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quite well and happy. I don't know how to thank you and all those who have
taken care of my boy whilst at Bushy. He says one and all were very nice to him
—he did not want to come home. Well, sir, I thank you one and all for your kindness
towards my boy."
Stoke Neurington.—" Allow me to express to you and your staff my deep
appreciation (even if somewhat belated) of the benefits which my son derived from
his stay at the above school. The three weeks' stay under your care have made a
great, and I trust, lasting improvement in him."
Westminster.—" I went to visit my son on Saturday at Bushy School. I was
so pleased at the improvement in him, I am writing to ask you if there is any
possibility of his having an extension. He is so happy, he would very much like to
stay longer. I am given to understand he is due to leave on Saturday, the 11th, so
if you can help me in this at all, I shall be pleased to hear from you."
Putney.—"Will you accept my grateful thanks to you and your assistant
masters for all the kindness shown to my son, Edwin, whilst he was staying at your
school. I think it is a wonderful place for boys who are not quite as strong as
they ought to be, and I do feel I would like you to know how grateful I am to you all,
as he is never tired of talking about it. I did not like the idea of his going at
first, but I feel now that I have done a great thing for him in letting him go.
I think he must have enjoyed every minute of his stay by the way he talks
about it all."
Hammersmith.—"I am writing to tell you of the very great satisfaction I feel
regarding my son's stay at Bushy. He has returned very much improved in many
ways; before going to Bushy his health was the cause of much anxiety. The improvement
in this alone is very marked, he is now quite robust, and full of life and energy
—he is also brighter and more manly. I am sure you will be glad to know he still
enthusiastically carries out the "Bushy" ideals, i,e., strips for what he calls "The
Bushy Wash" instead of the "Cat's Lick" which I am afraid most schoolboys
indulge in if they can. In many other ways it is noticeable that the training he
has received whilst in your care has made a lasting impression. Upon the occasion
of the visit to the school we were much struck by the wonderful
organisation—we found everything there that a boy could possibly want to make
him happy, or that his health and well-being require. We would like to offer to
you, Sir, and to the gentlemen who so very ably assist you, our heartfelt thanks,
and very best wishes for the continued success of the school."
In view of the difficulty found in London in securing suitable sites for open-air
schools, the policy has been pursued of extending wherever possible the principle of
holding open-air classes in connection with the elementary schools.
Prior to the 1925-28 programme, 97 open-air classes had been authorised,
accommodating approximately 3,800 children. Provision was made in the current
programme for a progressive increase to 117 classes in 1925-26, 137 in 1926-27, and
157 in 1927-28, bringing the total accommodation of playground and park classes
up to 6,200. Although it is becoming increasingly difficult each year to find new
and suitable sites, it is proposed to extend them further by making provision for ten
additional classes in 1928-29, and ten more in 1929-30, thus bringing the total
number of places to about 7,000.
The Elementary Education Committee on March 9th, 1926, authorised 124
open-air classes to be held from April 13th to October 22nd, 1926, in connection with
ordinary elementary schools, in addition to 5 similar classes maintained all the year
round. On subsequent dates 9 additional classes were approved. Of the summer
classes 51 were arranged to occupy sites in parks or open spaces, and the remainder
for playgrounds either at ground level or on the roofs of schools. These classes
were distributed among the four usual types of open-air class as follows:—
Open-air
classes.