Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
SCHOOLS IN OPEN AIR
DR., McAIHSter'S Plan to Com
bat Tuberculosis.
HAVE STUDIES IN YARD
Keep Children Apart With Plenty
of Breathing Space.
TRIAL TO BE HAD IN CAMDEN
Awnings and Wire Netting May Be
Used for Roof Garden
School "Rooms."
HAVE STUDIES IN YARD
TRIAL TO BE HAD IN CAMDEN
Spcc!al Dispatch TO The Star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
PHILADELPHIA Pa, December 26-
Studies in the open air for school children
is the rather novel method advocated by
DIR. Alexander McAllister. an eminent
physician of Camden. for stamping out
tuberculosis. Already has he presented
his views bearing on this subject be-
fore the annual session of the American
Medical Association and various medl-
cal societies in New Jersey and Camden,
and in every instance his plan has met
with hearty approval A large number
of those who have the training of children
in charge have taken a decided interest
in the subject. and it seems probable there
will early be something done toward
practical test.
Having made a thorough study of tuber-
culosis. DR.. McAliSter is firmly convinced
that the great white p!aSue can De
effectively combatted by delivering the
Young from its inroads. building up
strong. healthy bodies and paying atten-
ton particularly during the stage of
adolescence
Il think it would be perfectly feasible
10 have the studies of the children take
place in the school yards. say from the
latter part of May to the close of the
summer session and then until well into
October" said the physician. discussing
More Years of Play.
1T is of vital Importance to separate
the weaker from the stronger children.
especially where there is a child whose
parents have transmitted a predisposition
to any disease. particularly tuberculosis.
In order to give the child the greatest
possible opportunity to breathe fresh,
pure air and the chance for physical
development. there must be other things
done besides merely teaching the young
TO breathe properly.
First the child of such predisposition
must have more years OF play chlid
should not go to school before the eighth
year. and throughout his after life he or
she should have more hours of sleep than
most children enjoy Child labor should
of course be done away with. as incom-
patible with the solution of the tuber-
culosis problem There should be more
Fairgrounds. With the help of good.
strong wire fencing and awning roof
garden could be utilized the greater part
of the year and for children of all ages.
"Children's school farms. such as are
conducted in New York, should be null
tiplied by all large and small cities. Such
a farm when located in a congested dis
trict. does both preventive and con-
structive work. The child predisposed to
disease. when he or she has an oppor-
tunity to spend the greater portion of the
day doing gardening work, learns to love
outdoor life and outdoor pursuits. This Is
naturally of the greatest advantage to
its future physical. welfare.
Importance Of Occupation.
After the child has gone through
school. and even when it has apparently
overcome it's predisposition to a trans
mitted disease, it is well to bear in mind
the possibility of a relapse into such a
condition through an unwise choice of
profession or calling. An occupation de-
manding sedentary life and exposing the
individual to the inhalation of Vitiated air
and to much organic and inorganic dust
is unsuited for any one who is or was
once predisposed to disease, especially
tuberculosis.
DIR. McAlister advocates the teaching OF
proper breathing and gymnastics. and es
pecially those relating to the development
of the chest. Many of his colleagues are
in thorough accord with his belief that
tuberculosis will never be. eradicated until
the work is begun at the bottom, with
the child, in the building up of healthy
bodies, strong enough to combat the dis
ease. Thus he considers the idea of open
air schools of vital Importance.