Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-02-03
OPEN AIR SCHOOL
PLAN SPREADING
OUTDOOR CLASSES FOR NORMAL
As WELL AS TusERcuLAR
CHILDREN MULTIPLY
German Educators Adopt Plan First
to Solve Problems.

German Educators Adopt Plan Fret
to Solve Problems.
There seems to be a general agree
ment that open air schools for enae'
mic and tubercular children estab-
ushed In various cities during the
last few years have met with suc-
cess, and at present, a movement is
ON foot to extend the open air meth
ods to the instruction Of normal
children.
What has proved beneficial in build
ing up the health OF the sickly pupil
It is argued, will be equally benefi-
cial in keeping the normal child well
and strong. With this plea in view
school buildings have been recon.
structed and teaching systems rear
ranged in Chicago New York and in
kindergartens throughout the middle
west. The grow,h of the movement
and its effect upon the health and ed
ucational development OF the pupil are
described by a writer in the Century.
The open air school idea originated
at Charlottenburg, Germany, eleven
years ago.
Finding certain pupils backward in
study and not physically robust,
school authorities conceived the idea
that there was connection between
the two conditions. The sickly chill
dren were isolated and housed in rude
sheds, open on one, two and three
sides. The motive was primarily to
build up the health OF the children
and formal instruction was limited to
short periods between times OF ply
sicaI recreation. Tho actual study per-
tod covered stretch OF only two
hours and the rest of the day was
given over to teaching the children to
observe and use their powers OF reas-
oning and adaptation through actual
contact with the rcoblems OF life in
the garden. field anl woods
TNne. r;q'''r,r':r ',ns taught by lay.
IL nAH g.,.,.:.S -. wn king out con
c'"ie "tH' a. pie "a ~ IA Ing and
L. dag -" pu., '., ,iir"ed nm iiu
pro, enient m budii health and wyrr.
In some cases, entirely cured of incip
fall back in their studies, but were
easily able 90 rejoin their classmates
in the regular schools. although they
had spent less than half as much time
in school work
One of the first experiments of the
kind in the United States for normal
children was u.i rtalien six years
ago by the Graham school. Chicago.
This resulted in TIA reconstruction OF
a large and mode II high school in
Chicago. where. it is said the free
admission of air has raised the stand
ard of scholarship 80 per cent, while
expenses Tor light ana fuel were re-
duced $4,000
In New York the open air schools
have gained Il firm foothold. There
are now over n hundrcd OF them
scattered over Manhattan and Brook
iyn, the most of which have been es
tablished in the last three years. One
teacher writes: For the last few
years | have been troubled with ton.
silitis. This year not al all. The
effect of some OF the children has
been very marked. \ few of my
children were OUT Il great deal last
year on account of colds and coughs.
Very rarely have the children had
colds this year in i've same class"
Much the same testimony comes
from other teachers. There are fewer
abseniees. and the children are bright
or and morc responsive. 1t seems 10
be fairly we'll established, also, that
the pupils ;n the open air schools ad
vance more rapidly in study. Mr..
Watts of the Graham school found
that, in many cases classes were
ready for promotion in half the usual
time. discipline WAS more easily
maintained.
In many of the schools efforts are
made to keep the children ont OF
doors altogether. and classes are hclG
in the parks and woods, and in con,
gested districts on roof tops. In most
Of the schools emphasis is placed OH
practical training in handicraft, gar
dening. etc, and provision Is made
for systematic physical exercise be
tween recilations. Care, OF course
must he exercised in transferring chill
dren from ordinary closed school
rooms To exposed rooms or the open
Indianapolis News.