West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-02-27
FRESH AIR SCHOOL,
Marked Success of First One ES-
tabIlshed In United States.
WINDOWS KEPT WIDE OPEN.

Nearly All Of Twenty Pupils Studyinn
at Providence Showed Signs OF Tu-
bereulosis or Had conaumptive Par.
ents-Warm Cotton Baas For Legs
White the thermometer hoverod In
twenty girls and boys, pupils OF the
FIRST fresh mir school I'm the United
states. s;rt snugly and warmly wrap
ped In their cotton bags i'm tho old
Meeting street school mt Providence,
r. !. They apparently We're as com
Portable as the thousands OF pupils I'm
the other schools In the city despite
the fact that the temperature maintain
eel In the room was at no time above
10 degrees.
The public school authorities are en-.
thusiastic over the success that the
fresh air school has achieved i'm few
weeks existence. At a 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 viii
bc one OF the most beneficial public In
stitutions Providence ever has had
Already, he said the children, living
practically all day I'm the cool fresh
air. arc beginning TO show signs of Inn
provement Little faces that were
snllow and plnchcd few weeks ago
have healthy fush, 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-
plishcd.
Mr.. Small. expects TO see the day
when mt least three OF his small pupils
who are now suffering with consump-
tlon Will have been cured
The school was founded at the insti-
CATION of the League For the suppress
sion OF Tuberculosis, and 70 a. prlmarl-
ly intended not only 10 fight the spread
of the white plague, but also To teach
the children the value of fresh uir Ms a
health producer aud destroyer of the
germs of disease.
The school Is under the direction of
Mrs. Mary Appleton. The pupils were
selected from children who we're suf-
ferlng with some disease which dis.
qualified them from attending other
public schools Each was subjected 10
physical examination by 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 irst day, but before the week end
cd this number had been increased to
twenty Some OF them hayc attended
other schools. but others never had
been within the walls of au 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
drcn is taken from time To- time, and
such suggestions as the doctors may
think necessary for the Improvement
OF their health are carried ont 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 10 allow sunshine nul
fresh mir TO enter Five swinging win.
dows are caught mp by means OF u
rope and pulleys and can be- lowered
In case or rain or snow They are so
adjusted that. whilc fresh air IS al-
ways circulating through tho room.
there Is ut no time n draft.
The furniture in the room Us Of the
same Kind as Is used In tho other pub
lie school buildings. The room is heat
cd by big round stove in the center.
In order that as much protection rs
possible may be- given the children
they arc allowed tC wear their coats
ana hats while IN the schoolroom.
Their legs are lncascd in warm cotton
bags. which are drawn up as far as
the waist nnd then tied. ff tie child
feels cold Notwithstanding this protec-
ton, the teacher gives him permission
10 sit By the stove. In case the feet
get cold despite the bag. soapstonc
warmers are placed under them.
For ihc rest, the scholars are i1-
structed in tIc studies that are taught
In other public schools Tho sessions
are from . 10 113j a. m. and from
l245 TO 3 p. m.