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we need. In the arrangement of buildings it is very important that attention should
be paid to their use as wind-breaks; first and foremost from northerly winds; but
fortunate is the school which is provided with many nooks and corners, each big
enough for a class, so that teachers may choose a sheltered spot whatever the direction
of the wind. It would be a tremendous advantage also to have well-made paths
and a small area provided with a hard surface for drill and games.
We have had classroom fires on 21 days. They look bright and cheerful, and
are useful for drying boots and clothes. Floor heating would be of much greater
service.
Bow-road.
Bow-road Open-air school.—Dr. Argles reports on the Bow-road Open-air School,
there has been very little change in the type of child admitted to the school during
the past twelve months. Several children have been submitted for examination
between the ages of 13 and 14, and in certain of these cases the physical condition
has not varied to any extent for some considerable period prior to admission.
It is a pity that these children were not brought forward earlier as much valuable
time has been lost especially in those cases where the parents do not wish them
to remain in school after the age of 14 years. In a number of cases it has been
ascertained that the children, before admission, were hardly ever in school, and that
since coming to the open-air school their attendance has been regular.
I give below a few particulars of such cases:—
(1) C.P.—Admitted in June, 1924, with a history of having been in a
sanatorium for five years—anæmia, poor nutrition, enlarged cervical glands,
cough. Discharged December, 1925, much improved, no cough, nutrition
average. Has attended regularly except for an absence due to scabies.
(2) J.W.—Admitted August, 1922, weight 23.4 kgms., at age 10½. Had
not attended school for about five and a half years, well nourished, glands in
neck palpable, old signs of T.B. at right apex, anaemia, rickety chest.
Report September, 1925, heart and lungs nil, glands palpable, anaemia
much improved, weight 29 kgms., regular attendance.
(3) B.P.—The school captain. In four different sanatoria prior to admission
in January, 1924, weight 32 kgms., anæmia, poor nutrition, enlarged glands
in the neck, now weight is 47 kgms. Boy is never away, very active and
intelligent, rather thin, eats and sleeps well, no physical signs in lungs.
(4) S.W.—This girl is the outstanding case of the year. Prior to admission
in January, 1922, she had been out of school for four years, weight 34 kgms.,
thin and pale, a pulmonary murmur. She started to improve and has done so
ever since, and is now discharged as "fit," weight 45 kgms.
Since my last report the catering has been taken out of the hands of the contractor
and is now done at the school. The dietary has been carefully considered
from the points of view of variation and monotony. A child never knows for certain
what it is going to get for dinner, and I regard this as a point of considerable value.
It would appear that the change of organisation has been for the good when a comparison
is made of the average increase in weight in the periods September-December
in 1924 and 1925. No attempt has been made to select the cases, which are of all
ages.
Girls—
Average increase September-December, 1924, equals 1.43 kgms.
Average increase September-December, 1925, equals 2.02 kgms.
Boys—
Average increase September-December, 1924, equals 1.56 kgms.
Average increase September-December, 1925, equals 1.97 kgms.
The percentage of attendance for the year is 76—an increase of 3 per cent. over
last year, and owing to the fine summer, meals were taken out on two hundred
and twenty-three days and mid-day rest on one hundred and seventeen.