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"Remaining scholars (those having spent a year or more at the school and are
still attending) 105 (63 boys and 42 girls). Of these 24 show great improvement,
76 have improved, and 5 have not improved. Of the 5 cases not improved, 2 are
cases of relapsing phlyctenular conjunctivitis and 3 are cases of asthma with chronic
bronchitis, both of which conditions are very much affected by cold winds and are,
therefore, I consider, only benefited by a modified open air life. All these children
were carefully weighed once a month. The average increase in weight for the year
was 3.37 Kgs.
" Casualties.—The following casualties occurred during the year: scarlet fever,
6 cases; morbilli, 1 case; pertussis, 1 case; diphtheria, 1 case; varicella, 1 case;
rheumatic pains, 1 case; tonsillitis, 1 case; impetigo, 2 cases; otorrhcea, 1 case;
recurrence of activity with tubercular peritonitis, 1 case; accidents and injuries,
7 cases; bruises and sprains, 4 cases; injury with chisel at woodwork, 1 case;
fracture (arm) 1 case; injury to eye by branch of tree (resulting in traumatic cataract,
1 case. The dietary has been satisfactory as regards quantity, nutritional value
and cooking.
"This school opened on Monday, 23rd April, with 50 children, 28 boys and 22
girls, drawn principally from the Hackney and Shoreditch districts. The maximum
number on the roll at any time was 156. Of this latter number, 3 children were
returned to their ordinary schools, at the request of their parents, 2 became over
school age, and two were withdrawn from the school on the removal of their parents
from the district. This left on the books at the end of the year 149 children.
Upton House
School.
Dr. Banks
Raffle.
"An impressive fact was the improved school attendance of some of the
children who had been formerly chronic 'out of school' cases. One boy in
particular made practically complete attendance and his history showed that he
had not made a full week's attendance for months previously. Through the
kindness of the Divisional Officer it was possible to compare the present and past
attendance returns for a number of the children. The most striking results are set
out below:—
Percentage attendance 1928. Percentage attendance 1927.
Child.
Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
D. S. 75 100 84 90 70.7 nil nil nil
J. R. 97.7 93.1 88.6 81.1 nil nil nil nil
W. M. 70.4 90.9 100 100 25 90.2 16.6 nil
B. W. 95.4 97.7 89.7 100 65 nil nil nil
R. F. 95.4 68.6 70.1 100 nil nil nil nil
W. S. 93 97.7 100 100 70 25 16.6 nil
"Infectious disease.—The school has been remarkably free from infectious
disease. There has only been one case of diphtheria (E.O., last attendance 15/11).
This girl was infected from her cousin who lived in the same house.
"Condition of the children on admission.—The type of child presented for
admission was generally that for which this type of open-air school is particularly
suitable ; those children who are debilitated rather than suffering from some coarse
physical lesion. For example, at the present moment there is not a single child in
the school with active tuberculosis. The defects from which the children were
suffering were:—Nutrition—54 children were classed as having defective nutrition;
of these 53 were marked '3' and 1 girl '4.' 52 were reported on as 'debilitated,
anaemic and poorly nourished.' Cervical glands—In 14 cases the neck glands were
more than palpable. In 2 children the occipital glands were enlarged due to scalp
conditions, in 2 the enlargement of the glands was probably due to enlarged tonsils,
and in 5 others teeth was the cause of the gland condition. In the remaining 5
cases no reason could be found beyond general debilitation. Teeth—20 children
showed dental caries calling for immediate treatment. Steps were taken to have