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is that of the Chief Medical Officer of the Board of Education, who, speaking of England and Wales as
a whole, was of opinion that not less than 10 per cent. of the children would reap permanent advantage
by being taught in open-air schools. This statement must, of course, be accepted, but it will be noted
that it is a general one, and it is not easy from experience of the London schools to discover any natural
line which would mark off 10 per cent. of the children distinctively from the next 10 per cent. There is,
however, a natural line in London which divides a number of children, falling between 4 and 5 per cent. of
the whole, from the rest. This is the proportion of children who are returned year by year by the school
doctors as "anæmic and debilitated." For these, it would seem that no adequate provision is being
made by voluntary effort. This would at a high computation give 30,000 children in London elementary
schools for whom some accommodation in a holiday camp or health school would be required. The
Council has agreed that 2,000 places should be found in open-air schools in London for tuberculous
children and 2,000 places in open-air schools for the group of children who form the lowest stratum
from a health point of view of the remaining 28,000. The next stratum could be provided for in open.
air classes in the parks and selected playgrounds It is not known to what extent these could be
developed, but there appears no reason why some 8,000 children should not eventually be accommodated
in this way. The younger children may in time be accommodated in nursery schools, say an
additional 4,000. This would leave 14,000 older children whose needs might be met by a period in a
holiday or camp school.
The problem is not quite so simple, however, as this, as the range of cases for whom a stay at a
holiday or camp school is desirable overlaps the range of cases for whom continuous open-air education
is required. Thus a child may frequently be recommended for an open-air school or playground class
with a stay in a holiday school as a preliminary, and others during the course of their life in an open-air
school may from time to time require the added stimulus of the residential camp school for short periods.
It seems desirable for accommodation to be provided for holiday or camp schools for some 20,000 children
annually on health grounds. Assuming an average stay of six weeks, this would necessitate provision for
2,500 places.
This establishment was placed by the King at the disposal of the Council in the summer of 1919;
it was actually opened for the reception of the first draft of boys on August 8th. It is situated in the
midst of Bushey Park, and consists of a large house—Upper Lodge—and hutments, with offices and outbuildings
suitable for the accommodation of 300 boys. The latter structures were erected by the
Canadian Red Cross during their temporary occupation of the site. The resident educational staff,
which consists of a director with six assistants, is housed in Upper Lodge. The medical arrangements
are in the hands of a medical officer, who attends daily at the camp, and two whole-time nurses, one
of whom is resident. A dentist attends for five sessions each week. There is a well-equipped medical
inspection room and dental clinic; a sick.bay is provided for the reception of ailing boys and an isolation
ward is provided for infectious cases. The washing arrangements consist of an adequate supply of
shower.baths supplied with hot and cold water; these are being supplemented by the installation of six
slipper.baths. The sanitary arrangements embrace two sets of offices, one being in convenient proximity
to the dormitories. These latter extend round the four sides of a rectangular building; they are well.
warmed by a system of hot.water pipes, and there is very efficient cross-ventilation. The excellent state
of health which has obtained amongst the boys in the camp up to now affords good evidence of the
satisfactory nature of their hygienic surroundings. The dietary is ample and varied; in caloric value
it approximates very closely to that provided in the Council's industrial schools.
The King's
Canadian
Camp
School.
The admissions to the school are drawn from the ranks of those boys who, by reason of existing
anaemia, debility or mal-nutrition, appear likely to benefit by a stay in the surroundings that it affords.
The period for which they are sent down is four weeks, but in exceptional cases' when the circumstances
appear to render such a course expedient it is in the discretion of the camp medical officer to
recommend the school medical officer that an extension of two weeks should be made. No child
under the age of 10 is admitted; actively tubercular cases are ineligible, as are mentally defective boys,
those suffering from persistent enuresis, and those who do not attain a satisfactory standard of personal
hygiene. The boys are chosen in the first instance by the school doctors from those seen during routine
medical inspection, and also those to whom attention is specially drawn by head teachers and members
of the care committees; details of each case are set out on a special inspection card. The day before
that on which a party of boys is due to leave for the camp they are examined again, with a view to
the elimination of any who have become unfit since they were first selected by reason of some intercurrent
affection. Special attention is given to their personal hygiene and also to the possibility of
any boy being the source of infectious disease in the camp. To this end the nurse is instructed to
take the list of those nominated to the local medical officer of health and ascertain if in any of their
homes there is a case of infectious disease. As will be seen from the appended details there has
occurred, between August and December, only one case of varicella. The provision of suitable
clothing, and particularly footgear, is a somewhat frequent source of difficulty. Where such is
lacking, the care committee concerned endeavours to meet the deficiency. As regards the progress of
the children whilst in residence at the camp details are available concerning 303 boys.
HEIGHTS AND WEIGHTS.
Average Average Largest
No. of boys. Length of stay. increase of increase of individual
height. weight. gain.
36 21 days .17 in. 2.7 lbs. 5.75 lbs.
198 28 days, .26 in. 3'3 ibs. 7.75 lbs.
69 42 days. .45 in. 4.2 lbs. 9.25 lbs.