The beginning of an education
Helplessly I hold my hand out in the dark with a slim hope that a kind passer by might take pity. I hear a trudge in the mud; feel the cold familiarity of a silver piece. I run my tips over the coin, inspecting it further and unveiled is a value far more than is usually given. This must be a mistake. But now I am faced with a dilemma; do I keep this mistaken blessing or show honesty to the person who has already shown me kindness?
It was the simple honest act of this blind beggar which was a pivotal point for Valentin Haüy. Coming to the realisation that the sense of touch could be the key to teaching and bettering the lives of the blind, he set out on a life long journey dedicated to their education. It was this dedication that led to Haüy founding the first school for the blind, subsequently the school where Louis Braille himself was taught.
