- - i WifW i I
THE open-air plan school originat
ed In Germany, a little leas than
ten years' ago. Since that time
the world-wide movement tor open and
outdoor schoolrooms has gone forward
by such steps that It is now one of
the most Interesting of the present
day sciences. The old slogan, "Fit the
child to the school," has been punc
tured and riddled so that it now looks
unsightly, and In its place has arisen
the saner and more scientific cry, "Fit
tne school to the child." Every trial
has been an undoubted success.
Sickly children who never before even
dreamed of acquiring an education are
now finding conditions in which they
can not only study, but in which they
can at the same time improve and in
some cases regain their health. Lag
gards and- dull students who had be
trun to despair of ever making up the
classes which they had wasted or lost
are rejoicing In the new and interest
ing schedules of work and play, and
are setting to their tasks with a will.
while students who have always been
perfectly normal. Instilled with sun
light and oxygen, are rushing on to
the acquisition of further laurels. In
fact, this' new system has been so sue
eessfuL especially in the cure of chll
dren who have tuberculosis, that a plan
Is now on foot to have the old and
discarded battleships of Uncle Sam's
Navy turned Into open-air sanatorium
schools. ' -
Victory for the Flan.
After moat careful and rigid, expert
Xnent this modern system of open-air
schooling lias com out of the test
wreathed In victory. Tet It Is not al
together a" new Idea. Going back to
the times of the ancients, we find
Aristotle In his gardens, - walking
among his pupls and delivering to
them his principle of logla in nature's
own ampi theater, and Plato, probably
standing on barrels or the Grecian
equivalent for them. In the streets of
Athens, addressing the - passers-by.
Tracing the processes of dispensing
knowledge down through the ages, we
sear very little of schoolrooms until
after the world had begun to come out
of its long sleep of the Dark Ages.
Then the idea of gathering the chil
dren around some master's chair with
in four walls began to come into prom
inence. The youngsters with the wild
blood of youth flowing In their veins,
were herded Into closed-up classrooms,
where so much dry knowledge was
paid out to them. This system, had Its
advantages, but there was no reason
. why it should be the only system on
the face of the earth. :
Tet it came to be so fixed a fact that
when the question of educating chil
dren who were physically unfit to
study within doors arose, the only an
swer that the economists of the last
century could give was either to make
the -children suffer the ravages of in
door life, or else give p all hopes of
being educated.
First Ezperlmeat In Germany.
Necessity, however, proved In this
case, as In others, the mother of Inven
tion. When, lately, state legislation
began to impose on all children the ob
ligation of going to school, some means
had to bs resurrected to accommodate
the sub-normal child. Then the first ex
periment of open-air schools for sickly
children was begun. Germany, as usual,
was found master of the situation, and
came into the foreground with its '
little forest school at Charlottenburg, a
small suburb of Berlin. The reports
from this school soon spread through
out the empire and were so startling.
JJj'oti W'-r,;,- iij .
that similar institutions seemed - to
spring up overnight all over the land.
England was the next to fall In line
with the move, and in 1907 opened its
fresh-air school at the little hamlet of
Bostall Wood, near London.
Switzerland and France quickly fol
lowed her example, and in 1908 the City
sf Providence, R. I., started the first
open-air school In the United States.
Since that time they have been estab
lished in such rapid succession that
there are now over 200 in America,
located in more than 30 different cities
The Germans designated the first of
these institutions by the term, "open
air recovery schools," since they, were
originally Intended to accommodate
pale and sickly children,' such as those
suffering from anaemia, tuberculosis
and other diseases that made it dan
gerous to pen the children in walled-up
classrooms. To the child that is physi
cally subnormal these closed-up rooms
in which foul air from the breath and
bodies of his classmates Is .almost
forced down his lungs, while the pure
air and sunshine are barred outside
his prison walls, are like so many dark
dungeon cells. , -
His fellow-students may be suffer
lng from all sorts of ailments, and he i.
compelled to breathe the air passed out
through tubercular lungs and from sour
stomachs and mouths In which the
teeth are half rotted away. Something
had to be done to relieve, this poison
ous condition of affairs, and the open
air school was the only solution of the
difficulty.. , v . . ;
Benefits Are . General. .
