The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-03-31
AIDING SICK CHILD
chicagoan Pleads for 0pen-Win.
dow Schools.
Sherman c. Kingsley. Superintendent
Of chicaeo's Charities, Tells Of Re-
suits in Windy city-euIid-
ines Needed.

Mobile. Ala.-Chicago's attempt to
solve the problem of the tubercular
and anaemic child by establishing
open.air schools and open window
and low temperature rooms in the pub
lie school buildings was highly COM
mended by Sherman c. Kingsley. SUI
perintendent of the United Charities
of Chicago. in an address on open
Air Schools" before the department Of
superintendent of the National Edu.
cation association the other day.
Mr.. Kingsley said Chicago was los
ing 1000 persons a year from tubercu.
losis and that investigation showed
% per cent to 80 per cent of the chill
dren in such families to be infected.
There are probably 100000 such chill
dren in the United States.
1T is commonly agreed" he said.
that the usual school regime is not
adapted TO the needs OF children at
such pronounced physical disability.
Three years ago there was not sim
gle place in this country where such
children could receive free care and
schooling. Today there are only
twenty-seven schools where 5000 are
needed. The great point, however, Is
to assure all the 100000 school
children in the United States their
share OF the fresh air. Then the
problems of smoke nuisance, bad air
in theaters. churches. street cars, and
trains will be on the high road to So
luton. for public opinion will demand
and get better ventilation.
The expense in the open air schools
incurred on account of food. clothing.
special attendants. and usually the
building. is borne by some private
agency. The average cost for such
schools, exclusive of the original cost
of special equipment. is from 20 cents
to 25 cents per school day per child.
In the open window room any extra
expense for food. clothing. attendants,
and cost OF special equipment Is also
borne by some private agency. The
school board, | think, In every in
stance. has supplied the teacher and
all school equipment and supervision.
The regime for the open-window
room. at least in Chicago. has not
been standardized yet. but think all
will agree that there should be care
full medical inspection in selecting
the children. that their temperatures
should be taken. that the home condi.
tons of the children should be
known and made suitable IL possible,
and that the services of a nurse or
attendant to supplement the teachers
work by taking care of, feeding. wrap
ping the children up when they are
lying down. helping to remove wet
clothing. etc. should be a part of the
scheme.
Chicago also is planning to have
three or four rooms where children
still more normal are taken care Of.
and where IT is hoped that the only
addition to the usual school regime
will be more careful and detailed
medical inspection. These will prob
ably be known as low temperature
rooms. but I; is distinctly to be un.
derstood that low temperature in this
case is synonymous with fresh air.
Now, as to the results: The uni.
versal testimony of these open air
schools is that the children gain in
weight. that temperatures are reduced,
that listless children become alert
and attentive and that there is a
marked change I'm the mental grasp
OF the children. In the Elizabeth
Mccormick open-air school there was
an average gain of over four pounds
All of the children made one grade,
although there was one-third less
time spent on the school work. three
of them made two grades and one
made three"