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schools for the blind.
369
moved from Manilla, and entrusted to a special Institute for the Blind. Started
at Stockholm, it was transferred to its new buildings at Tomteboda in 1888. But
the institute alone could not take some 200 blind children of school-age (from
7 to 17). Two preparatory schools were required for their preliminary
instruction. One of these was established at Växjö in 1884, the other was united to
the institute, and began operations in 1899. In the autumn term of 1914, there
were in both preparatory schools in all 78 pupils and at the institute 115 were
enrolled, of whom, however, 12 were taught later at the Technical School for
the Blind founded at Kristinehamn in 1884. Its pupils consist chiefly of
such men as have lost their sight since they have been grown up, and
numbered 44 at the time in question. The pupils receive gratuitous instruction in
reading and writing, as well as in brush- and basketmaking, but must themselves
defray the cost of their board. Each pupil, however, receives an assistance of
the government subvention for this purpose.
By the law for institutions for the blind and a statute dealing with them,
both passed on May 29, 1896, the instruction of the blind became obligatory
from 1899 inclusive. A child is received into the preparatory school at the age
of seven, to be prepared, by a four years’ course of instruction, for entering
the institute, where its education is continued and finished. Should such a
child be of somewhat feeble intellect, it has to remain another two years in
the preparatory school to finish off its studies. The subjects taught in this
school are as follows: Religion, Object-lessons, Swedish, Writing, Arithmetic,
Singing, Gymnastics, Hand-exercises, Modelling, and Beadwork. Children who
have satisfactorily passed through the preliminary school are admitted into the
institute, also children up to the age of 14, who, for some reason or other, are
not admitted to the preparatory school, as a rule because of their having become
blind after reaching the age of nine. For the former the period of study is 6,
for the latter 8 years. The subjects studied at the institute are the same as
those of the preliminary school with the addition of Geometry, Geography,
History, Natural Science, Handicraft (basket- and brushmaking, joinery, weaving,
housekeeping), Music, and Piano-tuning. The school-year, both at the
preliminary schools and institute, extends over 40 weeks. For every child at either
establishment the County Council, or the town, if it does not come under the
County Council, pays 300 kronor per annum with the right of drawing
contributions from parents or guardians, or from the parish. There is a so-called
probationary year’s course of training at the institute for those desirous of
becoming teachers of the blind, and such students, while there, enjoy stipends from
the State grants. The institute receives an annual grant of 2 500 kronor to
print boohs for the blind. All literature for the blind is now printed in Braille
type. The expenditure of the State for 1913 on the three schools amounted to
120 688 kronor.
Besides the State school for the education of the blind are two private ones,
viz. Miss Anna Wikström’s School for Blind Women, at Uppsala (since 1884) with
24 pupils, and Queen Sophia Foundation in Vänersborg (since 1886), intended
for the blind who suffer from other defects as well (cf. p. 370).
All the institutions here named, except that of Kristinehamn, are for
boarders.
The object of the instruction is, among other things, to give the blind so
good a technical grounding that they may entirely, or in part, provide for
themselves by their own labour. There must, however, be comparatively few who can
support themselves completely by their own efforts. The State therefore as well
as private persons furnish "help to those who help themselves". The directors
at the institution of Tomteboda have received funds for this purpose, and at the
end of 1913 these amounted to 847 703 kronor, with accumulated interest. The
24—133179, Sweden. 1.
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