have also undertaken the education of the blind within their districts, and 61 children in all are under instruction in these towns, 28 being educated in different schools in Glasgow alone. In most cases the children follow the ordinary time-table with their seeing companions, and associate with them both in school time and play time, Bradford and Sunderland being the only exceptions to this. The average nett cost of instruction is 61. 15s. 4d. per head per annum, the higher cost being mainly due to the fact that one or more special teachers are engaged to instruct the blind children. On the occasion of the visit of the Commissioners to Glasgow, the school board and their teachers expressed themselves as satisfied with the success of the experiment of educating the blind with the seeing in the board schools.
49. No grant is awarded by Government for the distinctive instruction which is given either to the blind, or to the deaf and dumb.
B. — In Boarding Schools.
50. There must always be some blind who from physical weakness, delicacy of con- 12,23C, stitution, and other causes, need the fostering care of an institution. It is also
Hall. contended that it is important to give the blind a special training in sense of touch, which is not so readily given in sighted schools, and in many cases it is necessary to send a delicate or neglected child to an institution whore it will be well cared for and trained.
51. It is probable also that, under the institution system, children other than J 8,378 those mentioned in 42 (6), can be educated and maintained at very little more Davis. expense than it would cost to educate them in day classes attached to board schools,
where they would have to be either boarded out or placed in homes.
52. In cases where there are not sufficient blind children to form a class, the guardians can at present, with the consent of the Local Government Board, subscribe to any blind institution, or may maintain and educate any poor child there. This power is only permissive, and although largely exercised by the guardians, is not sufficiently put into operation, and should, in our opinion, be transferred to the school authority or county council, and be made compulsory, as soon as there are suitable and sufficient day schools or institutions to which the children can be sent.*
* According to the Parliamentary Return, No. 326 of 1887, there were 315 children of school age receiving in-docr relief and 21 receiving out-door relief from the poor rates in England and Wales on the 2nd September 1887. No fewer than 301 of these were receiving instruction in special or elementary schools ; 35 not under instruction were mostly weak-minded children.
KKPORT.
xix
4881. Willis.
Technical instruction of the Blind, when should it commence ?
53. There is some difference of opinion as to tlie time when industrial training should commence, and some confusion naturally arises between the technical teaching m school, which might and ought to be common to all, and the teaching of a trade which can only be properly taught in a workshop.
54. There is often a prejudice against the work of the blind, and this wb believe to be the result of their imperfect instruction.
55. In the north of England it is advocated that the ordinary education and some l3,977nnd education in music in an elementary school or institution should be given up to 14 or Gilroj. 15, and the tastes and natural inclinations of the pupils studied ; after that age, if the pupil have evinced any musical talent, he should be sent to a special musical school, or, if he have a mechanical turn, to a workshop to learn industrial work.
56. We think that after blind children have passed through the ordinary standards they should receive technical training in an institution or elsewhere from 12 to 16 years of age.
57. If it be determined that basket-making should be the occupation of a blind boy, it seems desirable that he should begin at 13 or 14, as it takes about four or five years to learn the trade thoroughly. If, however, it be intended to train him in music, instruction should begin as early as possible.
58. In Edinburgh boys of 16, who have left the school at Craigmillar, and wish to become workers in the outside workshop, are transferred to a boarding house connected with the institution, unless they have parents or friends to board with.
59. In some institutions, where a school department and a work department are combined, the children occasionally intermingle very much with the workmen. We believe this to be objectionable, and we agree with the suggestion that it would be advisable to separate the educational department up to 15 or 16 from the work depart- ment, so as to prevent boys of 12 and 13 mixing with older boys and men. In many instances this has been already carried out.
60. At present, when the blind leave institutions, which are more or less educa- tional, and which they are often compelled to leave about the age of 16, their industrial training is often imperfect, and in man}'' cases they are unable to earn their own livelihood, and there is a great want of some place where they can learn their trade thoroughly, and practice it ; likewise those who have failed to get into institu- tions, or have obtained what education they can, and have no friends to assist them, cannot earn their livelihood, as there are not suflBcient workshops where they can be taught or practise such industrial training as they may have picked up, and the result is they fail to get work, and they take to begging, playing musical instruments in the streets, or in public-houses, or sitting reading the Bible aloud to passers by and asking for alms.
61. We think that from 16 to 21 the school authority should have the power and duty to assist liberally all necessitous blind persons to maintain themselves while learning a trade.
62. Out of 389 trained persons whose cases were inquired into by Mr. Gr. M. Tait, only 155 were earning their living by occupations, which they were taught in institu- tions. Even those who have been well trained and learnt a trade, such as basket- making, brush-making, &c., find great difficulty in carrying it on at their own homes, or in selling their work when it is made. Even if they work at home they generally earn less than in a workshop, and seldom are able to earn enough to get their own livelihood.
10,967. Armitage. 1635. Jolins.
3GG0. Burnett,
6199. Storey.
13,602, Sime.
10,.')62. Campbell.
326. Greene.
465. Tait,
480. Tait.
1681.
elohuS.
63. The wider inquiry which was set on foot by the Commission with the object of ascertaining much the same point, viz., what proportion of the blind follow the trade taught to them in the institution where they may have been brought up, furnished the following results : —
64. Out of 1,267 blind men who had learnt trades in various institutions in the See United Kingdom, only 734, or 58 per cent., proved, according to their own account, to Appendix be following the trade which they had learnt at those institutions. Of these 1,267
c 3
XX
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
See Appen- dix 7.
See also p. 7. of Parlia- mentary- Paper C. — 4747 of 1886.
1671, 1770, and 1771. .Johns. 12,232. Hall.
4942.
Willis.
13,693, Sime.
men, about 15 per cent, were earning under 5s. per week, about 25 per cent, were earning between 5s. and 10s. per week, about 16 per cent, were earning between 10s. and 15s. per week, and about 10 per cent, were earning above 15s. per week. But tbe 42 per cent., who bad found tbemselves compelled to seek otber means of liveli- hood, were earning far smaller wages, in the aggregate, than the 58 per cent, who were still following the trades taught to them at the institution.
65. Assuming that these statistics hold true of the blind at large, it must be admitted that the fact that 42 per cent, of those trained in institutions find themselves unable to continue to practice the trade taught to them, while about 34 per cent, of the remainder do work, but nevertheless earn less than 5s. per week, indicates either a great deal of indifferent teaching or want of proper facilities for working and disposing of their work.
66. The same inquiry has thrown a good deal of light on the present condition of the blind. Stated briefly, it may be described as an endeavour to ascertain the leading facts in the history of a large number of the blind, i.e., more than one-sixth of the total number in the United Kingdom. We have received nearly 6,000 replies, and these voluminous statistics may be taken, in our opinion, to be a fair specimen of the condition of things which prevails generally among the blind of the United Kingdom. The detailed tables will be found in the Appendix.
67. Out of the total number, 5,848, who replied to our questions, no less than 4,605 declare their inability to maintain themselves without charitable assistance, while only 959 state that they can so maintain themselves ; 3,282 state that they earn nothing at all. The largest number of those who earn anything are engaged in basket-making (21-^ per cent.) ; then follow music and piano tuning (8^ per cent.), brush-making
per cent.), chair-caning and cane work (6^ per cent.), mat-making (2f per cent.), mattress-making (2i per cent.), rope and twine spinning, &c. (l-^- per cent.), weaving (0*7per cent.), and other minor occupations. Of those who do something for them- selves, 1,549, work out, but as many as 789 work at home, while a small number, 109, work out and at home as well.
68. As may be observed from the above, handicrafts and petty trades are the favourite occupations, and the average wages earned in these are stated to be 7s. Id. per week. The number of those gaining their livelihood as organists, pianists, violinists, piano-tuners, and music teachers is far smaller, but the earnings, 14s. 6(i., are more than double those of the former class, while the highest earnings of all, 17s. 46?., are gained by missionaries, Scripture readers, visitors, teachers, collectors, and the like.
69. "We believe in these returns there is a tendency on the part of the blind to under- state their earnings. We found this to be the case in our personal inquiries in visits to workshops. We have not thought it desirable to state the sums which are pro- fessedly gained by begging, but consider them to be larger than the blind themselves state.
n.
Adult Blind.
70. Besides those who have become blind in early youth, with which class we have previously dealt, a large proportion of blind persons become blind between 21 and 50 from accidents and various other causes, and but few institutions give industrial instruction to such persons, who specially deserve encouragement, as they are often those who are most anxious to learn and find occupation, and they, as a rule, work with more energy than those who have been blind from childhood.
71. It has been mentioned to us as desirable, and it appears to us reasonable, that in order to enable them to earn their own livelihood, assistance should be given, while learning a trade at an institution, to persons losing their sight in adult life, in the same way and on the same principle as to those at an earlier age during their industrial training.
72. This would involve a change in the law in order to compel the school authority, ■)n application, to contribute for this purpose, as the guardians can at present. Such assistance should be given for a reasonable time for learning a trade, and should be forfeited in cases of idleness or misconduct. These blind persons should also be taught to read some raised type.
REPORT.
xxi
73. At Leicester, and other places, the guardians and the local charity contribute to See Reports those learning a trade for three years, and at Sunderland out-door relief has been of visits, given to such men on condition that they will attend at the institution in the town and
learn trades. At the Berners Street Institution in London the same arrangement ^ prevails, and the guardians contribute 6s. a week for the same purpose. A striking instance of the desirableness of such an arrangement is given by a witness from Sunderland : —
"We had one man (not totally blind but quite too blind to obtain employment in an ordinary way) who 12,722. was 19 years in the workhouse. They paid for him for one year 7*. per week, and he earned 22*. Zd. per week Byers. on the average in 1885. He had been (previously to that) a burden on the rates for 19 years."
Occupations of the Adult Blind.
74. The industrial occupations of the blind are limited, the work for which they are best suited is not always that which pays best, owing to the competition of sighted labour. Basket making is probably the employment most suited to country See paras, districts, or to places where there is a demand for rough baskets, such as fruit or 67 and 68 potato hampers, or skips used in the cotton trade, as they can be as well made by the ^^W^- blind as by the sighted. Fancy and common baskets are made so cheaply in Germany,
and admitted free to this country, that it is difficult for the blind to compete with the foreigner in that branch of labour. Chair-caning is the most simple, and can be learned in a short time by both sexes. Next comes mat-making, though the com- See lists of petition of prisons makes it difficult to produce mats at a profit; weaving, brush- occupations making, knitting, &c. In some workshops mattress-making, rope-making, and, in the f^*^*^'''*^^^ seaport towns, the manufacture of shipfenders and rope mats has been successfully (jix 7. introduced.
75. The Government have in various cases given the Institutions orders for the Post Office baskets and their repair, but no special favour is shown them. The blind have to make their tenders in the open market, and often fail to get the orders.
76. Music seems specially suited to the blind, and undoubtedly afibrds to them a 664. large amount of solace and enjoyment ; it should, therefore, form a part of the Johns, curriculum of every blind school. All, however, have not a gift for music, and the ^^^j^t'g study should not be persevered in as a means of living, except in special and pro- * mising cases ; and although probably half the total number of the blind could be taught Campbell, fairly well some branch of music, the competition with sighted musicians is so great 9579. that only exceptionally good training can lead to success, and many from various Stainer. causes fail to earn a livelihood or obtain a situation. It is, therefore, desirable that,
except in special cases, or where music is selected as a profession, every one not physically disqualified should receive manual training.
77. It is maintained by Dr. Campbell that unless music is combined with a good 10,571. general education, and very excellent physical training, it is almost worthless for the Campbell, purpose of earning a livelihood, and if it be taught only as a means of recreation,
it is often apt to lead the blind into the practice of playing in the streets, or in public houses, and hence into dissolute habits.
78. On the other hand, where a good musical training, combined with good general education and good physical training has been given, a large number of the past pupils are earning considerable sums and gaining their livelihood.
In all, 130 pupils have had a sufficient length of training to enable them to undertake business for Excerpts
themselves, and may thus be regarded as a practical test of our work. Of these, 3 are failures, 11 have from Nor-
died, 16 who have recently left the College are already earning something, and their work is increasing, wood College
19 have been moderately successful, and 81 have been highly successful, earning from 60/. to 400/. a year. Reports, 1.S85
Several of the young women have earned from 70/. to 100/. a year, and the aggregate earnings of 100 and 1886. ex -pupils in the year 1886, amounted to close upon 10,000/.
79. Piano tuning opens a fair career for those who are well trained, and we have 9708. had evidence that there are many organists in this country who have obtained Stamer. situations and are able to support themselves. 11,039.
Armitage.
80. The success of pupils in after life, who have gone through a musical training, 12,218. very much depends on the nature of the teaching and the care which is taken to find (g^^^jl'^ employment for them. In Paris two-thirds of the school hours of those intended preceding for the musical profession are devoted to musical training. paragraph.)
81. During the last 10 years 370 pupils have been admitted to the "Institution Rationale pour les jeunes aveugles " at Paris, but of these 30 have died during school life. Of the remaining 340, 92 have been sent home on account of being infirm, unintelligent, or otherwise incapable of receiving instruction, and 45 on account of
c 4
xxii
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
Lotters from M. Martin to the Koyiil (JoinniissioD, (iated
3rd January and 20 Fe- bruary 1889.
Letter from M. Mat tin, dated 20 Fe- bruary 1889.
Verliand- linifren des V. Blinden- leluer Con- gresses in Amsterdam, p. 200.
1 1,290. Ruckle. 12,340. McConnick.
misconduct, while 15 have been withdrawn by their parents before the completion of their studies. Of the 205 who have left school, more or less completely educated, and with whom the Institution is able to keep in touch, 87 are organists or professors of music, and most of these understand tuning in addition, and can practice the same if required ; 7 males and females are professors in institutions ; 53 are professed tuners of pianofortes ; 34 (males and females) are artisans ; 17 are not engaged in business at all, having private means ; and 7 have failed to make use of their knowledge and acquirements.
" Therefore from 370 blind of school age, taken at hazard, there are 198 who are fit to follow a profession or trade^, say, 54 per cent. There are 87 who are fit to be organists or professors of music, say, 23 per cent. But, it one takes into consideration oidy those who have had sufficient aptitude to enable them to receive instruction, and have finished their course of studies, one ought to consider the case of only 188 out of 370, and out of these 188 there are 87 who can follow a musical profession, say, 46 per cent. ; and if the tuners are counted as following a musical profession, the total is 87 plus 53 = 140, say, 74 per cent.
" Inasmuch as the chief thing to be done is to find out which are the professions that are best for the blind to follow, it appears clear to me that these last (46 per cent, and 74 per cent.) are the proportions of which we ought to take acconnl. The other cases, being just as incapable of becoming chair caners as they would be of becoming musicians, must be left out."
