The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-03-11
FIRST FRESH AIR SCHOOL
PROVES SUCCESSFUL
It is at Providence, and Its Pupils Study
With Windows Wide Open.
BAGS USED TO PROTECT THEIR LEGS
Nearly All Showed Signs Of Consumption or Had
Parents With That Disease.

Providence, R. I.-While the ther.
mometer lowered in the vicinity o!
zero twenty girls and boys, pupils OF
the first fresh air school in this coun-
try, sat snugly and warmly wrapped
in their cotton bags in the old Meet
ing street school. They apparently
were as comfortable as the thousands
of pupils in the other schools in the
city, despite the fact that the temper
ature maintained in the DON was al
no time above forty-fve degrees.
The public school authorities are
enthusiastic over the success that the
fresh air school has achieved in two
weeks existence. At a meeting oil
the School Board Superintendent
Small reported that he was more than
pleased with the outlook, and eS'
pressed the opinion that the fresh air
school will be n of the most bench
cial public institutions this city ever
has had.
Already, he said, the children, liv.
ing practically all day in the cool
fresh air are beginning to show signs
Of improvement. Little faces that
were sallow and pinched two weeks
ago have a healthy flush, and chill
dren who were too tired to play are
beginning to show some interest in
life. All of this, Mr.. Small told the
School Board, is what the fresh air
school has accomplished.
Looks For Cures.
Mr.. Small expects to see the day
when at least three of his small pu.
pills who are now suffering with con.
sumption will have been cured.
The school was founded at the in
stigation of the League for the Sup
preston of tuberculosis, and it IL
primarily intended not only to fight
the spread of the white plague, but
also to teach the children the value
of fresh air as a health producer and
des oyer of the germs Of disease
school is under the direction
Of Mrs. Mary Appleton. The pupils
were selected from children who we're
suffering with some disease which
disqualified them from attending
other public schools. Each was sub
jected to a physical examination by a
physician before he or she was ad.
mitted. When their names were
placed on the roll-book they became
at once patients and pupils.
Ten children answered the roll on
the first day, but before the week
ended this number had been increased
to twenty. Some of them have at.
tended other schools, but others new.
er had been within the walls OF an IN.
stitution of that kind. Many or the
children showed signs Of consump'
ton; others have parents who lave
had that disease; others have tuber:
culosis Of the bones. One has heart
trouble.
Swinging Windows.
The schoolroom is on the second
floor of the building. The south side
of the room, facing on Meeting street,
is wide open to allow sunshine and
fresh air to enter. Five swinging
windows are caught up by means OF
a rope and pulleys and can be lowered
in case of rain or snow. They are SO
adjusted that, while fresh air is al.
ways circulating through the room
there Is at no time a Craught.
In order that as much protection as
possible may be given the children.
they are allowed to e their coats
and hats while in the schoolroom,
Their legs are encased in warm cotton
bags, which are drawn up as far as
the waist and then tied. If the child
feels cold, Notwithstanding this pro.
lection, the teacher gives him permits.
sion to sit by the stove. In case the
feet get cold despite the bag, soap
stone warmers are placed under them.