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89
children's appetites became excellent although the common complaint before
admission by the parents is that they cannot get the children to eat anything.
Satisfactory all round improvement in weight was made by the children at each
age, but was especially marked amongst the older girls, whose average increase
during the year was:—12-year old 3.34 kilos., 13-year old 4.9 kilos., and 14-year old
5.10 kilos.
Open-air
classes.
Open air classes were held in connection with 95 ordinary elementary schools
as compared with 89 in 1923. These were additional to the four classes whose
continuance throughout the year has been approved by the Board of Education.
The classes fall into two main groups:—Types A and B, composed of delicate children
selected on health grounds from one or more schools and Types C and D, composed
of ordinary school classes working in the open either for the whole session or for
shorter periods in turn with other classes.
Sixty-two of the classes were held in school playgrounds and the remaining
33 in parks, open spaces, squares or gardens placed at the Council's disposal. Twentyfive
were special health classes (Types A or B); these were all reported upon by the
school doctors who selected the children and made visits from time to time. Generally
the beneficial results in the case of debilitated children were remarked upon. Children
who previously suffered from frequent attacks of bronchitis have had no attacks since
attending and children suffering from anaemia have improved, although the poor
summer and lack of sun were unfortunately adverse to the best results being obtained.
Most of the reports refer to the increase of mental alertness; improvement was also
noted in carriage and physique. The following are characteristic reports upon
particular classes:—
Queensmillroad
school
(Dr. Spaull).
All the boys did well both mentally and physically; there was marked improvement
in some of the delicate and anaemic ones, and the headmaster informs me
that the mental improvement in the junior class specially was very much increased
from the course of study in the open air.
Salter'a-hill
Infants (Dr.
Polhill)
There is marked improvement in nearly all the children in general condition,
vivacity, and record of health. Two or three were less improved than the others
owing to bad home conditions. Great credit is due to the teachers, to whose
initiation and perseverance the excellent results are due.
Cork-street,
Camberwell
(Dr. Boome).
This class was held in Brunswick Park, Camberwell, and consisted of 37 delicate
boys, ranging from 8 to 11 years of age. Of these, 37 boys, 15 had been in for
two years, and 3 for three years. The average gain in height was 1.7 cm., and in
weight, 1.5 kilograms. In addition to the ordinary routine medical examination
the vital capacity of 35 boys was taken on three different occasions. The results
were that 28 gained, five remained the same and two lost in vital capacity. It is
noteworthy that of the boys who had been in for two years, the increase in vital
capacity was enhanced. Of the three boys who had been in three years—they
had a marked tubercular family history and were particularly delicate—one gained
slightly (0.2 kilos.), one remained the same, and the other lost slightly. These latter
results do not seem to equal the others, but one cannot help feeling that had it
not been for the open air class these three boys would have very rapidly declined in
health. On return to the schoolroom quite a number of boys who had been suffering
from bronchial catarrh previously to the class subsequently developed coughs.
Special breathing exercises and special attention to physical exercises resulted in
a marked improvement in mouth breathing and cases of bad posture. Mentally,
these boys have been brighter and there is a marked increase in their ability to
resist fatigue.
Tuberculosis.
Particulars with regard to children treated for tuberculosis in residential
institutions and in the schools for tuberculous children are given in the first part