82. It is said by M. de la Sizeranne that in France since 1840 music has been successfully practised in a great number of instances in addition to manual occupations.
83. It is only on the condition that the blind are equal to or superior in ability to the seeing that an appeal can be made to the general public to employ the blind as musicians ; nor can they rely on the preference which, as blind, they can only claim from the sympathy naturally accorded to them on account of their unfortunate position.
84. It is also stated by M. de la Sizeranne, that to obtain a good musical education, the blind pupils must be (1) under training for at least nine years ; (2) should form part of a large school of trained musicians so as to form a complete orchestra from their own body ; and (3) be in the centre of a community containing the highest artistic talent.
85. These conditions are obviously difficult of attainment, and can only be hoped for in some great central institution in or near a large town.
86. On considering how far the teaching of industrial occupations is suitable to the blind as a class, as compared with a musical training, we are disposed to think that industrial training is more useful to a large number of the blind than that of music, as there is more certainty of employment for them, The profession of music, however, is one that offers the greatest prizes to those who have ability and application, and which it is a legitimate object of ambition for them to pursue.
10,903. Armitage.
Condition of the Adult Blind.
87. In 1866, according to Dr. Armitage, it was found that the blind visited in connection with the Indigent Blind Visiting Society, whether trained in institutions or untrained, had scarcely anything to do, that they were to a very great extent idle, mendicants, or depending on charitable relief in some form, either from the guardians or from private societies or individuals, that in fact they were not earning their own living. In the case of musicians, as far as it was possible to ascertain, only 1 in 200 of all the pupils trained in the institutions seemed to be able to support themselves fully by the profession of music, while in Paris the education of the blind as musicians was infinitely superior to anything that we then had in England, and 30 per cent, were able fully to support themselves by the profession of music.
88. This is probably not an accurate description of the general condition of all the blind at that time, since there were institutions which in London and the large towns gave industrial training and some knowledge of music to their pupils. But the conviction that great improvement might be made in the education of the blind lesulted in the foundation of the Norwood College.
89. While we acknowledge the great services rendered to the education of the blind by the institution at Norwood, we do not think that all blind institutions should be formed exactly on the same model.
Higher Education of the Blind.
90. It has been contended that there should be the same facilities given to tho blind to rise from the elementary schools as are given to the seeing.
REPORT.
91. We are of opinion that, from the primary schools, they should go to institutions or secondary schools. In these it would be seen which children have musical, technical, or literary tastes ; they would fall naturally into classes which could enable the musicians to become either tuners or artists; the technical ])upils would become either artizans or foremen in their trades; the literary would be ready to receive the higher education of the university.
92. In order to encourage such pupils, and place them on a level with the seeing, 16,769. there must be educational grants and scholarships. McNeile.
93. There will always be some among the blind who are suffering from want of the p^Jg^^^,^* physical strength associated with the causes which produce blindness, but the blind boy Report^ with healthy body and brain ought to have the same chances as his seeing brother, Worcester as he is the same except in his being heavily handicapped in the race for knowledge or College, distinction by his loss of sight.
94. There is want of a higher class college which should receive a State grant, where classical, mathematical, and general literature can be effectively taught, to prepare a youth for the universities.
95. There have been many distinguished blind men who have become such in mature years, but up to the present time no attempt has been made to give a higher education to those blind from childhood in any college except Worcester.
96. The education given at Worcester seems by the results to be calculated to fit the 20,350, &c. pupils for the university, some of them having overcome all the disadvantages of i'orster. their position, and passed through an university education even with distinction ;
one who gave evidence before us has become a solicitor in good practice, and several have taken Holy Orders, and have been appointed to livings.
97. The college at present is on a small scale, and not sufficiently of a public 16,553-5. character to justify our recognition of it as such. But it has done good work during Marston. the last 20 years as the only college for the higher education of the blind, and we have ascertained that legal steps are now being taken to convert it into a public institution.
98. We think it questionable whether, in the interest of the pupils, such a college should be isolated as it is at present, and not rather attached to one of our existing collegiate institutions for the seeing, either at one of our university centres, or in the neighbourhood of London.
Gardner's Trust for Blind.
99. The blind are largely indebted to the funds of the Gardner's Trust established in 1882. It has been of the greatest service in supporting existing charities, in encouraging the foundation of new ones, and in assisting the blind to help themselves.
100. In order that the fund should be employed in the best possible way, and in 17,438, &c. accordance with the wishes of the testator, the matter was referred to the Court of Bishop of Chancery, where a scheme for the administration of the fund, dated January 20th, 1882, 4 278°'&c was drawn up and approved, of which the following are the four general headings as wiigo'n
to the distribution of the income of the fund, after payment of the necessary expenses of management : —
1. Two-ninths shall be applied in instructing the blind in the profession of music.
2. Two-ninths shall be applied in instructing the blind in suitable trades, handicrafts, and professions, other
than the profession of music.
3. Two-ninths shall be applied in instructing the blind in suitable trades, handicrafts, and professions,
including the profession of music.
4. Three-ninths shall be applied in providing pensions and donations, and generally in such other manner as
the Committee shall think best for the benefit of the blind.
101. Since receiving evidence from the secretary of the Gardner Trust, a resolution has been passed by the Committee of the Trust, the effect of which will be (if sanctioned) to alter the third and fourth headings of the scheme to the following effect :
3. " Two other of such nine equal parts shall be applied in instructing the poor blind in suitable trades
handicrafts, and professions, including the profession of music, and generally in such other manner a" the Committee shall think best for the benefit of the blind."
4. " The remaining three of such nine equal parts shall be applied in providing pensions or donations for
the poor and deserving blind." / 20082, ^
xxiv
EOTAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C.
102. The Charity Commissioners have postponed the consideration of this application till the publication of this Report.
103. In administering the fund, the Committee desire as far as possible : —
(a) To make grants from this fund the means of eliciting the contributions or assistance of other persons
and societies.
(b) To give to the persons aided such assistance as will call out their own exertions, and put them in the
way of maintaining themselves ; but this is not meant to apply to the cases of persons who are considered fit subjects for pensions.
(c) To avoid such application of the fund as will merely do that which would otherwise be done by the
parocliial rates.
No person is disqualified from receiving assistance by reason of his religious opinions ; but no person can receive assistance unless the Committee are first satisfied that he is of good moral character and in real need of help from the fund.
The scholarship does not cover, as a rule, the entire cost of the pupil's expenses at the institution. In the first instance, the scholar is sent for three months on trial, and the Committee reserve to themselves the power of declaring the scholarship vacant if the result be unsatisfactory to them; if, however, the result be satisfactory, the scholar holds his scholarship for a year from the time that he entered the institution, and then is re-elected from year to year, provided that the Committee, at the expiration of each year, are satisfied, by such evidence as they may require, that the scholar has shown capacity, and applied himself diligently to his studies, and has otherwise conducted himself in a satisfactory manner, and is in need of further instruction. The decision of the Committee as to the re-election of a scholar or otherwise is final.
(b) Assistance by way of contribution is given to institutions or persons undertaking the instruction of the blind, and also to individual blind persons, adults, or children, who are unable to meet the whole expense of such instruction.
2. Pensions. — Grants by way of pension are made without restriction as to age.
Persons in receipt of parochial relief are, by one of the regulations drawn up by the Committee for their general guidance, ineligible. Every applicant should, in the first instance, send his name in full, ige, and address to the Secretary, and state the average amount of his weekly income, and from what sources it is derived. A letter from the clergyman of the parish in which the applicant lives, or from the minister of the chapel which he attends, should also be sent to the Secretary, certifying from personal knowledge that the applicant is of good character, thoroughly deserving, and in real need of assistance from the Trust.
" The pensions, which are of the amounts lOZ., 15/., and 201. a year, are terminable by the committee on six months' notice, and are withdrawn without notice if the pensioner prove undeserving or no longer in need.
" As only a small portion of the income of the Trust (at most not more than one-third) can be appHed in granting pensions, and as the applicants number over 3,500, and vacancies occur but seldom in the list of pensioners, very many deserving persons must, perforce, be disappointed.
3. Grants by way of free gift are made in the following and other cases : —
(a) To institutions for the purchase of furniture and apparatus required for the instruction of additional
pupils beyond those already there, or otherwise in special cases.
(b) For the manufacture of books in blind types, and grants of such books.
(c) To assist local efforts for the establishment or fitting up of schools, at which technical training may be
given to the blind in trades or handicrafts.
(d) To enable persons who have received instruction in a trade, handicraft, or profession to begin the
practice thereof by providing them with tools, materials, &c., and also
(e) To those persons who require capital to continue their trade, handicraft, or profession, and are unable
to procure it.
Grants under headings d and e are not made with the intention that they will be repeated, but with the hope of permanently establishing the recipients in some trade, handicraft, or profession.
6,21], Storey.
18,910, Scholfield.
20,484, Plater.
20,430, Plater. 20,435, Plater. 18,809, SchoUield. 2137-9, Farrer.
Co7nparison of the work of the blind with that of seeing ^persons.
104. The general character of the industrial work of the blind is good, but hardly equal to that of the best seeing workmen, as they cannot generally compete with the seeing in quality and finish. Some can earn a fair living, but in most cases they require sighted assistance, and this is found to be necessary on commercial principles ; for instance, in some of the best workshops it is found to be more economical to employ sighted labour in finishing the brushes rather than leave it to be done entirely by the blind, as it is in some cases in Germany as well as in England.
105. We found in many workshops for the blind an unwillingness to use the " forms " for baskets which have been successfully adopted in some of the workshop.. oi the United Kingdom and Canada, and which enable the blind to work with greater accuracy than without.
106. Many blind workmen contend that institutions are too much for the benefit of the sighted. We endeavoured to test this statement by ascertaining what were the annual amounts received by the blind and sighted employes respectively. In 83 of these institutions the payments to the blind amounted to 28,370L and to the sighted 19,736?. but in the latter, establishment and educational charges are in many cases included. One Mind witness considers that all teachers in blind shops, collectors of • accounts and managers, should be blind, and adds that a blind man is the best teacher of basket work to the blind, because a sighted man teaches from his owii standpoint, whereas a blind man teaches him to work by feeling.
REPORT
XXV
107. We think tliat in Tvorkshops for the blind sighted supervision is necessary.
Suggestions for Improvement of the Condition of the Industrial Blind.
108. We have received some memorials from blind working men, a summary of which and of those received from School Boards, &c., will be found in the Appendix.
109. There are a good number of institutions (33) which provide workshops for the adult blind, but as we have shown in para. 71, the blind require assistance to learn a trade, and an increased number of workshops in which they can work for themselves, a good central depot in each populous district, with a shop for the sale of their goods in a leading thoroughfare, a list of customers, a register of skilled workmen, and good materials obtainable at cost price.
110. We have inspected the books and ]abx?ur sheets in the workshops connected with various institutions. In most cases the books are admirably kept, showing what each individual earns in the Institution and the charitable addition to his wages, which amounts, in nearly all cases, to a bonus varying in extent from 8^ to (in a few cases) 100 per cent. Twenty -six Institutions supplement the wages of the workmen in their workshops by means of a bonus averaging about 25 per cent. At Oldham there is a workshop started in a small way by a benevolent society, unconnected with any institution, and conducted on strict business principles ; no supplement whatever is given, while good wages are earned. This class of workshop seems well adapted to the wants of the blind in the manufacturing districts, where a ready sale for the special baskets and their repair give constant employment to the blind. At New- castle there is a workshop of a co-operative character which is fairly self-supporting.
111. Blind workmen are at a disadvantage in various ways in competing with the seeing in the labour market.
112. The existing workshops of the blind have no system of inter-communication, and often instead of helping each other are competing in the same market.
113. At Leicester it is thought that the great want for the blind is some institution which could be managed by the sighted friends of the blind, to bring all the blind in more intimate relations with each other, to assist them to find employment and to dispose of their products.
114. This would include —
(a.) A department for obtaining all information respecting manufacture of goods
by the blind, and travelling commission agent attached thereto ; and (&,) The starting a newspaper, the recognised organ of institutions for the blind.
115. Such an institution was recommended by the Conferences held in 1866, 1867, and 1883 ; also by the Charity Organisation Society in 1876. One was actually established in the year 1867, but for want of wealthy and influential supporters never got a fair start. Mr. Richardson Gardner, in a memorandum submitted to the Gardner Trustees in 1884, advocated the establishment of a similar institution or " Centra] Aid."
116. We do not think that such a central institution, however desirable it might at first sight appear, would be workable alongside of a large number of independent institutions ; but in all the large centres, we think that where there is not one already, there should be a central shop and workshop for adult skiUed workers in corre- spondence with other institutions, and connected with branches where they exist in the neighbouring towns.
117. A leading defect in the present condition of the blind is that, with a few exceptions, no care or supervision is exercised by institutions over the past pupils who have been trained in the institutions, and consequently many fail to earn their living or maintain themselves by honest labour after they leave school.
10,318, Campbell, M.P,
11,503,
Buckle. 12,719-20
Byers.
2726 & 58, Neate. 4313, Wilson. 3019-37, Moberly. 12,265, Buckle.
See List of Blind Institutions Question 22.
2091. Farrer. 12,479. McCormick.
See Eeports of visits (Cardiff).
16,370. Harris,
16,463, Harris.
1676. Johns,
18,925,
Scholfield.
12,359, McCormick,
8axon {Fursorge) System.
118. The Saxon system endeavours, and, so far as we have seen, successfully, to i0 926 meet this want. Armitage.
d 2
XXVI
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
Reports 119. The followmg memorandum from Hofrath Biittner, Director of the Institution
of visit* r^t Dresden, furnishes an explanation of the system.
I I3r6S(l6D. )
" Long experience has taught us that the care and supervision of the blind, after their discharge from the Institution, are quite as important as their education and training in the Institution. It would, in our opinion, be unjust to remove them from their sad surroundings, educate and accustom them to higher wants, and then allow them to sink backward into their former miserable way of life.
" The Institution at Dresden, at first only a school, afterwards became an establishment for the industrial training of the blind. After their discharge they seldom, however, carried on the trade learned, but became beggars, whether with or without some musical instrument.
" This state of things convinced us that the blind were incapable of becoming independent labourers in the world, and steps were taken to establish an asylum in which they might live free from care and the chicaneries of the world. This asylum was not a success, for the expenses were so great that only a few of the blind discharged from the Institution could be provided for ; the greater number fell back again into beggary. Moreover, most of the blind refused to enter the asylum ; they wished to return to their parents, and the parents also wanted to have their children back again. There was great discontent in the asylum. The men thought it beneath their dignity to rise, take their meals, and work by the clock. They only thought of the restriction to their hberty, and, having grown accustomed to the acts of benevolence done them, they demanded them as a right.
" The women, living without care and distraction, became shrewish, and embittered their own lives for mere trifles.
