Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-12-11
THE SCHOOLS HELP.
Children Are Taught How to Pre-
vent Consur,p tjon

vent Consumption.
New York, Dec. AS result of the
great campaign against tuberculosis now
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 prevention of con-
sumption. A textbook entitled "Sim-
pie Lessons on tuberculosis or Consump-
ton" has just been placed in the seventh
and eighth grades of the District of Co
lumbia. The Massachusetts, educational
authorities, acting under a law of the
Legislature of 1908, are establishing
courses of instruction on tuberculosis in
all of the schools of the State In addi-
tion to these public movements many of
the private organizations throughout
the country have established, and are
establishing, open air schools for con-
sumptive Children it being estimated
that about two per cent of the pupils
In the larger city schools have tubercu-
losis.
The first public school for consumptive
and pre- consumptive children to be es-
ed 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 teach
ing and training of the public schools.
This experiment. led to other move.
ments, both public and private. The
Brooklne Anti-Tubercuosis Society
opened school for tuberculous children
4 in July which is still successfully con-
+ Quoted. H. Boston a school for con.
sumptives was opened under private aus
pieces in July, it being the intention to
keepit open for the summer months only
but so successful were the results of this
4 work that the city school authorities re-
4 Gently decided to take over the work and
4 set aside permanent building for this
4 purpose. In Pittsburg similar school
was opened in September, and the mark
ed benefits which the children have al
ready received from this training have
i led to its enlargement. The Board of
n Education of New York City has Just
i granted teacher to the Bellevue Hos
ptal Day Camp for the purpose of con.
Quoting school there, and cOnsump
tive teacher has been secured to teach
& the consumptiye children. This school
+ will be conducted OH 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 con
structed as to furnish unlimited supplies
of fresh air without draughts. Desks
blackboards and other paraphernalia are
provided in these schools just the same
as in the regular institutions. The chill
dren study and recite in the open air
even during the coolest weather, and tn,
percentage of colds among them is fa
smaller than children in the ordinary
public schools. In most Of these frest
air schools soapstones are provided TO
keeping the feet warm in cold weather
In addition to these specially conduct
ed schools several of the States have re-
quired that the important facts abou
tuberculosis be taught in the lowe
grades of the public institutions. Mich
igan was the first State to adopt meas
ures OF this kind By an act of 1895, thu
public schools are required to give in
struction on the nature OF tuberculosis
and other infectious diseases. III New
Jersey progressive steps are being takel
by teaching the children in the schools
set of aphorisms on consumption. II
Massachusetts section on the nature
dangers and prevention of consumption
is being inserted in all Of the physiol
ogies. In the District of Columbia
special book has been provided il
which instruction is given concernin
sleeping in the open air, the dangers c
splitting, the way to prevent consumI
ton, and other kindred topics. Dallas
Tex. is the latest city to adopt tn
method of teaching children about con
sumption in the schools, and within
few days Tuberculosis Primer" will +
in the hands of every pupil in the publ
schools. In North Carolina separat
section on tuberculosis placed in all tn
physiologies, is taught to all Of the chile
- rem. In Baltimore steps are being take
to carry out a systematic campaign {
. education among the school children b
means of lectures and circulars Man
other cities of the country are followin
art this plan. A petition has been sent
,v- the Governor of South Carolina reques
ing that textbook on tuberculosis
similar to that used in Washington,
n,s placed in the public schools. Several {
'us the other States are also taking steE
e , along similar lines.
Of This movement for the popular educ;
ton of school children on the causes an
Or dangers of consumption is receiving
raj great impetus, and experts on this SUI
& ject conclude that within five years ii
asst majority of children in the United Stat
TO will be taught concerning the evils an
be dangers of tuberculosis before they lea'
the lower grades of the public schools.
m