El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-26
OUT Of DOORS
SCHOOLS Do
MUCH GOOD
Experiment Proves a Pro-
nounced Success and Pro
notes Health of Children.
CHILDREN ARE FED
DURING SCHOOL HOUR

UU RlNG SCdOOL dOUh
Washington, D. c., Aug. 2s.-Outside
Of the regular common schools provid-
ed for the normal child, provision must
be made for the children who. because
OF some unusual condition. are prevent
ed from receiving the benefit OF an
being provided for their training. there
are each year a large number OF chill
dren who would become public charges,
when by judicious instructions along
special lines they may be helped to be-
come self-supporting and independent
eltizens. Therefore. the economic VAL
ue of special education is apparent.
Education for the defective formerly
was provided chiefly to the blind and
deaf, a little later it came to include
the feeble minded and then broadened
so as to take in the morally defective
or delinquent child A new need has
how been recognized in making pro-
vision for the child, who may be said
TO be of defective physique. although
each OF the five senses is entirely nor
NAL For this last class the openair
school has just been called into play
with results LlaL are most kIdlAt1nS
The Open Air School.
While the anti-tuberculosis crusade
Is responsible in part for the develop
ment OF the open air school. 1T must
not be supposed that all OF the chill
dren attending these schools have tu-
bercular symptoms. A much larger
percentage of them are suffering from
anemia, mal-nutrition or are GONZALES
cling from illnesses. After few weeks
attendance upon the open air school
many Of these children improve suffi-
GENTLY to take up their work in the
regular school
The open air school may be said to
be the newest wrinkle" in public edu-
cation The first Of these institutions
was opened in Providence. Rhode ISL
and, in 1908. A brick school house In the
central part Of the city, no longer oc-
cupied for school purposes, was taken
for the experiment In a room on the
second floor q part Of the southern
wall was removed, thus creating room
with three sides closed and the fourth
open Windows were substituted for
the wall removed These extend from
near the floor to the ceiling with
pulley arrangement SO that the lower
ends may be raised to the ceiling The
desks were placed in front of an open
fire and the children receive the light
over their shoulders These desks oc-
cupy about half Of the room. In the
other half are two stoves. a large old
fashioned cylinder stove for heating
purposes and g modern kitchen range
for cooking If the day is cold, the
children, upon their arrival, get out the
blanket bags IN which they sit at their
desks When necessary. soapstone
foot warmers are provided The big
stove so tempers the atmosphere that
the temperature falls below freezing
point. Besides the blanket bags. the
children are provided with low felt
shoes. as their own shoes are apt to
he damp. and also because 1t was
found that the heat from the foot
warmer tended to destroy leather
shoes. This school started with an un-
graded class of 10, which was very
coon Increased to rs pupils
Soup and Lunch.
The children arrive at 9 o'clock and
have q recess at 1890, when they are
given hot soup AT u o'clock they take
seats around a table for lunch This
lunch consists OF hot pudding, such as
tapioca or rice, served with cream
and chocolate or cocoa made entirely
from milk. Many OF the children also
bring food from home. potatoes, chops
eggs or bits OF steak. which are added
70 the lunch. the teacher doing all the
cooking Details OF the children take
turns washing the dishes each week,
20 well as serving and setting the Ia
HE Those not so engaged. go out TO
the ward and play until the school as
eembles again at 1 o'clock
Cleanliness Required.
Before eating each child must thor
oughly scrub his hands, wash his face
and comb his hair. After eating, ne
must clean his teeth Every child is
taught the necessity of an individual
drinking cup and tooth brush School
e. dismissed at 1880 o'clock While the
Providence open air school is part OF
.be city school system, the League for
The Suppression of Tueberculosis still
aids il by defraying the cost OF the
food and supplying car tickets TO chill
dren who come from distance.
New York first opened an open air
school on board the ferry boat. Smith
field. 1t was so successful that three
other ferry boats were brought into
service and another open air school
was established on the roof OF a
building An appropriation OF sesVo
recently has been made for the open
air schools in New York, and they are
being established as nearly as possible
20 comply with the demand shown by
the reports of the medical inspector
other cities have fallen into line, SO
that there are now nearly 100 open air
schools in the United States, represent
.ag at least % cities The fresh air
schools will provide for not more than
% pupils and their work will be large
w dependent upon their teachers
There will be a chance for each child
TO receive individual attention. In
several of these schools, especially
those on the ferry boats. touches are
provided and each child is required to
take an hours rest after exercising.
Children Are Studied
In all the schools the most rigid at
tentfon is given to the physical con-
diffon Of each child, and q record
made Of each changing symptom The
children are weighed regularly and a
record kept of their gains. Children
who acquire normal physical health
will be returned to the regular schools
By order OF the medical inspector. The
children themselves enjoy the open al
schools and are sorry to leave them.
In Chicago last year. these schools
were kept open during the Christmas
CONTINUED on Page Three.)