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308
(12) The teachers have their meals in the same room as
the children, but at a separate table.
III. Woodlands, Northfield.
This is a Residential Open Air School for Tuberculous,
Bone and Joint Cases. It was opened on 1st December,
1913, and is maintained by the Birmingham and District
Cripples' Union.
All the children in this school are actually suffering or
are convalescent from tuberculous disease. The majority
of cases are children who need to lie in bed for a long time
in special splints.
The institution is a mansion which has been adapted
for its present purpose. The children are nursed in three
open air wards on the first floor, ranged round three sides
of an open quadrangle. One of these wards is new, while the
two others are converted lofts. The sides of the wards
immediately surrounding the quadrangle are open except
for the supporting pillars, and protection is afforded from
the rain when necessary by canvas curtains. The other
sides of the wards are solid, but amply supplied with windows,
which may be opened widely.
There are 6G children in this institution at ages ranging
from 2-16 years, 50 of these are on the school register.
Three teachers provided by the Birmingham Education
Committee visit the institution daily. Teaching is con-
§
ducted on the verandah or quite out of doors in fine
weather.
The sanitary annexes are of recent construction, and
small handrails are found useful for the cripples who use
the closets provided.
A completely fitted operating theatre has recently been
added to this institution.