The midland journal., 1908-12-11
Schools Aid In consumption Floht.

As q result of the great campaign
against tuberculosis nov being carried on
Throughout the world, many Of the public
schools in the United States are taking
new departure in teaching to the children
the nature. causes. dangers and pre-.
vention Of consumption. A textbook
entitled Simple Lessons on Tuberculosis
or Consumption" has just been placed in
the seventh and eight grades of the Dis
trict of Columbia: The Massachusetts
educational authorities. acting under
law of the Legislature of 1908, are es.
tablishing courses OF instruction on tuber.
culosis m all OF the schools Of the State.
In addition to these public movements
many ofthe private organizations through
out the country have established, and are
establishing, open. air schools for con.
sumptive children. il being estimated that
about two per cent of the pupils in the
larger city schools have tuberculosis.
The first public school for consumptive
and pre-consumptive children to be es.
tablished in the United Stated was opened
IN Providence, r. l., last January. The
sessions were held entirely in the open,
and the benefits of the fresh air treatment
were combined with the teaching and
training Of the public schools.
This experiment led to other move.
ments. both public and private. The
Brookline Anti Tuberculosis Society
opened school for tuberculous children
10 July which is still successfully con
Quoted. In Boston a school for con.
sumptives was opened under private
auspices in July, il being the intention to
keep it open for the summer months
only. but so successful were the results of
this work that the city authorities recent.
ly decided to take over the work and sci
aside permanent building for this pur-
pose. In Pittsburg similar school was
opened in September, and the marked
benefits which the children have already
received from this training have led to
its enlargement. The Board of Edu.
cation Of New York City has just granted
a teacher to the Bellevue Hospital Day
Camp for the purpose of conducting
school there, and consumptive teacher
has been secured to teach the consump.
tive children. This school will be con
Quoted on the deck of an old ferryboat.
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 furnish
unlimited supplies of fresh air without
dranghts. Desks, black boards and other
iparaphernalia are provided in these
schools just the same as in regular in
stitutions. The children study and recite
in the open air. even during the coldest
weather. and the percentage of colds
among them is far smaller than children
10 the ordinary public schools. in most
of these fresh air schools soapstones are
provided for keeping the feet warm in
cold weather.
In addition tothese specially conduct.
ed schools several Of the States have re-
quired that the important facts about
tuberculosis be taught in the lower grades
of the public Institutions.
In Baltimore steps are being taken 10
carry on systematic campaign Of edu.
cation among the school children by
means of lectures and circulars. Many
other cities of the country are following
this plan.