TEACHING THE BIAND

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 306, 20 September 1921, Page 8

TEACHING THE BIAND

WONDERS AT THE ROYAL NORMAL COLLEGE

SIGHTLESS ROLLER SKATERS

The Royal Normal College and Academy of Muaio for the Blind at Upper Norwood celebrated its annual prize festival recently, and a member of the “Manchester Guardian’s” London staff described tho splendid results of tho pupils’ training.

Tho visitors were much impressed with tho classwork done at small tables set on the grass, the nature study class —a very popular part of the curriculum—the raffia work, and kindergarten work by the small children, and tho cleverness of the geometry class, which felt out its problems with fragmentary lines and segments of circles made of metal. In the gymnasium boys with a joyful freedom of movement did nearly- all the things that people who enjoy sight do, and flung themselves over the vaultinghorse with complete confidence. The girls in their gymnasium gave an exhibition of roller skating, and waltzed on their skates so cleverly that onlooker* would not have detected their lack of sight. An excellent concert followed, in which several students in turn took their places at the piano to accompany the choirs and soloists, and tho festival concluded with an exhibition of Morris dancing and of drill. Tho word tho students most dislike to hear in connection with their achievements and performances is "wonderful.” They prefer to think that they- aro people whoso normal capacity is properly developed, but it is difficult for visitors not to express surprise when they see how cleverly these youngpeople overcome their handicap.

Tho dances were done with admirable precision, and in tho counter-marching and physical drill the momentary inaccuracy of one or two in the ranks was just enough to make one realise what eareful practice and mental concentration had gone to produce tho effect of rhythm and regularity when no one could see his neighbour and everything was done by counting steps. The great thing was that all the students taking part were firm in step and free in movement, and thoroughly enjoyed the exercise and applause. They were, whether doing class work or drill or talking among themselves, freer from self-consciousness than people with eight of their age, and this freedom gave them a peculiar charm. z They talk very happily about their school life, and of the work for which they are being trained. One little girl said she hoped to be a teacher, of course in a school for the blind. A hoy from the large section of pianotuners was nearly ready to earn his living, and another was looking forward to a university course. Others may get work as visiting teachers of the blind. This opening existed even before the blind schools, but th? standard of teaching has been gradually raised and a number of openings has increased. Visitors with a knowledge of shorthand and typewriting especially admired the exhibition given by students of these subjects. 'They work on ingeniously adapted machines, and one girl delighted Lord .Aneastcr, who presented tho prizes, by th:- accuracy with which she wrote* down a rapidly dictated speech and the speed witli which she transcribed it as accurately on her machine.