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(c) School Gamps.
A school camp was again held during the summer months at
Pilgrim Fort, near Caterham—an elevated site, well wooded, on
gravel soil, lying on the crest of the escarpment of the North
Downs, looking down over the plain of the Weald to the south.
The camp, which is provided with a piped water supply from the
East Surrey Water Company, is provided with permanent buildings
((which have been found readily adaptable for sleeping
quarters, messroom, etc. Blankets, tents, stretchers, etc., for
sleeping purposes, and a fully equipped cookhouse have been
provided; also satisfactory deep trench closet accommodation of
army pattern.
480 boys and girls from the elementary schools went to the
Camp during the summer months, in parties of 20 or 40, each
party for a week. The following are the Departments which sent
parties:—
Girls' School. Boys' School.
The Ecclesbourne. The Whitehorge Manor.
,, Woodside. ,, Oval
,, Oval. ,, Portland.
,, Croydon British. ,, Rectory Manor.
,, Tavistock. ,, Sydenham.
,, Winterbourne. ,, Davidson.
,, West Thornton. ,, West Thornton.
,, Rectory Manor. ,, Ingram.
,, Croydon British.
Most attractive types of instruction in science, history,
geology, natural history, etc., in addition to ordinary school
subjects, are given to the children at the camp.
(d) Open-Air Schools or Classrooms.
Although there are at present no open-air residential or day
schools, or open-air classrooms, the scheme for educational
development in Croydon includes the provision of such a school
in 1928-29, and proposals to this end will be formulated in due
course.
I have previously drawn attention to the need for an open-air
school for the considerable group of anemic, debilitated children
—numbering over 250—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.
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