The social condition of the blind / [D. O Haswell].

  • Haswell, D. O.
Date:
1876
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The social condition of the blind / [D. O Haswell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/48 (page 12)
    report, and reveal the most melancholy results. Of the total number who left in 1873, only seven were found able to earn anything, and the average earnings of the seven were only 7s. 6d. per week, while the majority are so helpless as to earn nothing. An examination of four years reports was published some years ago by one well acquainted with the blind, and revealed the > astounding fact that only twenty were found who could earn anything, the average earnings of these twenty being certainly under 8s. per week. When we consider the income, and that four years were thus occupied, this question presents itself: Is it necessary to spend .£40,000 in enabling twenty blind people to earn 8s per week ? This ought to be a convincing proof of the costliness and uselessness of such in¬ stitutions. Second :—The London Association for Teaching the Blind to Bead, and for Training them in Industrial Occupations, was founded in 1838 in the Avenue-road* St. John’s Wood. The report for 1873 shews that 66 pupils resided in the house while five attend as day pupils One section of the pupils pay <£20 per year, another section £15, and a third are admitted gratuitously by election. The expenditure for the- year is £2,320 ; this is exceedingly moderate, and shows the cost of each pupil to be little more than half the cost at St. George’s. In addition to the usual branches of instruction, music is made a pro¬ minent feature. Basket and blushmaking are also taught, and the embossed books used in the school are made on the premises. There is no doubt that the Institution is well and economically conducted ; but it is on the exile principle, and experience has shewn that this system does not fully develope the powers of the blind. Third :—The London Association for Promoting the GeneralWelfare of the Blind was established in 1854 to afford daily employment to the adult blind ; Miss Gil¬ bert, daughter of the late Bishop of Chichester, and herself blind, generously giving a donation of £2,000.