462 REPORT — 1903. 



As while hypermetropia (longsightedness) is generally congenital, 

 myopia (shortsightedness) is generally acquired. The simple methods 

 adopted for discovering defective eyesight in its early stages and 

 maintaining an alertness in observing an increased deficiency are as 

 follows : — 



An examination of the eyes in any case where a child appears to be 

 stupid ; tends to hold the book or object at which he is set to work too 

 near his face ; cannot see the blackboard so easily as his comrades ; com- 

 plains of headache, seeing ' colours,' or has watering or redness in the 

 eye, or squints. 



The examination of all children over the first standard annually by means 

 of Snellen's letter test, or by tests of broken circles or incomplete squares. 

 Anything more complex has been found to be misleading except when 

 used by experts. In the use of Snellen's letter tests, daylight being 

 variable, it is desirable to arrange a couple of argand burners or electric 

 lights so that the types shall be thoroughly illuminated while the lights 

 are screened from the child under observation. But it should be remem- 

 bered that the test so conducted only gives the working power of those 

 eyes under identical conditions in the schoolroom, and it should not be 

 supposed that a less illuminated or less clearty written blackboard will 

 be readable at a similar distance. 



Childi'en need to be taught and trained to secure for themselves proper 

 lighting at work, and to maintain proper habits of posture, &c., with 

 regard to light ; while remembering that the habit may be the result of 

 eye defects or defects of lighting, teachers should make a point of cor- 

 recting any tendency to form a mere habit of getting objects close to 

 the eyes, in order to protect the children against loss of eyesight in school 

 life. 



Separate classes might be arranged in large schools for high myopic 

 cases. In all cases special attention has to be given to the myopic under 

 the guidance of the oculist. 



It might be well to recommend the appointment of a medical man 

 skilled in eye disorders to each large school or group of schools, when 

 all cases of defective sight should be referred to him for examination and 

 report. 



APPENDIX III. 



Need for Appointment of Women-inftpeciors. 



The Sub-Committee has confined its inquiry chiefly to the need for 

 women-inspectors in elementary schools, in pupil teachers' centres, and in 

 technical institutes. Infoi'mation has been sought in country schools, in 

 town schools, from head teachei's, and also from inspectors. "The evidence 

 is of great interest, but naturally of limited extent. No special eflTort has 

 been made to restrict inquiries to di.stricts where women-inspectors have 

 worked, but on the other hand it has not been possible to prosecute 

 inquiries veiy widely. The general line of inquiry has been directed to 

 obtaining authentic instances of reforms suggested by women-inspectors, 

 and of cases where, in the opinion of the teachers, desirable reforms would 

 have received earlier and more attention had the school been visited by a 

 competent woman-inspector, and this under various heads as buildings, 