"From this ingratitude and discontent it became evident that man, if he suffers from blindness only, will not surrender his liberty, and will not be separated from his relations, and that his happiness cannot be attained without the cares of life, and without work.
" After a trial of some 20 years, the asylum was closed, and the old begging system was resumed.
" After much deliberation it was decided to remain in connexion with the discharged blind, to visit them in their places of abode, to learn their wants, to study the difficulties which they experienced in supporting themselves independently, and, as far as possible, to remove their grievances. Director Georgi began this work in 1843. Director Eeinhard continued it from 1867 to 1879, and the present director has followed the same path. With the knowledge of these difficulties the Fiirsorge (care) for the discharged blind steadily advanced, and has won the confidence of the Saxon people.
" The system of training was proved, in many instances, to be defective. Very often the blind people could do work in the Institution under the supervision of teachers which they could not perform in their own homes alone and independently.
" The number of handicrafts taught was, therefore, reduced. The only ones at present taught are : —
Basket-making since 1821 Rope-making „ 1832 Brush-making „ 1880 Piano-tuning „ 1882
"(The last-mentioned had already been tried in the years 1854 and 1873.)
" Different kinds of female work, and plaiting, ever since the establishment of the Institution.
"It was further proved that handicrafts were taught in the Institution which, indeed, the blind could carry on after their discharge, but for which there was no demand ; they were therefore, given up.
" Further, it became certain that the blind were trained too much for the Institution, and not enough for life in the world. The conscientious teacher well knew what was required to make an upright and virtuous man ; but he did not know what were the special qualities required by the blind in every-day life. The blind boy entered the Institution as a child ; and at 20 he was discharged simple and innocent as a school girl, and now he had to combat the difficulties of life, and carry on a trade independently. It was, therefore, determined to change the training, and now permanent communication is kept up with the relations of the pupils. Quarterly reports are sent to them, with a letter written by the pupil. The relations return the report, also accompanied by a letter. The pupils go home every year for a month's holiday. Every-day life is made familiar to them by the reading aloud of newspapers. They have the advantage of society, both male and female, they learn the laws and usages of ordinary life, commercial letter-writing, the making out of accounts, book-keeping, to reckon the value of their own manufactured wares, the value of money, the elements of political economy, and ordinary housework ; they are also taught to walk about the streets alone. All instruction bears as much as possible on every-day life, and the station in life in which the blind will find themselves after their discharge is taken, as much as possible, into consideration.
" It was also found that the blind children were taught many things in school which were useless to them in later life, and that exercises in manual dexterity were begun too late.
" School teaching and manual training are now carried on simultaneously. Objects from natural history, geography, and geometry are modelled and designed in clay and wax. One of the difficulties which the blind experienced on quitting the Institution was that they often could get no suitable workshops, because no one would trust them for the rent, or because they themselves did not know what kind of a workshop would be suitable for them. In consequence it was decided that the director should go to their places of abode and select suitable homes and workshops for them.
" Experience also showed that the discharged blind person, especially at first, could find no sale for hia goods. It was, therefore, arranged that the wares which he could not sell should be taken by the Institution for sale.
" Very often the blind person had to buy raw material from a rival tradesman who was not blind, and, as may be easily imagined, this often led to his being cheated. The system was, therefore, introduced of allowing the discharged blind to buy their raw material from the Institution.
" Further, it was remarked that the discharged blind were often taken advantage of by their neighbours, and that very often no one was there to give them good advice, and that they were thus left to their own resources.
" It was therefore decided, that on the discharge of the blind person, the director should select a trustworthy person, residing in his future place of abode, to give him advice and practical help, to protect him from imposition, and to keep up communication with the director. If this guardian is unable to advise or help, he then writes to the director, who, if necessary, comes to the place, and this ia all the easier, as he travels free on all railways in Saxony.
" The result of these visits, as well as all communications from the guardian, the letters from the blind person, and every document relating to him, are entered in a register kept at the Institution.
" These guardians are respectable, benevolent, practical men, capable of procuring custom for their wards.
REPORT.
XXVU
" But there was no doubt, that, in spite of these arrangements, the discharged blind were unable to support themselves without the assistance of capital, whether in money or outfit. The blind man can do as good work as the man who can see ; but, as a rule, he does not work so quickly, and if the man who is not blind has to use every exertion to support himself and his family, the blind man to do the same requires some special help, without which he will either not be able to compete, or will have to lead a life of great privation.
" The first difficulty when a blind pupil is starting in life is to provide himself with the necessary tools and material. These the Institution supplies to him, and continues through life to alFord him moral and material help ; and by this means the greater part of the blind are enabled to save money for sickness and old age.
" Those who cannot return to their relations, cannot at once meet all their expenses, and the weak and old need special help. A part of the money for their board and lodging is paid for those who have to be settled in other places, on account of the death or untrustworthiness of their relatives.
" There is an asylum for the old and feeble at Konigswartha, where [a permanent division of labour is rendered possible by the constant presence of three workmen, who, although blind, are strong and healthy. Also, in other places, weak and able-bodied workmen co-operate together and make use of their powers under a proper division of labour.
" One may say that these blind people, altogether, on an average, need a yearly assistance of 100 marks, some more, some less. In the year 1886, 40,460 marks, 41 pfennings, were given for assistance to the dis- charged. This assistance is by no means always given in actual money, but always in such a way that the blind are encouraged by it to work. Mere money assistance is often actual poison to the blind. They therefore receive the assistance in materials for work, clothing, &c.
" The fund for the discharged blind provides the money for this.
"This fund was started in 1844, under the Director Georgi, with 150 marks; from 1867 to 1879 it was increased under Director Eeinhard from 113,670 marks to 768,520 marks ; and at the end of 1886 it amounted to 1,014,199 marks.
" This sum, which is a large one for Saxony, was collected by contributions from municipal, district, and parochial communities by donations of all kinds, and by the wages of the pupils of the Institution. The whole of the money which the blind earn during their apprenticeship in the workshops is divided into five parts, of which the blind workmen themselves receive one. Four parts go to the fund.
" The number of donations has for a long time been very considerable, for there are in the country many wealthy people who have learned from their own experience the value of work for every man. These men it is who give liberal donations of money to that fund, because they do not wish their money to be spent in alms, but to be used to enable the afflicted to gain a livelihood.
" The fund for the discharged blind is administered by the Director of the Institution. The number of those assisted amounts at present to about 400, who live respectably in all parts of Saxony, are almost self- supporting, and feel themselves free men. For just as a son does not feel galled by a gift from his father, so they are not ashamed to receive assistance from their second paternal home, the Institution. " At the end of 1885 the ' Fiirsorge ' Fund amounted to 971,702 marks. "In 1886 were added:— " Marks 9,520 in legacies.
„ 3,043 from village communes. „ 1,250 from district unions. „ 2,930 from town communes. „ 846 from Protestant and Catholic churches. „ 183 from freemasons' lodges. " Year by year these voluntary donations have increased in proportion as the effectiveness of the Fiirsorge system has become known to the population of Saxony.
"The State does not directly support the Fiirsorge system, but it pays the director's travelling expenses on his visits to the discharged pupils, and as the State guarantees the expenses for the education of the blind, it has a right to the proceeds of the pupils' work. This, however, it foregoes, but, as already observed, gives one-fifth to the blind workpeople, and four-fifths to the fund, the managers of which it also pays.
" The capital of the fund is invested, the interest only being used for the assistance of the discharged blind pupils.
" A register is kept for every blind person from the time he enters the Institution, and is continued after his discharge till death, or till the ' Fiirsorge ' is withdrawn. This register also shows how much raw material the blind person has bought from the Institution, what clothes and tools were given him on his discharge, how much he earned when in the Institution, and to what extent he is supported. In this book also the director makes the remarks he considers necessary after his visits to the discharged blind pupils."
120. During their tour the Commissioners saw no blind beggars in Saxony, and were Reports of informed that begging on the part of the blind had practically ceased to exist. Visits
121. Dr. Armitage's evidence supplies a very clear account of the working of the ^^io^,926l* system. He adds that : — Armitage.
" A few years ago some of the smaller States adjoining Saxony made arrangements for their blind to be educated in the Dresden Institution. These children were in all respects educated as the Saxon children. They returned to their home after completing their education, but, unfortunately, there was no system of supervision after leaving the school, and the result was that they almost all failed: while their Saxon com- panions, living under the same circumstances, almost invariably succeeded. This difference could only result from the want of supervision, and timely help and advice in the case of the children belonging to the small States ; these have, however, now undertaken the supervision, and the result is as satisfactory as it is in Saxony."
122. The Saxon system has not yet been fully tried in this country, though its introduction has now for some years been advocated by Dr. Armitage. A plan
similar in its main provisions has been adopted in Paris in the Societe de Placement See Reports et de Secours, which is an indispensable supplement to the " Institution Nationale." of Visits The society has been recognised by the State in France since 1856, and has a capital (Pa"s). of nearly 6,0001. sterling. Its example has been followed by similar institutions in the provinces.
d 3
XXVUl
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C.
123. We think that the adoption of the Saxon system is of the utmost importance to the blind of this country in the four following respects, as soon as the funds can be raised to carry it out : —
1. That a register should be kept of all pupils leaving the Institution.
2. That they should be assisted in carrying on a trade, should they wish to seFup
for themselves, and in the first instance be provided with tools and materials gratis, and, subsequently, at cost price.
3. That the Institutions should endeavour to provide funds to supplement the work-
man's earnings, grant loans, or afford him assistance in case of illness.
4. An endeavour should be made to interest some influential local agency with
which the Institution could correspond on behalf of the blind.
III.
The Aged Blind.
Compare the Medical Dis- qualification Kemoval Act of 1885. 14,057, Gilroj.
Lettei to Chairman of Commission.
18,283, Browne.
18,257, Browne.
See Reports of Visits (Paris) .
11,663, Turner.
See earnings of blind women in Appendix 7.
124. The State does nothing for the aged and infirm blind, except through the guardians to ofier them the workhouse,* without any special provision for them to alleviate their lot, or to distinguish them from the general mass of the paupers reduced by their own vice or folly, idleness or improvidence, to seek poor law relief. Before discussing in detail the suggestions made to us, we would observe that on general grounds we think that the aged blind should be treated on a different principle from the ordinary pauper ; they are deserving of more generous treatment, and, as their poverty does not arise from any fault of their own, we consider that in many in- stances the ordinary -workhouse test should be "relaxed, and out-door relief given to them on a liberal scale, which should not subject them to any legal disqualification.
125. Evidence has been given to us that the blind in all workhouses are not treated with the consideration they deserve. The Rev. C. Andras, chaplain of the Woolwich union, says, " there they drift, for want of some better provision, herded " with many who are just outside the criminal class, and who have little or no " sympathy with genuine distress or helplessness, though themselves needy. Unions
" are not built suitably for the blind Very little help is given ; they
" are just treated as the others."
He justly feels the sad position of the respectable blind in a workhouse, the rules of which are framed for a totally different class.
126. In a few cases a more liberal arrangement prevails, and special workhouse rules have been drawn up for their treatment.
127. It has been suggested that there should be an asylum for the maintenance of those who have become blind in iniddle age or upwards, by accident or otherwise, and who have no friends to support them; and that the cost should bo in London a charge upon the Metropolitan Common Fund, as is the asylum for imbeciles.
128. It may be more just to the blind, quite independent of economic grounds, that they should be kept out of the workhouse ; and in London such a central asylum or home may be necessary, as it is at present difficult to get middle-aged blind into institutions ; but the blind in England are disposed to live in their own homes rather than in an institution, and if a liberal grant to the necessitous blind were given, it might be found unnecessary to found such a central home.
129. "We have had no evidence that there is any wish for an institution like the Quinze Yingts, at Paris, where each blind inmate, with his family, keeps house, and forms part of a large community.
130. The 'guardians in one case brought before us gave Is. a week per head to out- door blind more than to sighted people, and although the relatives with whom these blind people lived, did not treat them well, yet the same relatives objected to the blind being transferred to a cottage home, for fear of losing the total subsidy which they were receiving for their maintenance.
131. While the blind men, as long as they can work, can earn something for themselves, the blind women must always be largely dependent on charity, as they
* Number on the 2nd September 1887 of blind persons in the United Kangdom above 21 years of a<^e receiving relief was 3,278 (in-door) and 4,895 (out-door). (See Parliamentary Eeturn, No. 326 of 1887.)
EEPORT.
y.xix
seldom can earn sufficient by tlie chair-caning, knitting, or crochet, which in many cases is their only means of livelihood.
132. To establish for such a cottage home or house where a few women could Turner live together, as in the homes at Bath and Leicester, would seem to be a very desirable See Reports obi ect of charity. of Visits
«' " (Leicester).
133. We found this system adopted at Kiel, in Schleswig-Holstein, and, accord- 12,094, ing to Mr. Hall, the same prevails at Philadelphia. Hall.
134. The aged blind in many workhouses at present pass a wretched existence. The Commissioners were struck by this when visiting the workhouse at Cork ; 22 aged men and women, totally blind, are retained in this workhouse, little or nothing being done to alleviate their condition.
135. But it must be remembered that those are the older people, for whom probably little can be done ; all those able to work and the children, to the number of 80, are maintained at the Guardians' expense in various institutions, viz. : — Cork Blind Asylum, 54 ; St. Eaphael's Blind School, 13 ; St. Joseph's, Dublin, 6 ; and at Merrion, Dublin, 7. In these Institutions they are being educated or are employed in industrial work, and the elevating and improving effect of such treat- ment on their characters was plainly perceptible to the Commissioners.
136. In consequence of evidence given by two or three witnesses respecting the con- Eeports| dition of the blind in workhouses, and from our own personal visits to a few of the of Local workhouses, we requested the Local Government Board for England and Wales to Government furnish us with a report on the subject, more especially with reference to the ^^^"^^
p • • , spectors
f Ollowmg pomtS :— _ in Appendix
(1.) Are any special arrangements in force in any of the workhouses for enabling 10.
the blind to be treated with greater consideration than ordinary paupers ? (2.) What provision is made for instructing the blind to read, or is permission given, or facilities afforded, to visitors from the Jndigent Blind Society, or other kindred society, to teach the blind to read and to lend books to them ?
(3.) What arrangements, if any, are made for blind inmates learning trades outside the workhouse 1
(4.) To what extent have your board of guardians availed themselves of the powers conferred upon them of sending blind paupers to institutions specially provided for their reception and treatment I
137. The Local Government Board desired the inspectors of 15 districts to report on the points respecting which information was desired, and the reports of these inspectors will be found in the Appendix. They appear to have been drawn up in most cases from particulars supplied by the masters of the workhouses, though some of the inspectors made careful personal inquiry in addition.
