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The following are the Departments which sent parties:—
Boys' School. Girls' School.
The Whitehorse Manor. The Ecclesbourne.
,, Oval. ,, Woodside.
,, Portland. ,, Oval.
,, North Park. ,, Portland.
„ Rectory Manor. ,, Croydon British.
,, Sydenham. ,, Winterbourne.
,, Davidson. ,, West Thornton.
Despite the fact that weather conditions were not altogether favourable,
it may be said that each camp was most successful. The reports
that have been sent by the Head Teachers are unanimous in stating that
the children and the teachers in charge enjoyed every minute of the time,
and that from an educational and physical point of view, the utmost
benefit was derived by all concerned.
Regular Time-Tables ot work were in vogue in all cases, the curriculum
being limited to subjects appropriate to work out of doors. The following
will afford some idea of the kind of work undertaken:—
Practical Arithmetic, e.g., measuring the height of trees, area of
fields, drawing to scale, etc.
Geology of the District.
History—The Pilgrims' Way.
Geography of the District.
Literature—Chaucer and the Canterbury Pilgrims.
Nature study—Identification of wild flowers and trees.
Drawing.
Visits to places of local interest.
The cooking arrangements were mainly in the hands of the caretaker
and his wife, and were satisfactory in every respect. Many of the parents
of the children visited the camp at week-ends and expressed their pleasure
at the arrangements which had been made for the comfort and welfare of
their children. The camp was visited also by various members of the
Committee, H.M. Inspectors, and the Committee's Officers, all of whom
were gratified by the success of the camp.
(d) Open-air Schools or Classrooms.
There are at present no open-air residential or day schools, or
open-air classrooms.
The provision of an open-air school is greatly to be desired,
and would be of the greatest benefit to a considerable group of
anaimic, debilitated children who, by reason of their unsatisfactory
health, cannot derive proper benefit by education in the ordinary
elementary school. The great majority of these children would
be completely restored to health by transfer for a period to an
open-air school.
The question has been under serious consideration during the
year. It is greatly to be hoped that the present year will see the
establishment of such a school.