Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-09
CHILDREN
AID IN The FIGHT

the great campaign against tubercu-
losis now being carried on through
out the world. many of the public
schools in the United States are TAX
ing a new departure in teaching TO
the children the nature. causes. dan
gers and prevention of consumption.
A textbook entitled Simple Lessons
on tuberculosis or Consumption has
Just been placed in the seventh and
eighth grades OF the District OF Column
bia. The Massachusetts educational
authorities, acting under law of the
Legislature OF 1908. are establishing
courses of instructions on tuberculosis
in all Of the State. In addition to
these public movements many of the
private organizations thrOugout the
country have established. and are es-
tabl:shing. open-air schools for con-
sumptive children it being estimated
that about two per cent. of the pupils
in the larger city schools have tuber'
culosis.
The first pubic school for consump'
tive and preconsumptive children TO
be established in the United States
was opened in Providence, r. l.. last
January. The sessions were held en-
tirely in the open. and the dement's OF
the fresh-air treatment were conmtin.
ed with the teaching and training OF
the pubic schools.
This experime mt led to other move
ments both public and private. The
Brooklire Anti-Tuberculosis Society
opened school for tuberculous chit
dren in July which is still successfully
conducted In Boston a school for con-
sumptives was opened under private
auspices in July. 1t being the inten-
ton to keep it open for the summer
months only. but SO successful were
the results OF this work that the city
school authorities recently decided to
take over the work and set aside
permanent building for this purpose.
In Pittsburg a similar school was
opened in September. and the marked
benefits which the children fave al
ready received from this training have
led to its enlargement. The Board OF
Education of New York City has just
granted a teacher to the Bellevue Hos
pital Day Camp for the purpose OF
conducting a school there, and con-
sumptye teacher has been secured to
teach the consumptive children. This
school will be conducted on the deck
of an old ferry-boat In all OF these
schools the children are kept In the
open air all day long. Most OF the
, buildings used are opened on three
sides and are so constructed as to fur
Fish unlimited supplies OF fresh ar
without draughts. Desks, blackboards
end other paraphernalia are provided
in these schoolh just the same as In
the regular Institutions. The children
study and rec'te in the open air. even
, during the coolest weather. and the
percentage of colds among them Is
! far smaller than children IN the Ordi-
nary public schools In most Of these
, fresh-air schools soapstones are pro,
vided for keeping the feet warm N
! cold weather.
! In addition to these specially con.
Quoted schools several Of the States
, have required that the important fac1s
about tuberculosis he taught in tine
lower grades Of the public institu
tjons. iNichiean was the first State 10
ADOPT measures Of this kind. BY an
act Of 1895, the public schools are re-
! qgired 70 give instructions on the ma
ture Of tuberculosis and other infec
! tious diseases. in New Jersey pro
sressiye steps are being taken BY
/ teaching the children In the schools
a set Of aphorisms on consumption
In Massachusetts q section on the na
ture. dangers and prevention OF con,
sumption. Is being inserted in all Of
the physiolog'cs In the District Of
Columbia a special textbook has beer
provided in which instruction Is given
concerning sleeping in the open air
the dangers Of spitt'ag.. the way 70
prevent consumption. and other kindred
topics. Dallas. Tex. IL the latest city
TO adopt the method Of teaching chill
dren about consumption in tht
schools. and within . few DAYS
tuberculosis Primer Win be IN IN
hands OF every pupil in the public
schools. In North Caro'ina sepa
rate section on tuberculosis. place.
l. San0hf n