Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - First part - IV. Education and Mental Culture - 1. Popular Education - Education of abnormals, and of neglected children - Schools for the Blind, by G. A. Lyberg, Principal, Vexjö - Schools for Idiots, by late Baroness Thorborg Rappe
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310
IV. EDUCATION AND MENTAL CULTURE IN SWEDEN.
This care of the State for the education of the blind does not exclude private
benevolence, which aims chiefly at reaching those who have left school or have
not had the opportunity of receiving any instruction in their childhood. For
their benefit the following institutions are established, viz. the Working Home
for the Blind, at Stockholm (since 1870), the School for Older Blind Girls, at
Uppsala (since 1884), and the Home for the Aged Blind, near Stockholm (since
1888). In 1885, an Association for the Welfare of the Blind was formed with
the principal object of promoting the employment of the blind by supplying
them with suitable literature and working materials, and selling their work, etc.
This association has established a shop in Stockholm for the latter object. The
same object is aimed at by the Association of the Blind,. organized by the blind
themselves.
At the census of 1890, the total number of the blind amounted to 3,948,
1,992 of whom were above 60 years of age. The frequency of blindness (82-5
per 100,000 inhabitants) has on the whole diminished of låte years, owing to
improved medical treatment.
Schools for Idiots. Idiots were the last of the abnormal children for
whose education provision was made in Sweden. The first school — a private
one — was opened at Sköfde, in 1864. At the present time, there are 36
institutions (all homes); some of them schools (for children capable of instruction),
others working homes (for pupils who have left school), and others again asylums
(for those incapable of instruction). These institutions are supported by societies,
County councils, and private people; moreover, the State grants 250 kronor for
every teachable idiot in the schools, and 100 kronor for each pupil at the
working homes (a krona = lno shilling). The whole number in charge at the
above institutions amounts to 889; small institutions of this kind being
preferred, none of them contains more than about 80 pupils. The majority of such
institutions are managed by women, and these do all the teaching, except in
gymnastics and wood-carving, because women, owing to their gentler and more
patient temperament, are considered best fitted for instructing idiots, which
occupation tries these qualities.
The Schools are divided into as many as 8 classes, with a novitiate
department of 2 years for judging of the children’s capacity to receive instruction.
The subjects of instruction are the same as at the common schools, viz. the Swedish
Language, Religion, Swedish History, Swedish Geography, Natural Science, Writing,
Arithmetic, Drawing, Singing, Gymnastics, and most kinds of Needle-work,
Wood-carving, Basket- and Brush-manufacture, Shoe-making, Book-binding, and
Gardening. It must be borne in mind that Sweden is the first country where manual work
was employed as a means of education. This has been done, and very successfully
too, even with regard to idiots, the majority of whom have shown much aptitude
for practical learning — an excellent means of development in their education.
Working Homes were erected when it was found that pupils who had left
the schools could not stand the humiliation of associating with workmen normally
gifted. Working homes for male idiots are usually located in the country, and
there the patients are employed with great success in agriculture and .gardening.
Under able superintendence they prove in a perfectly satisfactory way their
ability to perform .the rougher labours of farming and cattle tending. Homes
for female idiots are generally located in towns; and the wards contribute
towards their own support by weaving (in which art many attain a considerable
skill), knitting, sewing, and lace-making etc.
There is an Asylum on a small scale attached to nearly every school. Up
to the present time though, very little has been done in Sweden for this
department of idiot management
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