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98
It is proposed to open one further open air school in 1928-29, bringing up the
accommodation to 1,860 in nine schools.
Attention has been given during the year to the question of the subsequent
history of children who have passed through these schools.
Shooter'shill
open-air
school.
Mr. Hugh Broughton, the Head Master, of Shooter's Hill open air school, which
has been in existence for 18 years, has kept records of old pupils, and recently stated
that "we have been getting into touch with former scholars, in order to ascertain
whether the benefits conferred by the school have persisted when the boys and
girls have gone out into the world. So far exactly 200 have been traced, and it is
remarkable that among them there is not a single case where the old weakness has
returned after the doctor has certified fitness to leave the school. Their occupations
are as follows:—factory workers (unskilled or semi-skilled), 40; skilled manufacturing
trades, 26; shop assistants and managers, 37; domestic service and nursing, 17;
building trades, 9; drivers, roundsmen, messengers, 20; clerical work, 14; at home
(some married), 12; army, navy, merchant service, 9; abroad, 7; to higher education,
6; temporarily unemployed, 4; total, 200.
"The records prove that the children leave the school prepared, both by
educational attainment and physical condition, to face competition from the product
of ordinary schools, and further than that, not only do they secure good health
while in the school, but also they learn how to keep their health when school days
are over.
"The accompanying letter addressed to me from an old scholar admirably
illustrates the lasting qualities of the benefits the children receive:—
"'It was by an accident that I should be sitting by a fire somewhere in
Australia when by chance I picked up a paper which turned out to be the Kentish
Independent, and read an article which referred to my old school, and the good
work it has done since its foundation, and also its figures of healthy workers
who were once weak and delicate children.
Well, Sir, I for one, owe my health and strength to that school. When I
was there the head master was Mr. Turner, and my teachers were Miss Taylor
and Miss Bayne. I quite remember how thin and ill I was after my operations,
in fact I was nicknamed "Skinny," and I appreciate now what they did for me.
I have never had a day's illness since I left that school, which is ten years ago
this year. What a difference ten years make. I am now 23 years old, and my
health has never been better. I am, I suppose, what you would call in the
prime of life, but it is hard to say if I would have been the same had there
been no open air school.
Well, Sir, I am now managing a Fuel Depot, which is heavy work, but I
am quite capable of doing it. I should like to be put on the Old Boys' Roll,
and when I return to England, which I hope to do in two years, I hope to visit
the old school again. (Signed) L. F. C.' "
After history
of children
who have
attended
Stowey
House openair
school.
25 children who had left Stowey House three years, selected at random, were
followed up and their present position in regard to health and occupation ascertained.
12 of the children were boys and 13 girls.
Of the 12 boys, three are still at elementary schools, to which they returned on
leaving the open air school, eight are in wage earning industrial occupations at which,
on the whole, they are doing well, and one is a bugler in the Royal Engineers at
Aldershot.
The trades of these eight boys are: tailoring, 2; mason, 1; shop boys, 3; milk
roundsmen, 1; printers,
The health of 9 of the boys is very satisfactory, and of the other 3 fairly satisfactory.
Of the 13 girls, 2 have died, 1 was taken ill immediately after leaving school,
where her health had been greatly improved, and she died in the infirmary of kidney