February 18, 2024

Introduced to Amanda, we join her at school assembly where an hymn in what looks like what was once a stately home is sung perfectly. No traditional hymnals, though - the children and their music teacher use Braille. During the singing, we take a quick look around the school and see classrooms for everything from sport to science - and they all look just the same as usual. Most of the teachers are sighted, but all are adept at teaching and readin… read the rest.

Introduced to Amanda, we join her at school assembly where an hymn in what looks like what was once a stately home is sung perfectly. No traditional hymnals, though - the children and their music teacher use Braille. During the singing, we take a quick look around the school and see classrooms for everything from sport to science - and they all look just the same as usual. Most of the teachers are sighted, but all are adept at teaching and reading the language of raised and sunken dots on a page that opens up a world of communication to the children. Learning to write is another, quite noisy, matter as we see (and hear) the children using their own specially adapted six-key typewriters and they can build up quite an head of steam! One eleven year old lad has written quite a funny essay about what he dislikes about this residential school! He hates getting up in the morning and seems to have a bit of a downer on Thursdays, too! A classmate writes her own murder mystery about "Marilyn" - who wants to bake a cake and lace it with sulphuric acid - for poor Mr. Norris the English teacher! Playing, games and sport are crucial too, demonstrating the fearlessness of these youngsters. The children are perfectly adept at arithmetic too, using a specially adapted counting board. Music suggests their ability to hold a tune isn't impaired by lack of vision, either - neither are their appetites!. The patience of the teachers is a thing to beheld. Even as the children become frustrated and impatient, these professionals take it all in their stride long after I'd have blown my top! It's clear that given some time and some nurturing, these young people have every chance of living full, enjoyable lives - even learning the piano!

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