138. As regards the first point, it appears that, with some rare exceptions, the treatment accorded to blind paupers is the same as that shown to infirm inmates of the workhouse. Several of the inspectors question moreover whether it would be right to show the blind any special favour in regard to diet, hours, &c., which are not shown to epileptics and other analogous cases.^i
139. All the unions are apparently disposed to offer reasonable facilities and encouragement to mission societies, branches of the Home Teaching Society and others to visit and teach the blind in the workhouses. But although many of these agencies show a praiseworthy activity in this work, in the majority of cases no such visits are made, probably because there is no society near enough to the unions in question.
>S 140. When the blind are desirous of learning a trade, it is usual for the guardians to send them to a special institution for the blind, where such instruction will be given them, and to pay the cost of maintenance. At Sunderland, and a few other places, however, a somewhat different plan has been adopted, and there out-door relief has been granted on the condition that the blind will attend at the institution in that g^e Report town and learn basket-making, mattress-making, &c. This plan, to which we have No. 13 (Ap- already referred, is reported to have worked well, and to have succeeded in Instilling pendix io). a greater amount of self-reliance into the blind than they would have acquired in an ^Zwpara. 7 institution where they are boarded and lodged, supra.
d 4
XXX
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C.
141. It appears that, on the whole, most of the guardians avail themselves fairly of the powers vested in them to send suitable cases to institutions for education and training, but a good deal more might undoubtedly be done in this direction.
See Report Mr. Kennedy speaks of 12 cases in his district which deserve further consideration No. 12 (Ap- at the hands of guardians, and Mr. W. E. KnoUys, in his suggestive and careful report, pendix 10). gays, " I am acquainted with several instances of blind men comparatively young who " appear to have no resource whatever, either within themselves or provided for them, *' to relieve the tedium of their existence, and I have noticed them with regret pur- " poselessly pacing up and down their yards or lounging without occupation over the " day-room fires."
142. This entirely agrees with our own observations in the few workhouses which we visited.
143. We observe a recommendation made by Mr. Kennedy, Inspector of the York- shire District, that middle-aged blind paupers who become chargeable to county unions might preferably be sent to a workhouse in a town where a society (or institution) for the blind exists. The suggestion appears to us to be an eminently practical one, and we think that the Local Government Board should do all that they can to encourage it.
See me- 144. One Or two witnesses representing a general feeling among the poor adult
morials of blind, both in England and Scotland, have suggested that " state aid of a regular and Whid and'"'"^ " nature be granted to all blind persons unable to earn a sufficient livelihood,
others in " (particularly) that it should come to the individual direct, and not go through Appendix 1. " the official channels of existing Institutions." This plan, however, has never been submitted in a workable shape, so as to secure the State from assisting undeserving persons, and even if it were on general grounds deserving of support, it would be open to the objection that, to a great extent, all inducement to work would be taken away.
145. The condition of the blind of 50 and upwards, who are not able to do much work from illness or infirmity, depends mainly on the charitable institutions which are homes for the aged blind, and on the pensions which are distributed by certain charitable societies and some of the City Companies.
See list of counties in which re- cipients reside, Ap- pendix 14.
21-24, Longley
See Reports of visits (Bradford).
See Report of Wilber- force School ' for the Blind.
Pensions.
146. "We have been enabled to collect particulars respecting 35 charities which assist the blind by way of pensions. Several of the larger charities do not give pensions except to those over 50 or 60 years of age. A list of all those charities of which we have heard will be found in the Appendix.
147. The pensions given by the London charities, though generally open to all England, are chiefly distributed in London and the Southern counties, and seem to be but rarely participated in by the blind in the North.
148. These London charities, which constitute much the larger proportion, amount to nearly 30,000Z. per annum, and are distributed among about 3,550 persons in sums varying from 2/. to 20Z. Careful precautions appear to be taken in some charities in the distribution of these funds, but it does occasionally happen that one applicant will secure several pensions from difierent trusts.
149. A considerable amount of money is available for pensions, and endowed charities for the blind are continually being founded. Yet the applications for them far exceed the number of annual vacancies in the hands of the various trustees.
150. The Harrison Fund, Bradford, has been of great use in enabling small monthly pensions to be given to 16 blind people of the town too old and infirm to work, and who, but for this help, would be in great want. We were informed when visiting Bradford that twice the amount of the money now at their disposal could be advantageously distributed in this way.
151. The fund established by the late Mrs. S. Markham in connexion with the Yorkshire Institution in 1886, for the purpose of aiding former pupils to establish themselves in industry, consists of 800L, the interest of which is devoted towards (i) providing apparatus, materials, or tools ; (ii) making small grants of money to paupers well reported of ; or Ciii) afibrding assistance in case of sickness, &c.
REPORT.
xxxi
152. Evidence has been laid before us leading to the conclusion that the pensions are in some cases abused, and are not always administered to the best advantage, the persons who award the pensions sometimes have no personal knowledge of the training, aptitude, and character of the blind persons, and the result is that pensions are often granted when they would have been better withheld, and withheld when they might with advantage have been granted. The pensions are often awarded to those who have the most influential friends, and are given sometimes by several societies to the same individual without any inter-communication between the societies. Such interchange of lists is carried out by some of the leading London charities.
153. From the evidence given there would seem to be no objection to such registration being generally carried out.
154. The City Companies charge nothing for the administration of their charities, every penny received by them for the blind goes to the blind.
155. Pensions, as at present given, do not always contribute to thrift, and are rather a discouragement to industry. Many blind men who are strong, healthy, and vigorous will not work, because they expect to get a pension, or having obtained a pension will not put forth their proper energies.
156. It has been suggested with reason, that if the funds now given as pensions could be used to supplement still further the earnings of skilful workmen, it would be an immense stimulus to work, and the pension would be looked upon as a reward for industry rather than an excuse for idleness. Under the present system no supervision is exercised to test the way in which the pensions are used by the recipients. It is contended that the present limitation of age in some of the charities does not tend to make the pensions conditional on self-help.
157. It is difficult to exaggerate the want of self-reliance of blind people who have been brought up in dependence on existing or expected charity. As an illustration it is stated that there is a general hope among many of the indigent blind that the result of the Royal Commission will be that every one shall have a pension.
158. However desirable it may be that the aged and infirm should be well cared for, yet it is obvious that it would not be for the general welfare of the blind that they should form an exception to tfie general law, that every man should, as far as he can, earn his bread by work. The hardworking man, of whatever age, and those struck down by sudden loss of sight, may fairly be considered as fitting objects of relief by Blind Pension Societies ; while the old and decrepid have especial claims on those of the City charities which were established for their sole benefit.
159. To meet the objections which have been raised by various witnesses, we think — (1.) That co-operation should be established amongst ail the various pension societies, whereby a united register should be kept of all recipients, and thus the possibility be avoided of undeserving cases being relieved, and of blind persons becoming recipients of more than one annuity, except under special circumstances.
160. (2.) That, by legislation or otherwise, the rules and regulations of the pension system should be revised, so that the limits of age might be altered in many cases, and greater facilities given for distribution of funds for the use of the industrious adult blind.
I 161 . (3.) The pensions should not be given quarterly in lump sums, as they are liable to be wasted and misused, either by the blind or by those who accompany them to the distributor of the money, but they should be paid weekly or monthly through the agency of either a local magistrate, medical practitioner, or of the parochial clergy, or minister, who might from time to time report on the conduct and deserts of the pensioners in their parish. This distribution might well be facilitated by the adoption of the Saxon system.
Blind in their private Homes.
162. Besides those in institutions and those who are employed in workshops, there is a large class who live at home, or who are too sick and weakly to be admitted into blind institutions.
725 and 726 Johns. 4,783. Terry. 5,528, Cliirke. 5,598, 5,601, Wilkinson. 729, " Johns. 4,050, Lester.
5,240, Eoberte.
725 and 730, Joliiis.
767. Tait.
5,237, Roberts.
767, Tait. 770, Tait.
859, Tait.
453, Tait.
See
Johnson's " Annuities to the Blind."
5248-9, Eoberts.
4050, Lester.
11,709, Turner.
5467, Clarke.
5648, Hyams.
5732, Storey.
10,140, Hampton.
/ 20082.
XXX ii
KOYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C.
Societies in aid of the Blind.
390, 401, 163. Tlie Home Teacliing Society for tlie Blind declares its objects to be to visit and 430, every blind person not in an institution. It employs 18 blind teacbers, divides London into districts, visits 2,210 blind in London (of whom 1,493 are able to read Moon type) ; it bas formed a great number of brancbes, and tbus indirectly creates a direct interest in tbe blind, wbicb leads to otber institutions for tbeir welfare.
164. But tbe ground is not as yet all covered ; tbougb otber agencies are employed in visiting tbe adults in tbeir own bomes, reading to tbem, and teacbing tbem to read and write ; tbere are many localities wbere no brancb of tbe Home Teacbing Society exists.
165. Tbe Indigent Blind Visiting Society visits at tbeir bomes about 1,000 of tbe metropolitan blind, assists tbem wben required, starts tbem in trade, and employs many in knitting and otber work. It bas also 15 day classes in various parts of London, in wbicb tbe blind learn to read and write, and tbe women to knit, &c. In tbis society all tbe visitors and tbe secretary are blind. All types are taugbt, especially Braille.
166. Tbe evidence of one witness from Worcestersbire sbows tbat tbere are a great number of blind in bis district wbo are never visited, and a great number of blind cbildren wbo do not at present go to any scbool.
167. Tbere are otber associations and agencies, a list of wbicb will be found in tbe Appendix.
168. We bave collected information respecting 55 associations and missions to tbe blind in tbe United Kingdom, wbose functions are mainly to visit tbe blind, teacb tbem to read and write, assist tbem to obtain work, and afford tbem general relief and belp.
169. Tbese societies number II564O blind wbo eitber belong to tbe associations or are visited by tbeir agents, and tbe number of uneducated blind of scbool age, wbicb tbey bave come across in tbe course of tbeir researcbes is reported by tbem to be 261, and above scbool age, 2,825.
3953, Lestei'.
4041, Lester.
20,654, Day.
See Appen- dix 12.
3981-2, Lester. See Reports of Visits (London Soc, Re- gent's Park).
See Reports of Visits.
See Reports of Visits.
Types.
170. We give specimens of tbe principal types for tbe blind on separate pages in tbe Appendix.
171. Some societies bave for tbeir principal aim tbe dissemination of literature for tbe blind in various types, tbe leading types being, in alpbabetical order, Alston or Roman, Braille, Lucas, and Moon.
172. Tbe types used by tbe blind are various, and no general system is in use eitber in tbis country, tbe Continent, or America. In tbe latter tbe New York Point and Howe's are in use.
173. It is contended tbat tbe Braille type is capable of being used botb by old and young. It is gradually gaining ground, and appears likely to supersede tbe otbers for tbe young and intelligent of all ages, were it not tbat some institutions wbicb bave libraries in otber types do not like making a cbange, and teacb tbeir own special type, wbetber Moon or Alston or Lucas generally, in addition to Braille.
174. Tbe books in tbe latter type bave been extensively printed and distributed by tbe Britisb and Foreign Blind Association.
175. It would no doubt be convenient in tbeory to bave one universal type for tbe blind, but it does not seem likely to be generally adopted, as tbere seems a considerable feeling in favour of Moon's type, in wbicb a comparatively large literature exists.
176. Tbe St. Jobn's Wood Scbool, wbicb was founded for tbe purpose of teacbing tbe blind to read by means of tbe Lucas type (wbicb is a form of sbortband), and for tbe purpose of embossing books in tbat system, bas now adopted botb Braille and Moon as well.
177. From tbe information received by tbe Commissioners on tbeir visit to tbis Institution, it was evident tbat tbis Society continues to print and to teacb tbe Lucas
KEPORT.
XXXUl
type, on account of restrictions by whicli they considered themselves to Ik legally bound.
178. There is very little demand for the books printed in this type, and but few blind people can read them. In fact, like the phonetic system of Frere, it is gradually dying out.
179. It appears to the Commissioners that the present managers of the Institu.tion would gladly be relieved from this restriction as to type.
180. If the G-overnment were to give assistance to the blind by supplying them with books " gratis " or at reduced prices, it would no doubt tend to uniformity of type in time, though one witness remarks " that to regard one type as having any inherent " value over others is ridiculous, and that Moon, Braille, and Alston should be " subsidised equally." We do not, however (as we observe later on), recommend that any such subsidy should be given by the Government.
181. The board school teachers mostly adopt the Braille type for the use of children, though they also sanction, in some instances. Moon's type.
182. For those blind from birth or from early childhood. Braille seems to be, without doubt, the most suitable, as it can be read more quickly and can be printed in a much smaller bulk than any other. It also is capable of being written quickly in a frame, and is the only one well adapted to musical notation.
183. It is claimed for the Moon type that it is specially suited to the aged.-
184. The cost of a copy of the Bible in any raised type is about 51., which would be almost a prohibitory price if there were not societies to assist the blind in obtaining such works.
185. It seems desirable that the blind should also be taught to read the Roman type as well as the other types (as it can be taught to the blind easily by any seeing person), before they go to school, and to write it in the ordinary way, so as to put them more readily in communication with the seeing world ; we have seen several simple frames which enable the blind to write letters and send them by post directed in ordinary writing ; some of these have the additional advantage of being written in relief letters, enabling the blind person to read his own writing.
186. It is said that the Roman type is taught in those schools where the principal directors are seeing, and that they adopt it in accordance with their prejudices as seeing persons ; while, when blind directors or teachers have the control of the education the Roman is not taught except as a writing system.
187. Many experienced witnesses, however, are in favour of the retention of this type, viz., the Rev. B. G-. Johns, Mr. Buckle, Mr. W. J. Day, Mr. Harris, and the Rev. R. McNeile.
188. In America the Boston modification of the Roman letter was the most prevalent, on the ground that it was better for the blind not to be cut o& from the rest of the world, but Mr. Hall informed us that opinion was changing, and the institutions which used to order books to be printed in the line type now order them half, and some all, in New York point type.
^ 189. It seems better for the young when at school to be first instructed in Braille; afterwards they can easily learn to read Moon or Roman type, and thus profit by the existing literature printed in those types. In fact, it is useful to the blind to know all the leading types.
190. Boeides these appliances there are several type-writers that are found to be of great service to the blind to enable them to write rapidly.
10,730 Mars ton.
12,593, Hall. 13,590, Sime. 14,508, Neil. 16,723, Forster.
10,980, Armitage.
659, 11,185, 20,672, 16,371, 16,789.
12,038-42, Hali.
Course of Instruction to the Blind.
191. We are of opinion, from the evidence we have received, and from personal 16,219.
inspection of the schools, that a special code for the blind is unnecessary. There VValker.
appears to be no difficulty in teaching the blind reading, writing, and arithmetic. Novell'
Nay more, they show great proficiency in mental arithmetic, and generally a blind i 352
child can take his place and pass his standard examinations with his seeing companions. Weaver.
