them in almshouses, or permitting them to become
objects of private charity. The state should see to it that its blind
children receive an education which will fit them to earn their own
living. All schools for the blind should be under the direct supervision
of Boards of Education, who should give the same careful consideration
to the problem of educating blind children as is now given to the
education of seeing children. And this is one argument in favor of
classes for the blind in the public schools. Vocational training is of
more importance to the blind child than to his more fortunate brother,
and when this is recognized, one of the barriers to his success will be
removed. Is there any reason why an intelligent blind youth especially
interested in medicine, should not be trained as an anatomist, a heart
and lung specialist, an osteopath or a masseur? He does not need eyes to
listen to heart beats, find the third vertebra, or rub the kinks out of
a refractory muscle. In Japan the government reserves massage as an
occupation for the blind, and in the hospitals of England and France
blind masseurs are given the preference, and their work receives the
highest commendation. Los Angeles has a blind anatomist at the head of
its College of Osteopathy, and several blind osteopaths.

When mentally equipped, all blind students should be sent to college,
and urged to fit themselves as teachers. In every college and university
blind men should occupy chairs in history, English, economics, and
mathematics. I know two blind men in this state well qualified to teach
any of these subjects, who are forced to accept inferior positions,
because educators generally fail to realize that blindness is no bar to
mental attainment, and that the ability to teach does not depend upon
the ability to see with the eyes. This will be better understood when
the coeducation of blind and seeing children becomes more general--God
speed the day! As music teachers, concert players, leaders of orchestra,
or masters of the violin and 'cello, the blind should have an even
chance of success, but their inability to read music at sight, or watch
the director's baton often deprives them of positions which their quick
ear and well trained memory would enable them to fill with profit to
themselves and satisfaction to the public.

And so in all the professions. I know a man who, before he lost his
eyesight, was considered an eminent lawyer, but now his associat