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Report of the County Medical Officer—Education. 173
to their appearance when taught in a closed classroom. In eight of the children there was not so
much improvement in intellectual capacity, and in one child this varied at different times. At first
greater fatigue was exhibited, but subsequently there was improvement in this respect and fewer
headaches were noted.
West-square (Southward).—No special selection of children was made for the experiment, but
the whole of one class was chosen, consisting of 18 boys and 13 girls between the ages of six and seven
years. The average gain of the boys in weight from April to September was 1.05 kilograms (nine of the
18 were below the average and nine above), the average increase in height being 2.7 centimetres (ten
below average and eight above). The average gain of the girls in weight was .93 kilograms (eight of
13 below normal and five above), the average increase in height being three centimetres (eight of 13
below and five above). The attendance of the children was particularly satisfactory, being quite above
the average. No child was absent with a "cold," coughs were less frequent, and one child with chronic
bronchitis lost his cough, his chest on examination presenting no symptoms. The decrease in general
and mental fatigue was marked; instead of becoming drowsy and inattentive, particularly in the
afternoon, the children remained quite bright, with undiminished mental activity to the end of the day.
Appetites were much improved. Information on this point was volunteered to the teacher by the
parents. The teacher of the class remarked that her health had been excellent during the period ; her
apprtite was goad, her work was done with less mental fatigue and she slept more soundly at night.
White I ion-street (Finsbury, C.).—This class comprised 36 children selected from the girls' department
primarily on account of varying degrees of mental backwardness. It was held on a roof playground
in the open-air from April to October, and during the colder months in an adjoining classroom
open on three sides, thus permitting of adequate light and ventilation. It is difficult to contrast the
development of children who have been especially selected for mental and physical backwardness with
a number of normal children working under the ordinary conditions. A comparison of the increase
in weight and other measurements of the children in the open-air class with that of a similar number of
children of the same age in the ordinary classes, taken over a corresponding period of time, shows that
as regards development, these physically and mentally backward children placed under these altered
conditions, may compare very favourably with the normal children in the rest of the school.
The following figures shew the average increase in weight and height of children aged 12 years in
playground class and ordinary class, in a period of 1½ years:—
Playground class—Weight 4.7 kilograms Ordinary class—Weight 5.2 kilograms
Height 7.0 centimetres Height 6 6 centimetres
In the case of the children aged 13, the lack of development is more marked : thus taken over a
period of nine months the average increase per child :—
Playground class—Weight 2 5 kilograms Ordinary class—Weight 3.2 kilograms
Height 41 centimetres 5'5 centimetres
While these figures indicating the physical progress are satisfactory, equally satisfactory
conditions are found to exist in regard to the mental and moral progress of the playground.class. Thus
while as a rule the mentally backward child who is kept in the ordinary class is irregular in attendance,
lacking in personal cleanliness, deficient in self-respect, and, usually, unless given special tuition, quite
incapable of assimilating scholastic knowledge, it is found that, placed apart under the novel conditions
of the open-air class, with its modified curriculum, drill, etc., these children become, almost immediately,
happier, brighter, cleaner, more confident, and infinitely more regular in their attendance, while the
fresh zest and interest which is given to their existence is generally productive of a marked increase in
their mental powers.
Wood-street (Woolwich).—This class, called Class V., is a special class of backward boys selected
from those in Standards I. to IV. considered to be weak, either physically or mentally. It ranks as
Standard IV B., and was started in April, 1911, it began as an open-air class at the beginning of May,
and ended on 13th September. The boys, however, continue to form a class by themselves indoors, at
first in the central hall and now in a classroom, the windows in this room being kept open. The average
number on roll has been 35 ; 26 boys were present for the whole time that the class was held in the playground.
The Weather conditions during the past summer have been obviously very different from those
obtaining in 1911, and not nearly so favourable or so pleasant for open-air sedentary occupation.
Overcoats have been worn by the boys, and in the past summer, rugs have been provided ; they were
available but not required in 1911. The 26 boys of the class for the present year who were in attendance
the whole time showed an average increase in weight of 0 959 kilograms and an average increase in
height of 0-808 centimetres between 1st June and 13th September.
The following notes relate to particular pupils.
E.N., aged 13. Sufficiently nourished, has a good home, nervous and excitable, subject
to fainting, also headaches.
Weight at beginning of June, 32.2 kilograms.
July, 34.4
August, 34.7
„ „ September, 35.7 ,,
„ „ October, 35.6 „
This was the greatest increase of weight observed, viz., 3.4 kilograms.