It will be necessary in order to facilitate the teaching of the blind in our elementary ^'^^tt'
e 2
xxxiv
EOYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
schools tliat tlie ordinary text books now used tliere should be easily procurable in embossed type. Tliere is no reason wby, as soon as tbey bave mastered tbe special type, tbey sbould not be taugbt in elementary schools up to a certain age. Every school for the blind should be expected to teach all the elementary subjects, and, in addition, modelling and Kindergarten work should be added wherever practicable.
192. In the schools in Germany we found that more importance was attached to e.ff., Dresden, the training of the touch of the blind than is generally the case in England with the exception of Norwood ; in fact, they proceed upon the principle that the fingers must replace the eyes, and an accurate sense of touch is cultivated by modelling, Kinder- garten work, and a variety of gymnastics and games, which are calculated to develop it and their general physique.
Teachers in Schools.
193. Under the present Code of Regulations of the Education Department it is not necessary for the purpose of earning grants, that the teachers of the classes for the blind established by school boards throughout the country should be certificated, so long as the principal teacher of the school to which these classes are attached is certificated. Moreover, it would be difficult for the teachers of these classes, many of whom are themselves blind, to pass the examinations for the seeing, without some relaxations of the provisions of the Code. There is, therefore, no guarantee that teachers of the school board classes for the blind, whether themselves blind or seeing, are adequately and properly trained.
194. We are of opinion that the conduct of the education of the blind should in all cases be under certificated teachers, and that they should be placed under the same regulations as the seeing teachers in elementary schools before being allowed to teach, and in all cases should have such sighted assistance as may be necessary to ensure the efficiency of their teaching.
195. The existing teachers of the blind in institutions are, in most cases, not so good as the best of the teachers in the elementary schools, and they are certainly not so well paid.
Should they he " Blind "?
196. There is among the blind a great wish to become teachers of the blind, both because it opens out to them a remunerative occupation, and because the blind teachers are popular with the blind.
139 and 105, 197. They are said to be more patient with their pupils, and having themselves Westlake. experienced the difficulties of acquiring knowledge, are more in sympathy with them ; Lo^^n their sense of touch is also more delicate, and they encourage the children to make 238 " more use of it ; and the very fact that their teachers are blind and are doing such good Greene. work as their pupils know that they are doing, and are able to move about freely, 1467. stimulates the ambition of the children, and gives them confidence.
Weaver.
505, et seq., 198. It has been urged by some witnesses that a teacher should have keen sight Faunthorpe, ^q\\ keen intelligence, and if he has lost one of those faculties, he can be hardly so well qualified as a man who has all.
576-7 and 199. Our experience is that some few blind teachers, who are thoroughly trained, can Johns and teach exceedingly well, and better than most sighted persons, and we think it advisable Faumlio'r e make use of blind teachers with sighted assistance, but where there is only one
aunt, lorpe. ^^^^^^^ -^^ should be sighted, because there are many defects of manner and habit in blind children which a sighted person alone can correct. ^
20,418-20, 200. It has also been proved that the ordinary certificated teachers can, without
Forster. much trouble, teach the blind without any special training, if they will take the trouble
14,396, to learn the system of reading and writing. Macdouald.
13,259, 201. In America men so distinguished as ex-President Cleveland and Mr. Blaine 9-allaudet. began life as teachers of the blind ; and the teachers of the blind are there taken generally from a higher and better informed class than in England, and they are better paid.
202. It is hoped that the Norwood College will be of use in training teachers for the blind. When we visited it in 1887 all the resident sighted teachers in the school
BEPOBT.
XXXV
department were American, and trained in tlie best normal schools of Massachusetts, and on asking the reason we were informed that they were better trained than any English teachers that they could then obtain for the same salary. A number of blind teachers who have been trained in the College are now successfully employed in the College and elsewhere, as at Leeds and Sheffield, and by the school boards of London, Bradford, and Cardiff.
203. In the Institution Rationale at Paris all the classes are under blind professors, most of whom have been trained at the institution. The candidates for such professorships have to pass two long and minute examinations after an interval of two years before representatives of the university or existing professors ; but the general supervision, exclusive of the teaching staff, is under sighted superintendence, viz., director, treasurer, house steward, censeur or controller, and four surveillants or overseers.
Management of Institutions.
204. The blind institutions which we have visited are generally well managed by Committees ; and on the occasion of our inspections we have found members of the committee as well as the officers of the institutions always ready and willing to give us any information in their power and to listen to any suggestions that we made.
Some dissatisfaction has been expressed at the imperfect training of the blind in 20,769,
trades or technical work during their stay at institutions, and a belief is found to ^^^y' exist among a few workmen that what they are taught is more for the pecuniary benefit of the institution than for themselves. A basket maker is sometimes not taught to make the kind of basket for which there is a local demand outside the institution.
205. Objection is also taken that in some cases the blind become more helpless after
being at an institution, because they are not encouraged to help themselves, do 20,767,
household work, or even to feed themselves. In the best managed institutions this 20^777, is not the case.
Day.
206. Several of the larger institutions are under special Acts of Parliament, such as Liverpool, Southwark, &c. The regulations of the Royal Blind Asylum, Edinburgh, appear well suited for the government of an institution which includes a school, asylum, and a workshop for old pupils. The Henshaw's Blind Asylum at Manchester, which appears to be well managed, is governed under regulations amended under an order of the High Court of Chancery.
207. One witness wishes to have a blind representative of the blind on the governing
body of a blind institution, not in order to control the funds, but to make known the 16,187. views of the blind. He believes that the opinions of the blind would thus be brought Walker, more quickly before committees, and if there was discontent at their treatment it would w^/ifer' reach the ears of the committees far more quickly than at present. We have found that blind persons are not unfrequently on the governing bodies of Institutions, and we may cite the names of Miss Grilberfc, the late Yiscount Cranborne, and others whose labours for the blind are so well known.
208. While'we do not think it advisable to suggest any change in the constitution of the voluntary bodies which have done good work in the education and training of
^the blind, we have made many comments on individual institutions in the report of our visits. We recommend that, subject to inspection, all the control of the internal domestic affairs of such institutions should be left as heretofore with the existing governing bodies.
Cost of maintenance in Institutions.
209. The cost of maintenance and education appears to vary considerably in the different institutions, as the accounts are not always kept on a uniform plan, and the different branches of expenditure overlap each other to such an extent as to make it impossible to separate them by a sharp line. Hence the deductions to be made from them are not reliable for the purpose of comparison. A witness, speaking of St. 621, Greorge's, Southwark, says, that in 1881 in that institution the cost, excluding the fixed capital, was in round numbers about 50^. for boarding, lodging, clothing, teaching, and training.
e 3
Johns.
xxxv'i
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C.
%e Appen- 210. In ten of the scliools whicli liave made returns to us, tlie average cost of educa- lix 11. i{q^ {q estimated at 61. 4s., and of board and lodging, 161. 18s. These institutions, however, do not include the somewhat exceptional cases of the Royal Normal College, St. George's, Southwark, and "Worcester College, where the cost per head of education and maintenance is estimated at 591. 15s. Od., 501., and 901. respectively.
Election of Candidates.
211. Candidates for admission to most institutions are elected by the votes of the subscribers. In many cases the number of the applicants, especially now among the blind under 12 years of age, far exceeds the number admissible.
172,
Westlake. 196,
Greene.
12,944, Chambers.
20,768, Day. yee Reports )f Visits Leeds),
Gymnasia and Physical Exercises.
212. As the blind have lower vitality than the sighted, they therefore require everything to assist their physical development, bathing, influence of sunlight and air, and gymnastic exercises.
213. One witness stated that the blind leave institutions in a weaMy state, whether from want of exercise or insufficient food. We have observed the blind suffering from want of physical exercise, but we have not had any complaints of insufficient food, nor have we seen anything to lead us to such a conclusion.
214. The success of the blind in after life depends largely on their physical training, to keep up their energy. We think that healthy out of door sports for the blind should be encouraged as much as possible.
215. A good gymnasium is a necessary adjunct to an institution. At Norwood there are two : one for boys and one for girls ; skating, swimming, rowing, cycling, and other games are freely practised. The Henshaw's Asylum and St. George's, Southwark, are well fitted up with gymnastic appliances, and boys and girls both mount the ladders and swings as if they had sight. The military or musical drill is also very useful in keeping up discipline, while it exercises the body. At Kiel sixteen of the men and women, employed in the workshops, danced the lancers and waltzed afterwards with ease.
216. We saw the pupils at Worcester College playing at football with a wicker basket ball enclosing a bell, and walking on stilts with perfect fearlessness.
16,206. Walker.
16,570. Marston.
16,168. Walker.
Stute Inspection.
217. Under any system of State aid there must necessarily be State inspection ; should the inspectors be specially trained in the education and industrial instruction of the blind ?
218. The school inspectors for the blind should be selected, if possible, from inspectors of elementary schools who should have made themselves acquainted with the methods, types, and appliances used in the education of the blind.
219. It has been impressed upon us by some blind witnesses that there should be blind inspectors, or at least one blind inspector, in addition to sighted inspectors, because a seeing man would never be severe enough in demanding the full powers of the blind ; no man who has not himself gone through the course of education of a blind man knows how much he can do, and how much he might fairly expect. It has also been stated that there should be more than one inspector : one to be specially skilled in the training of the blind, and one in industrial work. At present there is no Government inspection where there is not a certificated teacher ; though a certifi- cated teacher is desirable, yet there should be inspection of all existing schools, whether there be a certificated teacher or not. The inspectors should also examine and inspect the industrial department of institutions or workshops, should they be established, which are not now examined. This would also indirectly have a beneficial influence upon institutions and lead to uniformity of teaching throughout blind schools, encourage inter-communication between institutions, and lead up to the attainment of a more uniform standard of progress.
REPORT.
XXXVll
Proposals for State Aid.
220. We have previously stated that the Boards of Gruardians have the power to send, under certain conditions, blind children to an institution, and to pay towards their maintenance and education in all cases where the parents are unable to pay without pauperising the parent by such a payment from the rates.
221. They have also the power of providing for the maintenance and instruction of blind adults in an institution. But with the exception of these and of the school board classes for the blind, the education of the blind has hitherto been largely dependent on private charity, and the necessity for direct State aid, hb practised in some British colonies, in the leading European countries, and in the United States, has not been generally recognised in this country.
222. Bequests or endowments for the blind have been frequently made of late 21 and 45, years, yet, in the distribution of general endowments for education by the Charity Longley. Commissioners, the blind have not hitherto received any benefit.
223. It is agreed by all witnesses that the benefits of the Education Acts should be extended to the blind, to the fullest extent, and they should be treated on the same grounds as ordinary children (they are not specifically excluded from the Education Act, and in Scotland are included specially by the Act of 1872, in its compulsory provisions), and that a larger grant than is given to the seeing in proportion to the additional expense in educating them is necessary.
224. The present education grant for blind children under the London School Board varies from 18s. 5^d. per head to 18s, ll-|cZ., and up to 21s. in Scotland, calculated on the average attendance.
225. The aggregate amount of the grant must depend upon the necessity or otherwise of the training of blind children in separate institutions. There will always be some who will require such assistance ; the State would then have to provide for the maintenance as well as education. The present grant from guardians See List is generally insufficient, and varies from 51. to 20Z., and higher in some exceptional (Appendix
column 5 (a).
226. The Manchester School Board have passed a resolution, that the Education Parly. Papsr Department, might with propriety make grants to institutions for the education of ^g^*^"^^°^ the blind, and that such grants might be made either towards maintenance, as in the ' ^" case of certified industrial schools, or upon examination, as in the public elementary
schools.
227. Under the London School Board the annual net cost of educating a blind child is 91. 10s. 5d., this amount being arrived at by taking the net cost per head in the schools in which blind children were instructed at Lady Day, 1888, viz., 11. Ids. lid.,
. and adding to it the cost per head of the special instruction of the blind, viz., 71. 16s. 6d. In the cases of the three school board classes at Cardifi", Bradford, and Sunderland, the average net cost of education of each blind child is 71. 3s. Id. per annum.
228. In Scotland, it has been suggested that a grant of lOZ. for each child, 13,568, 51. from the State and 5/. from the local authority, would be sufficient, leaving
^voluntary efi'orts to provide the buildings and the other half of the cost.
229. In Grlasgow, though the school board admitted that the cost of educating a
blind child was about 35s. higher than that of educating a seeing child, which is See Reports about 21. 2s. 6d. per annum, they stated they did not wish to claim any larger grant of Visits, from the State on that account. ^ asgow;.
230. It has also been suggested that the grant for a blind child should be double that tor an ordmary child.
231. Mr. H. E. Oakeley and the Rev. T. W. Sharpe, two of H.M. Inspectors Parly.^Papev of Schools, recommend that school boards should have power to establish central ^gse^p^s*' schools where they are required, and that for cases sent to institutions for the blind,
an additional grant should be paid annually, which would cover the difierence between the contribution which is at present allowed to be paid by guardians and the total cost of annual maintenance at some institution, which difierence, he believes, to be about 101. annually.
e 4
xxxviii
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. ;
P.M-ly. Paper C.~4747 of 1888, p. 5.
10,610, 10,614, Campbell,
In his book, " Education of the Blind."
232. Mr, Fitcli, anotiier of H.M. Inspectors, recommends that : —
Ou a satisfactory report from an inspector, the school board should be allowed to claim at each of the centres of special instruction an additional grant for every blind child who has attended the class during half the year, and who has also passed the standard examination. Such additional grant should not exceed one-half of the total extra cost of the blind child's instruction."
233. Dr. Campbell thinks it is tlie policy of the State to give the blind the best practical education that they are capable of receiving ; if the State has to support a blind person in a workhouse for 40 or 50 years, it is quite evident that it is cheaper for the State, to say nothing of the humanity at all, to educate rather than pauperize. In support of this it may be mentioned that the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities in the IJnited States, say in their Report : —
" As observation shows that educated blind persons seldom become a public charge, it would seem im- portant, not only in its social bearings, but as a question of political economy, to bring as many of the blind as practicable under proper educational training."
234. The Gardner Trustees by their scholarships enable those leaving the board 10,634, schools to obtain technical instruction at various institutions, and higher education
Campbell, at Worcester ; but there are always more candidates than can be elected, and it is Pari. Paper, satisfactory to find that the children from the public elementary schools generally ~4747 of succeed best in the open competition for such scholarships.
235. The Gardner trustees have it under consideration to assist in founding a college at Worcester, if it should be re-constituted as a public trust.
