New-York tribune., 1910-04-08
MAY SLEEP IN THIS SCHOOL
"Jes' Complainin' " Pupils Have
Curriculum That's Sunshiny.


A school where a sleepy child may shut
his eyes and nap through whole lesson
n he likes. and the teacher. instead %
saying Tommy. wake up VIII be care
ful not 70 disturb hlrn-that school ought 20
be popular with the pupils. And u IS Y
has one or two other features which make
il popular not only with the children. bur
with educators and physicians For Il -
the open air class Just fnaugurated a.
Public School q. IN Mott street. the class
where anemic. frail. underfed children ara
going 70 be made strong By spending the
whole day IN the open afr
A funny class u looked when 70 assembled
yesterday with Miss Katherine Nolan az
the teachers desk. AL sizes the children
were. One was a tall fellow OF nearly
fourteen. studying cfvics and all kinds os
things; another n tot Just learning her let
ters They had Just one thing IN common
poCr health. Not that they we're sick. for
children with tuberculosis or any real dis
ease are not admitted. the scholars are
'Jes' complainin'." But John Doty. prfnci-
pal OF Public School q. SAYS that after a
few months OF this treatment they won't bs
"cOmplslnin' any more.
The room set apart for this class Is on
the second floor. overlooking the big school
people OF the neighbOrhood dance TO the
music OF a band That side OF the room
is all windows. and all day the sashes a-s
swung wide open. letting n all outdoors
as one boy said. Outside is a balcony
larger than the room.
Every day after luncheon We shall put
the seats out on the balcony. and have
the children spend the afternoon there
said Mr.. DOty. We're going 70 put an
awning Up TO keep on the rain and the
sunshine when it IS hot The sun streams
into the room all the morning. and ths
children win sit and bake their little backs.
II they get drOwsy and want % nap in tl1e
steamer chairs We won't stop them But
they'll learn a good deal. too. I ventUrs
20 predict that they wiz get on in rheir
studies quite as fast as the children in
the regular departments or the school
/ or course. owing to their various grades.
the twenty boys and girls i'm this class are
formed into different classes. but the teacher
gets all the recitations I'm without hurry.
and has plenty OF ught gymnastics for the
pupils. too They go our on the Balcony
for the gymnastics. The seats in the
/ schOOIrOOm are as various as the pupils
all sizes. 20 suit the different lengths ot
/ legs, and ali very couf0rtabIs. Reclining
seats are provided for the tired little ones
% rest in
AZ noon comes an important break
luncheon. This school IS one Of the two
where lunches are served 70 the children.
at ) cents a child. by the New York
School Committee Cf which Mss Mabel
bittredse IS head Tor this sum various
nOurishing dishes are served-Italian
dishes. mainly. as most os the pupils are
Italians The members or the open air
I class get a little more than the other chill
dren-they get some sort or a milk dessert
! after the main course
''11aInutrition." Nfr- D0ty said yesterday.
I IS frequently plain case Of the child not
\ wanting 20 eat Something must be dOns
70 make him hungry. A mother came %
Sc me a few days ago who was amply able
% feed her child. but the boy. shs said.
wouldn't eat We put him in the open air
class. and Z saw no trouble with his apps-
I tite at luncheon to-day.
"WlH a room OF this size accOmmOdats
/ all the anRnlic children IN this schooIc'
Mr.. Doty was asked.
"Oh, yes. In fact. I've taken IN sons
from other schools Il won't De necessary
10 keep the children here always. We ex-
I pect that after three months or so OF ,hs
/ open air treatment a child Will be quits
/ we'll. and can be taken OUR 20 make room
/ for another aneeuiC one
\ The school physician VIII keep close
watch OF these pupils weighing and meas
uring them frequently. II the experiment.
I is the success It is expected ro De. other
/ open air classes in other schools viii -
started w-h the $3.50 voted by the B0ard
Of Estimate last January for the purpose.
\ some OF this money viii be spent for wraps
\ 70 keep the chIdreu warm while they
/ study. Just what sort Of wrap VIII bs
most satisfactory has n0c been decided yer.
\ and. OF course. extra wraps are not needed
now as they win be when winter comes.