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The following is an extract from the report of the medical officer of the Stormont
House open air school:—
Attention is drawn to the happier mental outlook of the backward child on his transfer
from an ordinary elementary school. I have no doubt that this is due to the fact that in an
ordinary elementary school the child, through enforced absence due to sickness, is often at the
bottom of his class, although probably older than his class-mates, and so develops a sense of
inferiority, while at an open-air school he associates with children in the same backward state,
and, therefore, attracts less attention to himself, and probably less criticism. In place of an
intense dislike of school and the desire to absent himself on the slightest pretext, he gradually
regains confidence, and will attend as regularly as his health will allow.
The number of open-air classes held in connection with the elementary schools
in 1931 was 200. Of these 14 were of type A (children selected on medical grounds
from a group of schools); 66 were of type B (children selected on medical grounds
from the various classes of a single school); 36 were of type C (consisting of a single
class from one school, educated continuously at one open-air station); and 84 of
type D (consisting in a rotation of classes from one school occupying one open-air
station).
Six classes are permanent, that is to say they are outside the yearly programme
and do not need re-authorisation each year. In addition, 43 of the 200 classes were
continued throughout the winter, where the suitability of the sites had been ascertained
by the school medical officer. Of the 200 classes, 67 were held in parks, gardens,
playing-fields and other open sites, while 133 were held in school playgrounds (of
which 23 were roof-play grounds).
Children in classes of the types A and B are kept under special observation by
the school doctors. Long experience has shown that in London there are two types
of children who are weakly and anaemic, and require special care. They may be termed
for shortness the bronchitic type and the rheumatic type. The former thrive only
on open-air treatment of the sanatorium type, and for these the more exposure they
get the better they are, while the latter cannot stand such treatment and require
warmth and coddling.
The medical reports again illustrate these results. The increases in weight
given refer to the period from May to October.
St. Barnabas (Boys) open-air class. (Dr. Dan vers-Atkinson.)
Average increase in weight 2.1 kilos. One child showed cardiac enlargement and had
rheumatic pains in the legs, and was discharged from the class. "Colds" have been infrequent.
One boy, who had frequent bronchitic attacks, has been exempt from them during period of
attendance. Cervical glands have subsided in one boy admitted for them.
St. James' Park open-air class. (Dr. Dan vers-Atkinson.)
Average increase in weight 31 kilos. Five children out of 11 with cervical adenitis (including
one tuberculous) show improvement. Subjects of frequent chest colds show cure or definite
improvement.
Rhyl-street open-air class. (Dr. Richenda Gillett.)
Very few coughs and colds.
Open-air
classes in
parks and
playgrounds.