236. It has been suggested * that the State, by the Education Department, might give grants of books to institutions and asylums, which would relieve them from the heavy cost of printed books, and that the types to be selected should be a Braille type for the young, and Moon type for the aged>
237. In America, the printing for the blind is largely subsidized. Mr. W. Wait, Superintendent of New York Institution for the Blind, says, " The Act of 45th Con- " gress, established ■ a permanent fund, the annual interest on which, amounting to " 10,000 dollars, is to be distributed in the form of books and apparatus adapted to " the use of the blind among the institutions in the United States."
238. In this country the printing for the blind is in private hands, and, we think, it must be left, as it is now, to private enterprise.
239. We do not think that it would be wise for the Education Department to make grants of books, but in giving the annual grant the expenses of providing books should be borne in mind.
Recommendations. State aid.
240. The recommendations which we make are founded on the general idea, which has been strongly impressed upon us by various witnesses, and by the observations made during the visits of the Commission at home and abroad, that the blind should, as far as possible, be treated like seeing people, and that the object of their education and physical training should be, as far as practicable, to make up for their physical defects, and to train them to earn their livelihood. This principle is not only right, but it is politically and economically sound. It is better for the local aathority or the State to expend its funds on the elementary and technical education of the blind for a few years rather than to have to support them through life in idleness, or to allow them to obtain their livelihood from public or private charity.
241. It has been frequently impressed on us that while the parents might be able to pay for the ordinary cost of education of a seeing child in an elementary school, they might not be able to defray the extra cost of maintenance in an institution for the blind. We therefore think they should be treated liberally in this respect, and that the parents should not only receive the assistance for their children without being compelled to apply to the guardians, but that such assistance should be given for the whole period, say, from 5 to 16 years of age. We are aware that the guardians are empowered to send such cases to an institution, even though the parent may not be a pauper in receipt of relief, but we have nevertheless had abundant testimony of the very natural disinclination on the part of poor parents to apply to the guardians in
* Eeports of Visits, (Macdonald of Glasgow). 485-6, Tait. 13,910, Martin. 15,967, Meldrum. 17,501, Mooo. 20,371, Forster.
19,608, Oumin.
Xetter from Local Gov. Board, 21st F3b. 1888. See para, 31.
REPORT.
such a matter for aid, and also of tlie reluctance of some boards of guardians to afford such aid. There appears to be a general consensus of opinion in favour of vesting the power of making the grant in the hands of the school authority rather than leaving it Para. 52. in the hands of the poor law administration, with whom it would assume the form of a charitable conc(3ssion rather than an educational duty.
242. It has been advocated by some that the education of the blind should be free, and we think that if free education should be given by the State, the blind ought to have the first claim ; but we do not consider that the parents of the blind should be absolved from the responsibility of their education and maintenance, or from paying for them to the extent of their ability.
243. "We recommend therefore* —
(1.) That the provisions of the Education Acts be extended to the blind, and that
the compulsory attendance at a school or institution be enforced from 5 to 16 Para 40. in the following way : —
(2.) That the education of the blind in the elementary school should commence at fi.ve in the infant department, and after passing through the ordinary standards, the technical or industrial training should begin at from 12 to 14 Para, 56. in an institution or technical school, and that parents should not have the power of withdrawing the children before the age of 16. Such of the blind pupils as show exceptional promise, should be encouraged by scholarships to Parn. 94. qualify for education at a high class college. Independently of the position of the parent, a capitation grant, equal to at least half the cost of instruction, should be given to all in the same way as in ordinary elementary schools. If intended to be trained in music, instruction should be given as soon as Para. 57. possible.
(3.) "Where the number is too small to form a class, or where the child is unable to
attend an elementary school, the school board or school attendance authority Para. -52.
should have the power and be required (a) to send a child to an institution,
and to contribute to his education and maintenance such grant as would
be equivalent to the contribution now allowed to be paid by guardians;
(b) if there should be no institution available or willing to receive such child,
the school authority should have the power to board out the child, or, either
by itself or in combination with other school authorities, to establish an
institution for the purpose, and to educate the child under certificated teachers
and proper inspection.
(4.) That the school attendance should be compulsorily enforced for at least eight years, without any existing limit of distance from school ; and power given to the local authority to pay the rail or tram fare of children when necessary. Paras.40,43,
(5.) That the grant on behalf of children, whether in a day school or in a boarding and 56.
school, up to the age of 16, should be given under the certificate of a properly Scholfield, qualified inspector, who should certify the character of the teaching in the 18,800. school, and the grant should depend, not only on the merits of each individual ^^^^|23^^ scholar, but on the aggregate proficiency of the blind pupils.
244. Legislation would be necessary to extend the compulsory period under the Education Acts for the blind, and to vest the power in the school authority rather than in the guardians. Whatever may be the authority, it should provide a certain sum towards the maintenance of the blind in an institution either at an early age or after a course of training in some elementary school.
Industrial Training.
245. In any legislation for the encouragement of technical or industrial training, we think that the claims of the blind should be duly considered in the direction we have suggested.
246. There seems a want in London of a metropolitan industrial school for the blind, which one of the existing institutions might supply, as the expense of sending London children to provincial institutions is very great. The parents do not like their ^'j-^'^^j^' children going far from home, and the guardians are not empowered to visit them
in the institutions at a distance from London, except at their own expense. Such an
* The numbers at the side refer to the paragraphs in the body o£ the Report where the recommendations Occur) and where the arguments are fully stated. The two should be read in conjunction with one another. / 20082 f
xl EOYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OP THE BLIND, &C.
institution should consist of (1) a preparatory school for the infant classes, where 18,275-7, Kindergarten work should be carried on ; (2) an elementary education school where Browne, modelling and the making of maps, and some knowledge of music and technical training should be imparted, in addition to the ordinary curriculum in elementary schools. (Should the education of the blind be carried on under the same law as at present is applied to elementary schools, the two first-named departments would be unneces- sary) ; (3) after they leave an elementary school technical instruction should be given in the trades suitable to the blind, together with a continuance of their educational studies, and those who may show such special aptitude for music or tuning as would lead to their adopting it as a profession, should be sent elsewhere for superior training ; games and gymnastic exercise should be strongly encouraged, and form part of the ordinary school work. Such a school might become a model school, and from it teachers specially trained in industrial work might be distributed over the United Kingdom.
247. We recommend —
Paras. 217 That the technical instruction in industrial handicrafts, as well as the educa-
and 218. tional training of the blind should be placed under the Education Department ; an ig goo efficient inspection of industrial work, by a Grovernment inspector, would tend to raise Scholfield. the standard of work, and to produce good instead of indifferent workmen, as is too often the case at present.
(2.) That from 16 to 21 the school authority should have the power and duty to Para. 61. give to all the necessitous blind a liberal grant to maintain themselves while they are learning a trade.
Para. 116. (3.) That a central shop and workshop for adult sldUed workers should be established in every large centre where the same has not yet been started. But the State should not directly subsidise their work, and it should be left to private benevolence to start such central workshops and boarding-houses, where the blind could be assisted to obtain work or be provided with materials at cost price, if they wish to live at their own homes, and where they would obtain a ready sale of their work.
Para. 71. (4.) That the adult blind and those who have become blind from 21 to 50 should
equally receive either help from the school authority to iearn a trade and to read some raised type, in the same way as if they were under 21, or if they have passed through
Para. 123. an institution, the old pupils should be assisted and supervised on the Saxon system, as soon as the funds can be obtained for that purpose, and it should be the duty of the inspectors of institutions for the blind to ascertain what supervision is exercised, and to report accordingly, this being one of the regulations which might reasonably be imposed by the Education Department as a general condition of the grant.
Endowments.
248. We have ascertained in the course of our inquiries that in Scotland and in Ireland a few of the institutions for the blind and deaf and dumb have been brought by recent legislation under Endowed Schools Commissioners appointed specially for those countries.
See Ap])en- 249. In respect of the charitable institutions in England and Wales, we have dix 16. received from the Chief Charity Commissioner a statement of the general powers of that Commission, and of their special powers over the same under the Endowed See Schools Acts. These differ considerably from the powers more recently given by
Appeudix 4. legislation for Scotland and Ireland.
250. In England, owing to the limit of time within which the Charity Commissioners could exercise their jurisdiction under the Endowed Schools Acts being fixed anterior to the foundation of most of the blind and deaf and dumb institutions, namely 1819, and from other causes mentioned in the statement of the Chief Commissioner, these institutions have not been dealt with by the Charity Commission.
251. The institutions for the blind and the deaf and dumb in England (except those under special statutes) are within the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners, under the general powers of the Charities Acts, and trustees have the power, if they should think necessary, to apply to the Charity Commissioners for an amended scheme, as the Gardner Trustees recently have done. The institutions for the blind are either wholly or partly educational or industrial. The income accruing to them from their endowments or trust funds was about 23,000?. in 1887. The invested sums them- selves arising in some cases from savings, amounted to about 500,000Z. sterling, in
■REPORT.
xli
addition to whicli the institutions hold real property, sites, land; and buildings, amounting; to about 300,000L in value.
252. Should the Education Acts be extended, as we suggest, so as to include the compulsory education of this class, it might be possible and right to apply some of the funds so liberated from educational purposes to the enlargement of the work- shops connected with the institutions, or for the supervision and assistance of old pupils on the Saxon system ; but should the funds, be so rearranged, we recommend that they shall be exclusively employed for the benefit of the blind connected with the institution to which they belong. If this should be the case, we think that the precedent of recent legislation might be followed, and two unpaid Commissioners be temporarily added to the Charity Commissioners to be assessors and advisers in the preparation of any schemes which might be submitted by them to the governing body of these institutions, and the powers of the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales in respect of these institutions should be extended. But we have every reason to anticipate that many of the suggestions made in the report of this Commission will be cordially received and adopted by the governing bodies.
253. We think, however, that in any legislation it should be made quite clear that
the sole object of legislation should be to extend the usefulness of the institutions and ^PP^"' their endowments without prejudicially interfering with the powers or privileges of the existing governing bodies.
Pensions.
254. With regard to the cognate subject of pensions, the amount of money thus given amounts to over 35,000L annually, which is the interest of the invested funds
left by various charitable persons for that purpose. There appears to be no likelihood gf^^H^Lon^"^ of the blind receiving any benefit from the funds applicable under the City of London ^^y^ ° Parochial Charities Act, 1883. We have previously stated that the conditions of the pendix 16. pensions vary considerably. Some make the receipt at any time of parochial relief by the applicant a disqualification for pension. There is often a difficulty for the dis- tributors of pensions to ascertain whether an applicant has ever been in receipt of parish relief, and this provision is a direct temptation to making a false return. We think that instead of excluding those who have ever received parish relief, it would be better, as in the Gardner Trust, only to exclude those who have received it within a year or two of their application, within which time it would be perfectly easy to verify the correctness of the applicants' return. Others cannot grant a pension to anyone below the age of 50 or 60. On that point we have already remarked that we consider the State should provide liberally for the aged blind, and when that is done there will not be the same necessity for limiting the age.
255. Without wishing . in any way to divert the pensions from their original purpose, we should like to see the hard and fast conditions attached to some of them so relaxed as to enable the trustees to reach all meritorious cases of adults of any
age, so that the pensions should act as an incentive to industry. The Charity ^^''•■^^emtf Commissioners can now vary these conditions only on the application of the trustees, j^Qgr. 3. ' and they have hitherto received no application from them. We recommend that with respect to the pensions they shall be dealt with by the Charity Commissioners in the same way and under the same conditions as we have recommended with regard to the other endowments in paras. 252 and 253, and with the proviso that we have mentioned in para. 254 that the State should provide liberally for the aged blind.
Pensions. — Further suggestions.
256. The following recommendations we make respecting pensions can be carried out without legislation, viz.,
257. Co-operation amongst all the various pension societies should be established, whereby a united register should be kept of all recipiQuts, and thus the possibility be avoided of undeserving cases being relieved, and of blind persons becoming recipients of more than one pension, except under special circumstances, and with the knowledge of the trustees.
258. The pensions, except for the aged and infirm, should be so distributed as to J'ara. 156. assist those who are assisting themselves.
f 2
xlii
EOYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &0.
259. The pensions should not be given quarterly in lump sums, as they are liable to be wasted and misused, either by the blind or by those who accompany them to the Par?, 161. distributor of the money, but they should, as a rule, be paid weekly or monthly through the agency of either a local magistrate, medical practitioner, or of the parochial clergy, or minister, who might from time to time report on the conduct and deserts of the pensioners.
Saxon System.
Para. 123. 260. The Saxon system should be adopted as far as possible by all institutions.
But any subvention under this system to the adult blind who have left institutions should not be given out of the Imperial Exchequer.
261. It is desirable that the institutions for the blind should start a system of supervision of the pupils who have been trained in their workshops, and should raise funds for their assistance after leaving the institutions, and for providing them with materials and obtaining a sale for their industrial work, and it would be quite
Para, 123. practicable for some of the larger institutions to start this at once with their existing machinery. We think that this would be preferable to its being undertaken by the direct aid of the State. We think that it should be the duty of the inspectors of blind institutions to ascertain what supervision is exercised over the ex-pupils, and to report accordingly, this being one of the regulations which might be imposed by the Education Department as a general condition of the grant.
Higher or Secondary School.
262 , We think that the State migtit fairly be called upon to assist a secondary school for the blind, which should prepare the most intelligent for an University
Para. 94. career, but we do not think that a large number would avail themselves of it, and the object might be obtained through scholarships, as the Fawcett scholarship, or grants such as have been given by the Grardner trustees.
Blind in Workhouses.
263. We think that when the industrious and well conducted blind are unable to work, and have to fall back on the assistance of the Poor Law, the workhouse test
Paras. 124 gj^iQuld not be applied, and we recommend that there should be a liberal out-door relief and 143. ^^^[q]^ should not subject them to any legal disqualification) given to those who have friends to live with, and that the blind be not forced to go into the workhouse ; and in the case of those who are admitted into the house, the workhouse selected for the purpose should be in a town where an institution or association for the blind already exists ; the blind inmates, moreover, ought to be treated in a more generous way than the ordinary paupers, and power should be given to the guardians in London or elsewhere to set apart a separate ward or home for the reception of the aged
Para. 132. pauper blind, or to combine with other boards in providing a separate home for them. In the case of women, it might be expedient to place them in a cottage home.
Teachers.
We recommend —
Pava. 194. 264. That blind teachers should be placed under the same regulations as the seeing . " teachers in elementary schools before being allowed to teach, and in all cases should
have such sighted assistance as may be necessary to insure the efficiency of their teaching.
Statistics.
265, That for the purpose of the census there should be a uniform schedule of See Eeports inquiry for the blind throughout the United Kingdom, including causes and extent of %isits, of blindness. Every school or institution for the blind should have their pupils on passim. admission examined by an oculist or medical man, and a record kept of the causes and extent of the blindness, which should be furnished to the Government inspector as well as a register of all pupils who have passed through the institution, and their subsequent career, whether successful or unsuccessful.
