The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-16
CHILDREN THRIVE IN
OUTDOOR STUDIES
Royal Botanical Gardens Are
Scene of Daily Glasses
for Little Ones.
Special Correspondence to TuH srN.

Special Correspondence to THB SrS
LONDON, June 3O.-visitors to the
Royal Botanical Gardens in London
these days will find little groups OF
children sitting at their lessons under
the trees. They do not sit long. for the
classes last only fifteen or twenty min
utes each and then there Is a change
OF interest. The children go into the
museum for musical French games or
scamper off to the little gardens where
they grow flowers and vegetables. or
they have sand" geography lesson,
making maps and plans OF the gardens.
The day is all too short for them there
is none of the peevishness that makes
teaching such hard work for those who
have charge of children. They are not
easily disturbed by visitors or outside
interests. for they live their school life
in an atmosphere of pleasant sounds,
the rustling OF trees and the humming
Of bees in their own little corner Of the
grounds.
There are about fifty children, and
their ages range from four to nine. So
far from the open air school retarding
the acquisition of knowledge, 1t has
been found that the children. when they
leave for preparatory schools. often
take their places in higher classes than
other children Of their years, The hab-
Its of concentration learned in the short
classes OF the open air school stand
them in good stead.
No sickness Interfering.
Above all they profit from the fact
that at open air schools there are no
measles. humps. scarlet fever or other
familiar elements which are so prevalent
In other academies" Anyone who
has taught indoors and watched the at
tention of the youngsters waning as
they tire in the cooped up atmosphere
of the ordinary school would be sur
prised at the different attitude toward
teachers and subject that learning out
of doors engenders. -.. ne.
Most Of the little ones who 60 to
school In the Botanical Gardens are the
children of Harley street and wimpolc
street Doctors and others have be-
come convinced of the advantages of
open air teachers The school owes It's
origin TO the wife OF a WimOole street
doctor--herself also doctor--whO.
when her children were old enough for
school. was dissatisfied at the STIFFNESS
OF most children's schools and appealed
to an enterprising educatlonalist to
start open air classes.
The woman to whom she appealed
said she would do so II enough pupils
were forthcoming. SO from among her
medical and other friends she collected
ten or twelve children. and a start was
made six years ago. The pioneer children
have since gone to preparatory schools.
having reached the age limit set, and
others come earn year in increasing
numbers TO take their places.
Want More Outdoor schools.
Many parents who are not living
within easy reach OF the gardens are
eager to have similar schools started
near them. but there are difficulties in
securing the right place. At the gardens
the school has the use of the ballroom
for the winter and wet days, and the
children come with plenty of wraps
for the short classes in which they
have 10 sit at work, but they never
seem to mind snow or cold. as they
quickly get warm when they go outside
for games and nature study.
The school hours are from $3.50 to
IL 80, except for the youngest children.
who are left by their nurses for about
an hour and half and then taken
away. In the winter the nurses gem
orally retire into the hothouses while
they are waiting for their charges.
So fond are the children of their
school that they even come on birth
days and, as birthday treat, ask that
the school may last longer. n similar
school was started in Kenrlngton Gar
dens, but 1t had TO be given up for ok
OF shelter on wet days Among pro-
gressive mothers there is a growing de-
mand for more outdoor life for the
town child, and many are dreadinE the
prospect of having to send their children
to the ordinary school Yet those who
could help in such ventures-which are
not unremunerative--are not enterpris-
Ing enough to do SO,