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119
form of anaemia due to poor home environment, and it was remarkable how quickly
their facial colour improved after admission to the school.) Rheumatism—Of the
2 rheumatic cases admitted to the school 1 was the heart case subsequently returned
to the elementary school, the other case is doing well. Nervous system—One of the
cases of chorea became definitely worse and had to undergo a course of hospital
treatment. The other has improved slighly. Three out of the 4 cases of nervous
instability have improved.
"Upton House is a happy school and has arrived at the end of 1928 with its
organisation wonderfully complete. Walking through the school it is difficult to
believe that it has only been in existence since April last, and its maturity is
strikingly evidenced in the attitude of parents towards it. Whereas in the early
part of the year it was a question of persuading parents to send their children to
the school, at the present time it is difficult to convince them that their children
must wait to come through the appointed channels."
School children recommended by the school doctors as needing a period of
country life are sent all the year round to convalescent camp schools.
Convalescent
camp
schools.
These include :—
(1) The King's Canadian Camp School at Bushy Park, with places for
300 boys.
(2) The Wanstead House School at Margate for 60 girls.
(3) The Barham House School at St. Leonards for 64 girls.
(4) Russell-Côtes Home, Parkstone, for 30 girls, conducted by the Shaftesbury
Society.
(5) Fairfield House, Broadstairs, for 50 girls, conducted by the "Save the
Children" Fund.
Through these institutions no less than 3,017 boys and 1,583 girls passed during
the year. The length of stay varies from one month to six months, but the majority
of the children stay six weeks.
The question is asked whether short stay periods are of any permanent benefit.
The answer is emphatically "Yes." Every town worker, whatsoever his profession,
or occupation, finds the benefit of a holiday once a year in the country or seaside,
and sees the benefit to his children accruing therefrom ; the children who are enabled
by the Council's provision of camp schools to obtain a period in the country without
loss of education are those who would otherwise be unable to obtain it, and they
receive it just when it is most required. All who have had experience of hospital
out-patient practice in London are familiar with the dictum continually repeated
by the out-patient physician—" What your child requires, Ma'am, is a month or
six weeks in the country." The escape from the smoke pall of the city, the breathing
of pure air, and the country regime puts new life into the city-bred child and does
him even more good than the annual fortnight at the sea-side does the jaded town
worker. To the improvement in health is to be added the educational value of the
experience to the child. The "school journey" is established as an educational
factor of deep importance. The visit to the camp school is even more effective and
is the means of the acquirement of habits of thought and hygienic practice which
forms a turning point in the lives of many of the children.
The King's
Canadian
School.
Average gain
in weight
per child
for 4 week
stay.