REPORT.
xliii
Miscellaneous Suggestions.
266. Besides sucli of tlie recommendations as would require the sanction of the Leo-islature, there are many improvements oti the existing system which can be secured for the blind without any legislation or the intervention of the State, and we think that there is a disposition among the friends of the blind and the institutions for the blind throughout the country to welcome any suggestion which we may make to promote their welfare and which can be carried out.
We recommend —
(1.) That greater attention should be paid generally to physical exercises and healthy Para. 212. out-door sports, and gymnasia and covered play sheds should be attached to all schools for the blind.
(2.) That the supervision of the blind at night should be obtained by a sighted see Reports officer sleeping in a cubicle in the same room, or in one with a window looking of visits to directly into the dormitory. We attach great importance to this. institutions,
(3.) That there should be some sighted supervision of workshops. _ Para. 107.
(4.) That except in special cases, or where music is selected as a profession, or where a pupil is being prepared for one of the liberal professions, every one not physically -Para. 7G. . disqualified should receive manual training.
(5.) That boys up to 16 should not be employed in workshops with the adult para. 59. blind.
(6.) That the management of industrial work should be placed on a strictly Para. 110.
commercial basis, and if it be found necessary to give any bonus it should be clearly
shown in the books of the institution. (7.) We think- That the industrial work taught in many of the institutions is not sufficiently
practical, and that, generally speaking, the manual dexterity is not sufficiently Para. 192.
developed when the pupils are young.
(8.) That there should be greater solidarity among the institutions and interchange of Tara. 112.
information and opinion between them, so that they should work harmoniously 3967-70,
together, and in the management of the workshops each endeavour to take up some gfgt®'''
one branch of work, and purchase from other institutions anything they may themselves Qiarke.
have orders for, and that this policy should be reciprocal.
1801, ooc.
We recommend — Johns, (9.) That the intermarriage of the blind should be strongly discouraged. Marfin (10.) That information respecting the treatment of purulent ophthalmia should be p^ra. 25.
circulated by the sanitary authority, or through the Post Office.
(11.) That children with defective sight in elementary schools should be periodically Para. 28.
examined by a medical officer, and the use of glasses, &c. ordered so as to preserve
their sight as much as possible.
(12.) That greater attention to ophthalmic surgery should be encouraged among Para. 29.
general practitioners.
THE DEAF AND DUMB.
Census.
267. According to the census of 1851 the deaf and dumb in the United Kingdom 9,187 and 8. were 17,300; in 1861 (in which decade additional care was taken), 19,588; in 1871, a^'^liSle 18,150; and in 1881, 19,518. The increase in the second decade (of 1861) was on"Deafand not owing to a real increase in the deaf and dumb population, but to the obvious Dumb," in blunders in the enumeration in J851. Some of these have been eliminated in the "Chambers, later census. From a comparison of the returns in the last four decades the census appears to be less inaccurate in 1881 than on previous occasions.
268. During the last two decades the proportions of the deaf and dumb to the general population, have decreased from 1 in every 1,484 in 1861, to 1 in every 1,742 in 1871, and again to 1 in every 1,794 in 1881.
269. The census of the deaf and dumb in England and Wales is very incomplete, and it is obviously open to causes of inaccuracy which do not occur in the case
f 3
xliv
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &0.
6,717. Dalby.
9,321. Bnxton.
9,335. Buxton.
See also letter from Dr. Ogle in Appendix 27.
9,335. Buxton.
13,105.
Gallaudet.
21,487, Bell.
of the blind, as there are so many infants excluded; it is very difficult to obtain an accurate return of the deaf in their early years, as the parents are naturallv unwilling to return a child as deaf and dumb till he is, at the least, five years old"; the deafness, therefore, of children under that age cannot be accurately known, and is,- therefore, probably understated.
270. The statistical inquiries in Ireland are more complete and accurate.
271. The Census Commissioners in Ireland have an agency of verification which does not exist in any other part of the kingdom ; the Irish Constabulary is at their disposal, and they send back the documents for further investigation if they find anything in them which strikes them as requiring explanation.
272. "We think that fuller and more accurate returns for the United Kingdom should be required in the next census, and we shall deal with them in greater detail later on.
{See infra paras. 572 to 577 and Appendix 21).
273. Of the misleading character of the statistics of the deaf, which are sometimes returned to the Census Commissioners, an amusing instance may be given.
" In a district in Ireland the number of the ' deaf and dumb ' returned to the Census Commissioners was so -wildly at variance -with the ordinary proportion that the official documents -were sent back ac^ain for a further investigation. It -was then found that the sapient enumerator had returned as * deaf and dumb ' not only those inhabitants -who -were old enough for their condition to be properly ascertained, but every infant child in the district too young to be able to speak."
274. The accuracy of the census in the United States has been questioned.
275. Mr. Graham Bell gives the corrected census of the deaf and dumb in the United States thus ; —
Deaf and Dumb of the United States (1880).
Where found.
At home or in private families
In schools (including day schools)
In almshouses . - ,
In benevolent institutions
In hospitals or asylums for the insane
In prisons - -
27,867 5,393 511 79 24 4
33,878
Sexes.
Males Females
18,567 15,311
33,878
age
Under 6 years of 6 to 16 ditto 16 to 21 ditto 21 years of age and
Ages.
over
Total
1,437 10,046
5,013 17,382
33,878
1.3,105. Gallaudet.
276. In the opinion of Dr. Gallaudet, President of the National Deaf Mute College at "Washington, who has given very important and valuable evidence regarding the combined schools in the United States, the ratio of the deaf to the whole population in the United States has not increased materially over the figures of previous censuses, and he considers 1 in 1,800 as very nearly the proportion of deaf mutes at the present time, 1886.
REPORT.
xlv
277. Mr. Graham Bell considers that the census of 1880 in America is in the main accurate, and that instead of the numbers of the deaf and dumb being over estim.ated
in the 1880 census, they were under estimated, and that the number should have gj 35y_g
been given as 35,000, Eell.
278. He thinks it is of the greatest importance in the census returns to study the 21,974. subject of the inheritance of deafness, and that to that end we should obtain not merely a census of those whom we may term deaf mutes, but that we should have a census of the deaf ; we should know the adults who are afflicted with deafness as well
as children, and if we ascertain the amount of deafness, and the age at which the deafness occurred, we can separate those that belong to the class deaf and dumb from the others. From the point of view of the study of heredity it is important that we should know those who become deaf in adult life. He has no doubt that we shall find in numerous cases of which we have no records that the parents or other relations had become deaf in comparatively early life.
279. We think that this knowledge, if it could be obtained, would be of great value.
280. It used to be estimated that one-sixth of the deaf and dumb population should By Mr. be at school. The Elementary Education Act of 1870, however, fixed the same Baker of proportion for the whole population. Owing to the shorter average term of life of ^gj^^j^t^^-'"y2 the deaf, it follows that a larger proportion must be of right school age. In Italy the si52 of proportion is estimated at one-fifth, i.e., between the ages of 9 and 18. It is still Appeadix. more in the United States, if the census returns of that country be correct.
281. The actual number of the deaf and dumb at school in the United Kingdom is, Sce Appen- so far as we can ascertain, 3,138. According to the foregoing estimate the number dix 24. should be over 4,000, and considering the omissions in the census returns, probably
4,500 would not be an excessive number for whom school accommodation should be provided, (i.e., those between the ages of 5 and 13, inclusive), and even more if the longer term of education so desirable for the deaf be decided upon.
282. The number of school age {i.e. of children between 5 and 15) stated as 9,189. 5,129 in the last census, is a mere estimate arrived at roughly on the basis of the Buxton, proportion between the deaf and dumb and the whole population.
Classification of the Deaf.
283. Various systems of classification have been laid before us by witnesses. 7,380. Mr. Van Praagh has suggested that the deaf and dumb may be divided into two Praagh. classes ; (1) those who are congenitally deaf, (2) those who have become deaf after
birth. Then they may be divided according to their degree of deficiency, even including those who are hard of hearing.
" (1) Those who perceive the human voice when it is used close to the ear, without being able, however, to distinguish the separate sounds ; (2) those who can distinguish the vowels when they are loudly pronounced in the ear ; (3) those who understand, but with difficulty, some words that are clearly pronounced in the ear ; (4) those Avho without effort understand all that is clearly pronounced in their ear ; (5) those who can hear a raised voice."
284. Eoughly speaking, any child, unless he can hear an ordinary voice at a distance, of two or three feet from the ear, is unable to acquire language by the ordinary method. He should be classified as a deaf-mute, and could not be taught in an ordinary hearing school.
. 285. Dr. Grallaudet has divided the deaf into the following classes : — 13,417.
" (1) The * speaking ^ deaf ' would include a child who has learnt to speak and has lost his hearing Gallaudet. after he was five or six or seven years old. (2) Then the ^ semi-spealiing deaf is one who has lost his hearing, we might say. at, perhaps, two or three years of age, who retains the power of uttering disconnecied words, but has not the power of expressing himself in connected language. (3) Then we come to the 'speaking sem'-rfm/,' comprising cases where from disease a child might lose his hearing partially and still have the power of speech, who was so deaf as not to be able to enter an ordinary school, but who could hear enough to be taught on the aural method. (4) ' Mute semi-deaf,' one who has an amount of hearing sufficient to be able to be taught on the aural method. (5) Tire ' hearing mute' would comprise such children as hear perfectly well, but do not speak ; such are almost invariably idiots."
286. It seems to us that there are really three classes of the deaf—
1. Those who are congenitally deaf.
2. Those who have become deaf after birth, these may be subdivided into — -
(a.) Those who became deaf before acquiring speech ;
(6.) Those who became deaf after having acquired some speech.
3. Those who possess some hearing power.
f 4
xlvi KOYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
287. We will deal witli the last-mentioned class first. Of this class, there should be a careful and frequent inspection so as to test the amount of hearing power which, from time to time they may possess. An endeavour should be made, if not to treat them entirely by the aid of ear trumpets or other mechanical means, to use their amount of hearing as far as possible, for the purposes of correcting their pronunciation and intonation, and of endeavouring by the frequent use of the ear to improve the g57g hearing which from disuse might otherwise become furtlier impaired. .
.Se^Proceed- " ^^"'"^1 or auricular instruction is a term used by Mr. T. A. Gillespie of the United States, to signify a mode
incs of meet- instruction given to cliildren ^vlio have partial hearing. Mr. Gillespie uses instruments, including the
ins at Madi- audiphone and ear trumpets ; ana his experience as related to the Convention of Teachers in New York,
sou Wis ^ about 1 6 per cent, of the ordinary pupils of his instruction had a sufficient amount of hearing
1884 • Wash- to derive benefit by this special means of training." ington, 1885.
6,74.s. 288. Sir William Dalby, however, thinks the aural method of no great value.
Dalby. " j^ot Sufficient to occupy very much of my time."
13,147 and 289. According to Mr. Graham Bell's evidence " conversation tubes " are used in 13,300. three State combined schools and one private oral school in the United States. From Gallaudet. ]^2* to 25 per cent, of those who are classed as deaf could be improved through the ^Bell^' ^^^^ of those who have not been born deaf, who were congenitally hard of
hearing, (that expression means that they were so hard of hearing from birth that their hearing was never educated by the ordinary means, so that in several instances they have reached school age without having made any use of their hearing whatever, either so far as the acquisition of the power of speech, or so far as learning to 21,399. understand what is spoken by others). This class, which is by no means a small Bell. one, though not congenitally deaf, are congenitally so hard of hearing that on arriving at school age they stand in the category of deaf mutes.
290. In New York experiments were made by Mr. Graham Bell in conjunction
21.402. with Mr. Currier and Mr. Clarke, and in Washington by Professor Gordon. They were 2^'^- appointed a committee to investigate this subject of hearing power, and they devised
an apparatus which they called an audiometer, for measuring the power of hearing.
''The hearing power of several hundred deaf mutes has been tested by an apparatus like this. It consists essentially of two coils of wire and a magneto generator, which generates an intermittent current of electricity in this coil, the other coil being connected with a telephone, and currents are induced in the secondary coil by the action of the firtt, but the intensity of the induced current depends on the distance between the two coils, so that if you get the two coils in close proximity you get a tremendous noise ; but as you draw one coil away from the other the sound becomes less and less till at a certain distance no sound can be perceived. Then the distance between the two coils we take as the measure of the hearing power."
21.403. 291. In experiments with this audiometer, he tested the hearing power of over Bell. (jTQQ (3jji|(jpei^ i}^Q public schools in Washington in order to arrive at an idea of what
the normal hearing was, and he ascertained that : —
" There are children in our public schools who hear worse than the best cases of deaf mutes in our institu- tions, and if wo could classify the deafness of the whole population we should find a complete gradation from perfect hearing down to no hearing at all."
292. Mr. Graham Bell has constructed a scientific diagram of deafness which shows —
(a) amount of deafness (by measurement) ;
(b) age at which deafness supervened.
21,38o. "I would classify pupils by the natural defect alone, and there are only two elements to be determined wtich Bell. would completely define, as it were, by means of lines of latitude and longitude, the position of a deaf child in the whole mass of the deaf. These two elements to be determined are, first, the amount of the defect, and, secondly, the age or period of life at which the defect occurred. If we say that a child became totally deaf at five, it is understood what that means. We do not require to say that he is a semi-mute — that is the resultant — and if we say a child was semi-deaf from two months old, we know what that means. Jf we say a child was born deaf, we know that the mental condition must be entirely different. In America we measure the amount of hearing power of a child, so that we can say that a child has a hearing power of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60. Let us represent that by vertical lines, the lines of longitude of our map, and represent the age by horizontal lines or lines of latitude upon the map, then we completely define on that map the position of any deaf person. If you do not measure precisely the amount of hearing power you may measure it roughly. You may divide the deaf into two great classes, which you may term the deaf and the semi-deaf — those who have not a sufficient amount of hearing to perceive the difference of vocal sounds and those who have."
* Mr. Graham Bell thinks that 16 or 17 per cent, of the whole number of pupils in their schools will prove fit subjects for auricular instruction (21,403).
REPORT
xlvii
Causes of Deafness.
293. The causes of deafness are various. Those which are non-congenital are preventible, such as catarrhal inflammatory affections of the middle ear ; they demand immediate treatment, which ihey seldom obtain. A large number are the result of diseases in early childhood, such as scarlet and other exanthematous fevers. In the class of non-preventible cases are those where deafness is due to congenital deformities arising from arrested development in the internal ear.
294. The following were the causes of adventitious deafness in the United States 21,486. noted in the course of the census of 1880.
