By Maurice Conor
Some people may feel that the changes and improvements in the education of the blind and visually impaired have not come rapidly enough during the eighty-six year existence of organized welfare work for the blind in this country.
After eleven years as a student at the Institute for the Blind and thirty-four years on the staff of the School for Blind children, Santa Cruz, I can understand these feelings. This state of affairs is not due to any acts of repression by the Committees concerned.
It is rather a reflection of the attitude of the society to the disabled: for example, its misguided patronage and excessively custodial approach to the work during the first period.
It must be noted, however, that these characteristics are common to the evolution of work for the blind in many countries of the world. Much time is lost before the emphasis is shifted from merely providing the fish to teaching someone how to fish. There must be a more pro-active approach to the education of the blind and visually impaired that will allow many of them to become independent, productive citizens of the community.
Education is an ever-changing process and I cherish the hope that someone will find it worthwhile to improve upon this booklet, recording those changes and achievements that are beneficial to the visually challenged.
I also cherish very pleasant memories of my brief term as Principal of the School with its mix of the rough and the smooth. My sincere thanks to all the staff for their loyalty and support during that period. I must specially mention Miss Agatha Millington, the Chief House Mother, and Miss Carol Maul, the Clerk Typist. Their excellent co-operation made the day-to-day management much easier.
Mrs. Rosalind McNamara, dictationist and friend, has contributed greatly to the production of this booklet. My sincere thanks to her for her invaluable assistance, leafing through the old newspapers in the Archives, thereby providing some background for the beginning of the First Period.
Written material on this entire subject is very scant. A great deal is based on my own experience and the oral tradition. I must also thank those special friends and colleagues who did some proof reading and gave some helpful suggestions, and, Mr. Francis Khan who was responsible for the computer production.
May, 2001
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