Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-22
SCHOOL ON THE ROOF
Pupils Given Benefit of Fresh
Air Treatment.
EXPERIMENT IN NEW YORK
Plan Designed for Prevention of
Tuberculosis.
MAYOR GAYNOR DEFIES PRESS
Hostile Attitude Manifested in Pub
lie Addresses-Big Railway
Terminal Costs $4,000, 900.
MAYOR GAYNOR DEFIES PRESS
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS
ial Correspondence OF The Star
t'6i,on0 Da,D-<1 IJ..tl


Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald
NEW YORK, January 20 1910
The latest step in the anti-tuberculosis
campaign is Open-air ClasSrooms In the
public schools Of New York for the ben
eft Of children with a tendency to that
disease. The experiment is being tried
in Public School No. 81. on East 42d
street. and is being watched with great
interest Eminent physicians suggested
the idea and are being consulted by the
members of the board of education and
the school officials. 1t IS a simple ar
rangement. consisting of schoolroom on
the roof. with shelter from rain and
snow. but no side walls
The benches and desks are placed in
rows. just the same as in an ordinary
schoolroom, and the pupils are furnished
with warm overcoats. caps, gloves, rugs
to wrap around their legs, and foot warm
ers, so that they can go on studying with
thermometer 10 degrees below zero. The
recitations take place indors, because
it has been found impossible on stormy
days to conduct them in the open; but
the children spend at least four OF the
six hours of the school day out Of doors
Selected by Examination.
The pupils are selected by examination
Every scholar in the 42d street school
was carefully inspected by a med cal
board. and all who showed pulmonary
weakness or incipient tuberculosis We're
sent aloft. The parents OF several Of
them demonstrated against what they
considered a cruel and unnecessary eX-
posture to the elements. but most Of them
were finally convinced that the arrange
ment was intended for the welfare of
their children. The conditions are not
entirely favorable, because the air in
that neighborhood Is polluted with smoke
from the chimneys of factories, hotels
and apartment houses; but there is no
better place available for the experiment.
and if 1t Is successful similar open-air
classes Will be provided in the other
schools.
A society Of benevolent women in New
York is establishing soup kitchens in the
Easements OF several schoolhouses, and
perhaps their philanthropy may furnish a
useful suggestion for the kind-hearted
people of other cities. 1t Is becoming
more and more apparent to public school
officials that 1t Is a waste of time, trouble
and money to try to teach hungry
child, and that the mind cannot perform
its functions properly unless the body is
nourished. In several cities school chill
dren are furnished with a warm meal at
noon free of charge, but those who have
require them to pay a trif1e for 1t, and
very few families in these prosperous
times are unable to do SO.
Society Furnishes Soup.
The women OF the School Luncheon
Society of New York furnish large
bowl of nourishing soup. with generous
slice of bread without butter, for 3 cents.
Those who want something more can
have a cup oc chocolate and milk for 1
cent, and a dish of prunes and a cake
for the same price. Just before the noon
bell rings the soup is ready, and the
marching in single file. pass the
cashier. to whom they give their pennies.
to a table where they help themselves to
tin soup plates and spoons. They take
their turns at the cauldron of soup, and
then pass on by the bread table. where
they help themselves. Then they are
free to go where they like, benches being
placed around the rooms for their use.
The teachers say that the children who
patronze the soup kitchen are in much
better condition mentally, as we'll as phys
ically. for the afternoon work than those
who do not.