G,728. Dalby. 8,407. Symes Thompson . 6,"52 Dalby.
Causes of Adventitious Deafness in the United States.
The list of causes accepted and tallied hy the officers of the 1880 Census.
|
IWoni n fvii"! a _ » — |
9 S'^fi |
|
(Ot dliclj Id Vol ■ *" |
9 RQ*^ |
|
XVXdjiclIldjl dillu. l/y UJJ.U1U. JLcVclo ~ ~ |
O t 1 |
|
IVfpQqlpa _ _ _ ^ _ |
|
|
'PfiTTeT'S Tn on -malarial^ - _ _ |
381 |
|
xjCXvOiX. ». xX OiLWX wdfUCuX X J-lClil XC/ V d O |
|
|
I i^'riA'P 1 nTi fiTDTn Q ■f 1 r\n Q CiT oi "p-T^Q aao n»QC! \J uJJ-t/i liiilcllXliXldj I lUlio Ul dll pd;bocli; CO |
1/19 |
|
"Pall-? - - . . . - |
^9^ |
|
Abscesses - - . |
281 |
|
Whooping-cough - - - |
195 |
|
Nervous aflFections |
170 |
|
Scrofula - - - |
131 |
|
Quinine - - • - |
78 |
|
Blows and contusions . - _ |
74 |
|
Inflammations of the ear |
72 |
|
Diphtheria - |
70 |
|
Hydrocephalus - |
63 |
|
Teething - - - - |
54 |
|
Mumps - ... |
51 |
|
Smallpox and variola ... |
47 |
|
Erysipelas - |
36 |
|
Eright - . . - _ |
32 |
|
Water in the ear . |
25 |
|
Sunstroke - . . _ |
21 |
|
Noises and concussions |
21 |
|
Tumours |
11 |
|
Chicken-pox - - - . |
10 |
|
Struck by lightning |
10 |
|
Foreign bodies in the ear |
9 |
|
Salt rheum - - - . |
3 |
|
Malformation of the ear - - |
2 |
|
Syphilis - - - . , |
2 |
|
Consumption - |
1 |
|
9,209 |
Congenital Deafness.
295. With regard to hereditary deafness and dumbness, it may proceed from two main causes : —
(I.) From the marriage of toto-congenital deaf-mutes, fll.) From consanguineous marriages.
See Pariy. Paper,
I. No. C 4,908,
1 886
296. It has been supposed in America that the increase of the deaf and dumb is Report on due to the increasing number of intermarriages between congenital deaf mutes, and <^eaf mutes,
i 20082. g P*
xlTiii
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
F^ee also the consequent hereditary transmission of this defect. In support of this it is s?tid Irish Census that before education was imparted to deaf-mutes, and before they were congregated fmT^ in various educational institutions, hardly any intermarried.
21,526. Bell.
9,236, Buxton.
See Parly. Paper on the Deaf and Dumb. C. 4908 of 1886, p. 61.
21,441, Bell.
21,450 Bell.
Bell.
21,503. Bell.
21,511. Bell.
297. In G-ermany, Switzerland, and Italy, where the oral system prevails, it is found that the deaf and dumb do not intermarry to the same extent as they do in England and the United States. In the oral schools in America the pupils to a large extent do marry deaf mutes, but the larger proportion marry hearing persons.
298. This subject has been much discussed, both in England and America. Dr. Buxton quotes from a paper read before the Medical Society at Liverpool : —
" Assuming, for the purpose of arriving now at a definite practical conclusion, that Dr. Feet's estimate is as nearly correct as the nature of the case and the present state of our knowledge will admit of, we find that the probability of congenital deafness in the offspring is nearly seven times greater when both parents are deaf than when only one is so. In the latter case 1 child iu 135, less than f per cent., proves to be deaf, but in the former, out of 140, 7, i.e., 5 per cent, are found to be deaf, the proportion of 1 iu 20 bein"- to 1 in 135 as 6f to 1. In other words, if we suppose a given number of children (540) the issue of mixed marriages between the deaf and the hearing, and an equal number sprung from the, intermarriage of the deaf there would be 27 deaf-mutes among the children of the latter, while there would only be four in the families of the tormer.
" Those facts are derived from Hartford, iu Connecticut, New York, Paiis, Groningeu, London, Liverpool, Manchester, and from Ireland."
299. Professor E. A. Fay, Ph.D., the editor of the " American Annals of the Deaf," while admitting that " the statistics on the subject are still too limited and incomplete " to enable us to form positive conclusions," has formulated the following conclusions " as " probable " : —
" 1. Persons who have deaf-mute relatives, whether themselves deaf-mute or hearing, marrying persons who have deaf-mute relatives, whether themselves deaf-mutes or hearing, are likely to have deaf-mute children.
" 2. Persons deaf-mutes from birth or from early infancy, marrying each other, especially if either
partner has deaf-mute relatives, are likely to have deaf-mute children. " 3. Persons adventitiously deaf, and not having deaf-mute relatives, marrying each other, are not likely
to have deaf-mute children. " 4. Deaf-mutes, whether congenitally or adventitiously deaf, not having deaf-mute relatives, and marrying
hearing persons who have not deaf-mute relatives, are not likely to have deaf-mute children."
300. Probably there is no one who has investigated this subject more closely than Mr. Graham Bell, who has gone very fully into the subject in his evidence, and in various publications laid before the Commission. He states : —
" It is evident that one of the chief causes of congenital deafness is a hereditary pre-disposition. That is manifested by the fact that of the 2,262 congenital deaf-mutes, mentioned on page 13 of my memoir, more than one half, or 54*5 per cent., had other members of their family deaf and dumb."
301. In concluding this subject of the causes of congenital deafness, he thinks we must undoubtedly assume that in. the majority of cases some ancestral cause operates, whatever it may be ; and he is very much mclined to the belief that there is an arrest in the development of the nervous system.
302. There is a considerable variety of opinion among both officers of institutions and scientific inquirers in the United States as to the results of such intermarriages causing a deaf variety of the human race, and the scientific testimony furnished by Mr. Graham Bell, while admitting the perfect possibility of such a result, leads to tne conclusion that it would only occur after a succession of marriages of that character, through a great number of generations, and under circumstances which would hardly be likely to recur in every generation. There are certam conditions which Mr. Graham Bell lays down as necessary to produce such a result, viz. : —
" That large numbers of the congenitally deaf shall marry one another, and that their congenitally deaf children, if they have any, shall again marry congenitally deaf; and that their congenitally deaf children, if they have any, shall again marry congenitally deaf and so on ; that that alone will result in an increasing proportion of deaf offspring in each succeeding generation, and ultimately after a certain length of time, which we cannot calculate at the present time, a true breed or race will be formed. If is a very important question to find out whether that condition is being fulfilled, and it is being fulfilled."
303. He cites the case of the deaf-mutes who left the Illinois Institution, 272 of whom married deaf-mutes and 21 hearing persons. Only 16 of all these have deaf-mute children, but the absolute number is, of course, not so important as the relative number. From an equal number of marriages of hearing persons, according to his calculation, there should not have been one deaf child.
REPORT.
xlix
304. In his memoir, on page 16, lie gives an analysis in Table XX. of 1,089 21,510, deaf-mutes who have married : —
" These deaf-mutes are taken from New England State, from New York State, from Ohio State, from Indiana State, and from Illinois State. Then in Table XXI. I range them according to the period of birth. Of those who were born before 1810, 129 are recorded to have married. Of these 72 married deaf-mutes, that is 55-8 per cent. Of those born between 1810 and 1839, 80 '7 per cent, married deaf-mutes. Of thoae born between 1840 and 1859, 84-1 percent, married deaf-mutes. Of those born after 1860 (and that does not bring it down to very recent times) 91-7 per cent, married deaf-mutes.
305. On the general question as to the probability or otherwise of deaf persons having deaf offspring, Mr. Bell says the general result is simply this,
" With one parent, who is a congenitally deaf-mute, one-tenth of the children are deaf, and with both 21,528,
parents congenitally deaf-mutes, about one-third are born deaf. Bell.
" The indications are that we have at least 607 deaf-mute children of deaf-mutes in the United States 21.530.
living before 1880. Bell,
"I£ these figures are to be relied upon, one deaf mute in every 34 among the congenitally deaf-mutes is 21,531,
the child of deaf-mute parents Bell.
" It is quite true that up to the present time the majority of children of deaf-mutes can hear, but the 21,535.
proportion of deaf offspring of deaf-mutes is enormously greater than the proportion of deaf offspring in the g^ji^ community at large. Now these deaf children are going to have a larger proportion of deaf offspring than their parents had, if they marry deaf-mutes, and 95 per cent, of all those who marly are going to marry deaf- mutes. That is again the point; it is the continuous selection from generation to generation."
306. Mr. G-raham Bell's tabulated statements relating to the intermarriage of deaf- ^-i'^i^* mutes, show an analysis of 757 cases of intermarriage between deaf mutes. ® •
" Marriage op Deaf Mutes.
Analysis of 757 cases.
|
Eemales. |
otal Males. |
|||||||
|
Deaf Mutes. |
Hearing persons. |
|||||||
|
Cause of Deafiiess. |
||||||||
|
Con enital. |
)n-con- enital. |
Not tated. |
||||||
|
fco |
||||||||
|
Males. |
Deaf Mutes. |
Cause of Deafness. |
Congenital |
86 |
93 |
48 |
13 |
240 |
|
Non-congenital - |
108 |
115 |
53 |
26 |
302 |
|||
|
Not stated |
27 |
35 |
121 |
10 |
193 |
|||
|
Heariug persons |
8 |
6 |
8 |
22 |
||||
|
Total Females |
229 |
249 |
230 |
49 |
757 |
Of 757 males, 22 were hearing persons, and 735 were deaf-mutes.
Of 757 females, 49 were hearing persons, and 708 were deaf-mutes.
Hence, of 1,514 persons, 71 were hearing persons, and 1,443 were deaf-mutes.
The general result that that table shows is, that of the 1,514 persons who intermarried in those 757 cases, 1,443 were deaf-mutes, and 71 were hearing persons, and of the 1,443 deaf-mufes, 71 or 5 per cent, married hearing persons, and 1,372 or 95 per cent, married among themselves.
Intermarriage of Deaf Mutes.
Analysis of 402 cases.
|
Females. |
||||||
|
Total Males. |
||||||
|
Con- genital. |
Non-con- genital. |
|||||
|
Males. |
Congenital ... |
86 |
93 |
179 |
||
|
Non-congenital |
108 |
115 |
223 |
|||
|
Total Eemales |
194 |
208 |
402 |
Of 179 congenitally deaf males, 86 married congenitally deaf, and 93 non-congenitally deaf, females. Of 194 congenitally deaf females 86 married congenitally deaf, and 108 non-congenitally deaf males.
g 2
1
ROYAL COMMISSION ON CONDITION OF THE BLIND, &C. :
Hence, of 373 congenitally deaf persoas, 172, or 46" 11 percent, married congenitally deaf persons, and 291, or 53*89 per cent., married non-congenitally deaf persons.
Of 223 non-congenitally deaf males, 108 married congenitally deaf, and 115 married non-congenitally deaf, females. Of 208 non congenltaliy deaf females, 93 married congenitally deaf, and 115 married non-congenitally deaf, males. Hence, of 431 non-congenitall> deaf persons, 201 or 46-64 per cent, married congenitally deaf })ersons, and 230 or 53*36 per cent, married non-congenitally deaf persons. I would also present the Commijiiion with an analysis of 607 cases of deaf children of deaf-mute parents.
Dkaf-Mute Children of Deaf-Mute Parents. Analysis of 607 Cases.
|
Sex. |
No. |
Cause of deafness. |
No. |
|||
|
Males - Females Not stated - |
271 275 61 |
Congenital Non-congenital - Not stated |
328 40 239 |
|||
|
607 |
607 |
Of 368 deaf-mute children of deaf-mute parents, 328 or 89*1 per cent, were congenitally deaf, and 40 or 10*9 per cent, were non-congenitally deaf.
|
Period of Birth. |
Father deaf, Mother unknown. |
Mother deaf. Father unknown. |
Both Parents deaf. |
Total. |
|
1800-9 . - - - |
3 |
3 |
||
|
1810-9 . . . - |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
1820-9 . - - - |
6 |
6 |
1 |
13 |
|
1830-9 .... |
14 |
11 |
11 |
36 |
|
1840-9 - - - - |
23 |
14 |
20 |
57 |
|
1850-9 .... |
31 |
30 |
41 |
102 |
|
1860-9 . - .. - |
32 |
35 |
61 |
128 |
|
1870-9 .... |
21 |
37 |
120 |
178 |
|
Ascertained ... |
131 |
135 |
254 |
520 |
|
Not ascertained . - _ |
35 |
8 |
44 |
87 |
|
Total |
166 |
143 |
298 |
607 |
307. We ttink that there is suflficient evidence to prove that there is a real danger of an increase of congenital deafness from this cause, and recommend that the inter- Mu'n*r' marriages of the toto-congenitally deaf should be strongly discouraged.
6,938, Elliott, 6,689, Dalby. 7,163, Warwick.
Parly. Paper
C. 4,908.
p. 34. But
see also
Appendix,
p. 82. 9,238, Buxton.
Report for 18S1, p. 43.
II.
308. The second cause is the intermarriage of blood relations, such as first cousins, but the statistics are not sufficiently accurately kept to be able to arrive at more than general conclusions.
309. In the Alpine regions in Lombardy and Piedmont, the percentage of deaf- mutes is found to be three times greater than in any other part of Italy, which may be attributed to the prevalence of consanguineous marriages.
310. There are some interesting statistical tables in the Irish Census Keport of 1871, and the question of consanguineous marriages as a supposed cause of deaf -mutism has been specially investigated in the last three Irish Censuses. In the opinion of the Census Commissioners the results tend to establish these suppositions as facts, and to show that according as the degree of relationship is more remote, mutism occurs in a less number of cases. Thus in 135 cases where the parents of mutes were related previously to marriage, 84 were in the degree of first cousins ; 40 in that of second ; 10 in that of third, and 1 in that of fourth. The Irish Census Commissioners add
REPORT.
li
that tteir researches " clearly prove that mutism is often transmitted by hereditary " taint or family peculiarity."
311. Dr. Buxton says it was the opinion of the late Dr. Peet, father of the principal of the New York Institution, that one out of every ten congenitally deaf-mutes is the offspring of consanguineous marriages, and the witness adds that this coincides with his own experience at Liverpool and in London.
312. The result of our own inquiries among the 30 deaf and dumb institutions of the United Kingdom is that, so far as those statistics enabled them to tell, out of the total number of pupils, 2,485, the number of cases which were the offspring of cousins was 99. On the other hand the number of cases the offspring of deaf and dumb parents was 42, and of parents having deaf relatives was