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H i H H i § | i | | ! WINNETKA WEEKLY TALK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 16, 1924 DEFECTIVE EYES HANDICAP CHILD Conservation Council Finds 7 Amazing Facts Millions of school children are handicapped in their studies by de- fective eyes, it is stated in a report embodying the results of a survey by the Eyesight Conservation Council of America of statutory provisions in the United States and Territories for testing the sight of pupils. "Thousands of children," says the re- port," are suffering from eyestrain, and large numbers are forced to discon- tinue their endeavors to acquire an education because of this same physi- cal defect. It has been conclusively proven that poor eyesight is an im- portant associate cause of backward- ness, stupidity, apparent laziness and truancy." The report estimated chat at this time the number of children enrolled in the elementary and secondary schools of the United States exceeds 24,000,000, or more than 20 per cent of the population. More than 60 per cent of this number are said to have substantial eye defects. "Even simple visual tests," the re- port continues, "reveal 25 per cent with manifest defects and symptoms of eyestrain. Many are contending with vision so defective that mental development is' seriously retarded and comfort, health, and even safety are jeopardized. Fully 6,000,000 of our school children are at a disadvantage in their efforts to gain and education." Conclusions set forth in the report, applying to the country as a whole, say there is a wide diversity in the provisions and regulations. It was found that statutory provisions for the examination of the eyes of school chil. dren have not been adopted generally by State Legislatures, and that only twenty States have statutes providing for eye tests. There are only two other States that have board regula- tions which take the place of statutes, and in most instances general physical examination laws are not interpreted to include eye tests. Established statutes are called in- adequate. In only thirteen States are the laws mandatory for all school dis- tricts. Separate sections dealing ex- clusively with eye tests are found on the statutes of but six states and in conjunction with tests for hearing in only three others. There is often a delegation of dual responsibility upon Boards of Health and Education or authority not clearly defined. The necessity for keeping records and re- porting results to a designated State department is generally overlooked. Suitable provisions are not made for training teachers, school nurses or health inspectors in the methods of making tests. "The laws are not generally en- forced," the report declares. "A sys- tefatic effort is being made to enforce the laws in only eight States. There is practically no State supervision in at least thirty-three States and four Territories, and very little in seven others. A conservative estimate based upon analysis of the returns would be that less than one-third of the school children of the entire country are receiving visual tests. The word 'mandatory' has no significance in many instances." The report is published "as an argu- ment that every State and Territory possession of the United States should recognize the importance of the care of the eyes of its future citizens; that tests for defective vision may be car- ried out advantageously by teachers in the schools with a negligible ex- penditure of time, money and effort, and that State Boards of Health and Education should consider jt their duty to approve and provide regula- tions, instructios and the necessary appliances and to so superivse the work that all school children shall receive the attention that is their right." A program is recommended for State educational departments, local school authorities, educators and teachers. Every State Board of Education is urged to bring about the observance of an eyesight conservation day. A model law is not required, according to the investigators, who state : "The conclusions indicate that no lay the existence of laws, but the dis- position an dproper appreciation of authorities for the need for eye tests that is responsible for the commend- able work that is being done in a few States and in certain communities." The responsibility is said to lie with the State Boards of Education, which "should issue mandatory regulations providing for the conducting of eye tests in every urban and rural school in the State." There is pressing need, it was pointed out, for eye conserva- tion in the rural districts as a part of the general plan to improve country life. The cooperation of State Boards of Health is advocated. The facts upon which the report is based were obtained from Commis- sioners of Education and Commission- ers of Health of the several States. the District of Columbia, the Panama Canal Zone, the Territories of Alaska, and Hawaii, Porto Rico and the Phil- ippines Islands. EVANSTON MOTOR SALES A Direct Branch of Main Salesrooms on Motor Row at Twenty-fifth and Michigan 1015-1617 DAVIS STREET Announcement extraordinary will formally open tonight Amid the pleasing setting of excellently appointed salesrooms are displayed com- plete lines that include all current models of } "The Good MAXWELL Fhe hrysler LC eh You are cordially invited to come in tonight. See these cars in our new sales- rooms and learn about the still better ser- vice facilities now available to Maxwell and Chrysler owners of the North Shore ; } MAXWELL A \Z 2 W Evanston Wm. D. Reagan, Branch Manager Telephone University 2277