Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1910 — OPEN-AIR SCHOPLS SUCCESSFUL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OPEN-AIR SCHOPLS SUCCESSFUL

P UBLIC schools conducted In' ths open air I summer and winter have been a success In I a number of cities olt the United States as well as in Europe, according to Elnorp Whitman Curtis, holder of the degree of master of arts and an honorary fellow of Clark University, who gives in the Amer-

ican City Magazine a description of suck schools. In the United States open-air, schools untty lately have ■existed only in two cities. Providence established its school some two years ago, and Boston followed about * year ago. The more prominent cities to try the method are Chicago, Pittsburg, Rochester and Hartford. Concerning the Providence experiment the writer •ays: “About two years ago an old city schoolhouse was Temodeled by removing a portion of one side of its upper story so that considerable exposure to sun aafi hlf was effected. Adjustable windows that can be lowered were provided, but the idea is to so harden children to weather conditions that this would be seldom necessary. The room Is heated during the winter by two stoves, which temper the air slightly so that it averages 10 degrees or so warmer than that outside. These stoves •re used also for cooking purposes and for hfatlpgffie soapstones that form part of the school equipment. “The children sit in their outside clothing, over which are drawn heavy oanvas bags, which protect the lower part of their bodies and extend up over this backs of the chairs. The desks upon movable pla(foiyns are placed opposite the wide opening, so that the children

face away .from the light with .their backs exposed te the sun and air. The number .of pupils is limited to, twenty-five, and the studies are those of, the usual un-' graded school. Health cards are kept for. each child, and the school physician makes regular visits, looking after the needs of individual cases. Children hawe' made good progress physically, and have been able to keep up most satisfactorily in their studies, so that the school may. be counted an unqualified success. It is a part of the -regular school system, though run in connection with the local Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis, through whose efforts it was established.” In contrast to the Providence school is that in Boston, started at the beginning of the last school year and run by the city in conjunction with the Society for the Relief and Control of Tuberculosis. Here twenty children study and play; they undergo medical examination and records are kept showing their weights and meaaurements. No soapstones or stoves are provided, but canvas bags are used. / On the general results of the 'experiments made the writer says: "Such experience with defectives cannot but point to broader conclusions as to the care and edu cation of children In general. That dello&te and backward children can accomplish in far less, sometimes in half, the time the task of ordinary school children, raises the question as to whether similar methods in elementary school instruction might not be adopted to the benefit of all school children. On the grounds of social hygiene, alone, then, outdoor schools would' seem justifiable. On the pedagogical side they are a revelation.”