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Advantages.—The open air school has been established in
order to obtain a better scholastic result by improving the physical
conditions of the child. Its functions should be to promote in
order, (1) the health, (2) the happiness and (3) the education of
the pupils who attend it.
Many educationalists have noted that a considerable number
of scholars attending public elementary schools, are used up in
mind and body by a few hours of school work; their attention
flags; they cannot follow the instruction provided, and thus they
fall hopelessly behind their fellow pupils. Many of these children
possess bright mental powers and, but for certain physical defects,
are quite able to keep pace with even the cleverest pupils.
These diseases generally which go to produce this condition
of inertia have been stated above. The majority of them are
chronic in their character, and it is therefore essential that the
education of the mind should proceed step by step with the cure
of the body. If the mind alone is considered, the child's health
is ruined; if the body alone is considered, the child soon reaches
adolescence without having acquired sufficient education by which
to earn his daily bread. These schools have been established
under various authorities and invariably bring about great improvement
in the mental and physical powers of scholars who
would not get otherwise a chance in life, and probably would
never be self-supporting.
Cost.—A school of the above type would require to be certified
as a school for the Physically Defective under the Elementary
Education (Defective and Epileptic Children) Act, 1899.
In reckoning its cost as compared with an ordinary public
elementary school, it has to be borne in mind that an open air
school certified as above, would receive an increased grant from
the Exchequer, while its cost of construction would be reduced.
On the other hand, an increased staff would be required, and
it is likely that additional cost would be incurred in the provision
of meals, as their cost would not perhaps be recoverable
from all patients.