View report page

124
10th April, 1918.—Middlesex County Council refused to allow King Edward VII. Park to
be used in connection with a day open-air school.
31st July, 1918.—Education Committee determined to rent Mapesbury House for use as a
day open-air school.
4th December, 1918.—Ecclesiastical Commissioners refused use of Mapesbury House for
purposes of a day open-air school.
8th August, 1918. -Education Act, 1918, passed making the education of physically defective
and epileptic children compulsory. (Sec. 20—In operation 1st April, 1920.)
8th September, 1919.—Report of Medical Officer on "'Special' Schools—Open Air School"
submitted under Circular 1119 of the Board of Education, dated 3rd July, 1919.
7th January, 1920.—Special Committee appointed to visit and report.
Selected "Special" Schools Visited.
A.—Day Opex Air Schools.
1. London—Birley House Day Open Air School—Forest Hill.—Visited 10th March, 1920.
Deputation:—Councillors W. M. Bolton, Mrs. Moore, and Dr. Buchan.
This school was established by the London County Council for 120 delicate children in 1908.
The conditions treated include anæmia, mal-nutrition, debility, enlarged glands. Children are also
sent here after operation for tonsils and adenoids and the like.
The school is in charge of a head master and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Winter, and
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Summer on five days a week and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
The children reach the school by public conveyance, the fares being paid by the Education
Authority.
The children receive three meals at the school, namely, breakfast, dinner and tea. The cost
of these meals is in part recovered.
The buildings consist of:—
(1) The previously existing house which is used for administrative purposes including
head master's room, Doctor's room and a kitchen; and
(2) A number of sheds of wood and felt roofing or canvas and felt roofing erected as
rooms and dining rooms and rest sheds. About ¾ of an acre of land are attached
to the school but this is too little.
The classes are mixed. Subjects are taught practically and as much teaching is done in the
open air as possible. The average duration of stay of the children at this school is one year, and
the head master reports that their health is greatly improved and that the educational methods in
vogue enable them to take a wider outlook and to realise the practical value of education.
2. London—Shooter's Hill Day Open Air School.—Visited 10th March, 1920. Deputation:—
Councillors W. M. Bolton, Mrs. Moore, and Dr. Buchan.
This school has been established by the London County Council for 100 delicate children,
and is in charge of a head master. The children reach the school on foot or by public conveyance,
the fares being paid by the Local Education Authority. It is situate on six acres of land, 3½ of which
are wooded. The buildings consist of a head teacher's room, a nurse's room, a tool shed, a clog
room, and a large bungalow with canvas sides and wood floor facing south. As much teaching as
possible is done in the open air, and the bungalow is only used in exceptional weather and for singing.
The teaching of the children is mainly practical; in fact all subjects are taught practically, if this
is at all possible. The bungalow is artificially heated only when the temperature falls below 40°
Fah., additional clothing being advocated instead. Clogs and jerseys are supplied, but only children
who are abundantly clothed and well shod are allowed to attend this school. The head teacher, who
conducted us round the school, laid stress on the increased mental alertness of the children after a
short attendance. The children receive three meals a day, prepared and served at Plum Lane school,
close by, where the children go at the appointed time. A proportion of the cost of meals is recovered.
3. Kettering—Day Open Air Schools—Visited llth March, 1920. Deputation:—Councillors
W. M. Bolton, Miss Royle, and Dr. Buchan.
These schools were opened in December, 1913, by the Kettering Urban District Local Education
Authority, which has a school population of about 5,000. The schools are for day scholars
only and are in charge of a head mistress. The buildings are of brick and slate, and were originally
erected for 20 tuberculous, 40 delicate, and 40 mentally defective children on about one acre of land.
On the occasion of our visit on 11th March, 1920, 118 children were in attendance. Recently an
additional acre of land adjoining the schools has been acquired, making two acres in all.
In connection with the Kettering open air recovery schools, it was noted that the phthisical
children were not kept apart from the delicate children, as there is no danger of infection in early
cases under open air conditions.