Age-Period. | 1851 | 1861 | 1871 | 1881 | 1891 | 1901 |
+----------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| Under 5 years | 198 | 196 | 185 | 166 | 155 | 129 |
| 5-10 | 297 | 256 | 259 | 288 | 188 | 192 |
| 10-15 | 365 | 366 | 359 | " | 290 | 323 |
| 15-20 | 416 | 415 | 404 | 388 | 370 | 239 |
| 20-25 | 481 | 443 | 451 | 422 | 385 | 359 |
+----------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+
| Total under 25 | 339 | 322 | 317 | 298 | 269 | 261 |
+----------------+------+------+------+------+------+------+

In 1886 a royal commission on the blind, deaf and dumb was appointed by
the government, and, after taking much valuable evidence, issued an
exhaustive and instructive report. Following on the practical
recommendations submitted by this commission, the Elementary Education
(Blind and Deaf Children) Act 1893, was passed, under which the
education of the blind became for the first time compulsory. In terms of
this statute, the school authorities were made responsible for the
provision of suitable elementary education for blind children up to
sixteen years of age, and grants of L3, 3s. for elementary subjects, and
of L2, 2s. for industrial training, were contributed by the state
towards the cost of educating children in schools certified as efficient
within the meaning of the Elementary Education Act 1876. The principal
aim of the Education Act of 1893 was to supply education in some useful
profession or trade which will enable the blind to earn their livelihood
and to become useful citizens; but the weak spot was that no provision
was made therein for the completion of their education and industrial
training after the age of sixteen.

In England and Wales, in 1907, there were twenty-four resident schools
and forty-three workshops for the blind. In many of the large towns, day
classes for the education of blind children have been established by
local education authorities. There are forty-six home teaching
societies, who send teachers to visit the blind in their homes, to teach
adults who wish to learn to read, to act as colporteurs, to lend and
exchange useful books, and to act as Scripture readers to those who are
aged and infirm. All the home teaching societies for the blind and many
public libraries lend embossed books. The public library at Oxford has
nearly 400 volumes of classical works for the use of