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VII at an age only slightly higher than normal. He quotes the example of a girl
pupil admitted in July, 1924, and only suitable for Standard III, although aged
12 years and 8 months. She had been continually absent from school before
admission and at first was an untutored girl ready to treat members of the staff
with the same freedom she would use towards the youngest child. She quickly
found her place, became a hard worker, was promoted to Standard IV in October,
and at the end of the year Standard V was in sight. In marked contrast to her
earlier school life the whole period was passed without absence.
Dr. Wiley refers to the lack of sunshine during the year. In May and June
only about 3 hours a day of bright sunshine was recorded and in July only 2½ hours.
No sunshine occurred in January and only 32 minutes in the whole of February.
Out of 253 school days rain fell on 192. Rest out of doors was possible only on 163
days. Every effort was made during summer days to get all the benefit from the
little sunshine available, but the weather was so bad that this was not often possible.
Thirty children left the school during 1924, all of whom were greatly improved
in health, nineteen of them had been under observation at tuberculosis dispensaries
and two had been in sanatoria before admission. The average length of stay was
36 months.
One child is cited as an example. When admitted in 1918 she was a very puny
child suffering from frequent bronchial catarrh and enlarged cervical glands. She
was suspected to have abdominal tuberculosis and attended the tuberculosis
dispensary for a period. Her chest expansion was noticeably deficient. Special
breathing exercises were prescribed and carried out daily at school. In 1922 she
began to show much improvement, and in July, 1924, her general condition was
excellent. During the summer holidays this little girl won a race of 150 yards
in a sports competition against all comers of her age in the district and gained a
prize of a year's free tuition at a Commercial College.
The average net gain in weight was 375 kilos. as compared with 2.8 kilos.,
which is the average gain of ordinary school children of the same age distribution.
These results were obtained in the face of many disadvantages under which the school
labours, such as the distance many children have to walk, the difficulty in drying
clothes, and the remoteness from the school of the dining accommodation.
Bow-road.
The headmaster of the Bow-road Open-Air school refers to the improvement
in personal hygiene. From 8 per cent. unsatisfactory in 1922, the proportion is
reduced to 1.3 per cent. in 1924. Nearly all the unsatisfactory cases now occur only
on the return after holidays, particularly on the return from fruit picking and hopping.
Dr. Chaikin has followed up in the elementary schools the subsequent career of
several children who had been at the school. In 4 out of 9 girls the condition was
found not to be very satisfactory. Out of 19 boys, 13 maintained improvement,
4 boys were not very satisfactory and two showed definite retrogression. The
cases where improvement was not maintained after return to elementary school
were chiefly among those children who had suffered from definite lung trouble.
It is clear that it would have been better if some of these children had been retained,
but it is not possible to retain children who appear to be restored to health, especially
when there are children on the waiting list.
Stowey
House.
Dr. Slowan reports that at Stowey House Open-Air school there were 160 boys
and 115 girls. Of these 275 children 109 are fit to leave at the end of the school
year. Improvement is most marked in cases of anaemia. Children suffering from
bronchitis and bronchiectasis do not improve to the same extent at this school.
Birley
House.
Dr. S. H. Griffiths reports that the children in attendance are chiefly anaemic
and delicate, predisposed to tuberculosis and quiescent cases of tuberculosis of lungs,
glands, skin, etc., chronic bronchitis and a few odd cases of empyema. The average
roll for the year was 141 and average attendance 118. 55 children obtained dental
treatment out of 59 needing it. Almost without exception soon after admission the