Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-02-29
FRESH AIR SCHOOL,
Marked Success of First One Is.
tabIiShed In United States.
WINDOWS KEPT WIDE OPEN.


at Providence Showed Signs ct 1u-
berculosis or Had cOnsumptivO Par
ents-Warm Cotton Bags For Legs.
While the Thermometer lowered In
the vicinity OF zero q few days age
twenty girls and boys, pupils Of the
hrst fresh air school In the United
States, sat snugly and warmly wrap
ped In their cotton hAgs in the old
Meeting street school st Providence,
r. I. They apparently were a. COM
Portable as the thousands o. pupils In
the other schools in the city despite
the fact that the temperature maintain
ed In the room was at no time above
46 degrees.
The public school authorities are en-
thusiastic over the success that the
fresh air school has achieved In few
weeks existence. At meeting Of the
school board Superintendent Small re-
ported that he was more than pleased
with the outlook and expressed the
opinion that the fresh air school will
be one Of the most beneficial public in
situations Providence ever has had.
Already, he said, the children, living
practically all day in the cool, fresh
air. are beginning to show signs Of i'm
provement. Little faces that were
sallow and pinched a few weeks ago
have healthy flush, and children 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 accom-
plished.
Mr.. Small expects to see the day
when at least three of his small pupils
who are now suffering with consump-
ton will have been cured.
The school was founded at the insti-
CATION of the League For the Suppress
sion Of tuberculosis, and It is primari-
~ intended not only to fight the spread
Of the white plague, but also to teach
the children the value Of fresh air as q
health producer and destroyer OF the
germs of disease
The school is under the direction Of
Mrs. Mary Appleton. The pupils were
selected from children who were suf-
fering with some disease which dis
qualified them from attending other
public schools. Each was subjected to
a physical examination by a physician
before he or she was admitted. 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 end
ed this number had been increased to
twenty. Some Of them have attended
other schools, but others never had
been within the walls of an institution
of that kind. Many of the children
showed signs of consumption; others
have parents who have had that dis
ease; others have tuberculosis Of the
bones. One has heart trouble.
A record of the condition of the chill
dren is taken from time to time, and
such suggestions as the doctors may
think necessary for the improv ement
of their health are carried out by the
teachers.
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 win
dows 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 draft.
The furniture in the room is of the
same kind as is used in the other pub
lie school buildings. The room is heat
ed by a big round stove in the center.
In order that as much protection as
possible may be given the children
they are allowed to wear their coats
and hats while in the schoolroom.
Their legs are incased in warm cotton
bags, which are drawn up as far as
the waist and then tied. If the child
feels cold Notwithstanding this protec-
ton, the teacher gives him permission
to sit by the stove. In case the feet
get cold despite the bag, soapstone
warmers are placed under them.
For the rest, the scholars are in
structed in the studies that are taught
in other public schools. The sessions
are from to 11:45 a. M. and from
12:45 to p. m.