Once' the Ice was . broken and the
fresh-air campaign started, it was not
difficult to find fields In which it could
extend Its scope. Not only were dis
eased children benefited, but those who
were suffering from general debility
and loss of weight were found to im
prove and bllding up strong, sturdy
constitutions, under their new environ..
ments,. Instead of lingering on in their
former half-dead state.
It is a old story of tracing the bulk
of our criminal records back to un
healthy conditions of childhood ' and
poor education. And here is another
point In which the open-air school sys
tem has proved its worth. "
Children who were under the old
methods laggards and truants naturally
take a ' liking to the - new outdoor
schools, with their Tevlsed and more
entertaining schedule of study, and In
stead of trying to shirk school they
are anxious to attend. The reports of
every, outdoor school how established
show that from the beginning chil
dren who were sent to them because
of their ' incorrigibility are - making
marked and rapid progress. ' Besides,
there is little grading done in these
institutions, and students who are nat
urally dull do not find reason for dis
couragement in the loss of their classes,
since each child Is given the oppor
tunity to make up any matte in which
he has fallen behind.
. Good rl Starts Day.
The hovel schedule of study employed
under the new regime is very interest
ing Of course, every . school make
un Its own .course, but since they are
all founded for the same general pur
pose, there exists a consequent similar
ity between the methods employed by
each. As a. rule, the students meet in
soma convenient spot about 1:10 in tho
morning and start for the school,' where
they ' Immediately- have Breakfast
served. This plan of feeding the chil
dren fits in very well with the idea
of the- school, as it gives .the. director
of the student's physical welfare
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN. PORTLAND,
L
chance to. 'sea that he is provided with
the proper food. For this meal, dw
ridge, bread and butter and milk are
served, with a bit of fruit occasionally.
The diet is calculated, . before every
thing else, to be nourishing. ' ' . .?
After breakfast the first number on
the programme Is active exercise un
til about 10 o'clock. . Then a three
quarters of an hour period of study
takes place, generally spelling, cram-
mar or history. A quarter of an hour's
recreation and an hour of arithmetic
make up. the forenoon. Hot soup or
broth, bread and jelly, . and milk or
warm cocoa make up the noonday meal
Then follows a performance -that
knocks the . feet from under one ' of
grandmother's '-.most cherished old
theories. ' '
The children are - bundled up in
steamer chairs or cots and- bade to go
to sleep " while their lunch digests.
Poor ' old grandmother gasped 'many
a time' before new discoveries .of
science were able to persuade her that
this method of procedure- would not
send the child to an - early, grave or
leave him a cranky old dyspeptic, but
the schools - have the proof , or .'their
wisdom right in their own records;
which shovv-.that contrary to the old
beliefs the children grow strong, and
healthy under such .treatment.
" ' 'Nature Is Textbook. '
At 3 o'clock some study of nature or
one akin to it is Indulged in, such as
botany or geography, and ab lnstrnc
tor escorts the pupils through the fields
and hills and points out to- them the
different objects such as pools and
slopes and lakes which the dry textbook-
frequently only half impresses on
their minds. . After an hour and a half
or sucn taiKS witn nature, recreation
and games are again in order until 4
o'clock, when some handiwork or other
study fills the time up till the serving
oi supper, which is usually at t. .
The menu for this meal - is very
cnangeame, including meats ana vege
tables, milk and other healthful foods.
By 6:30 the children -are again In their
homes, and after telling mother . and
father, in those cases where there are
a mother and a father, all about the
day's work, they are thoroughly ready
to run off to their waiting cots for a
good night's rest. - Under circumstances
of this nature It is no hard matter for
a child to spring quickly back to
health.
As the fundamental idea of this move
ment is to fit the school to the child
rather than to make the child measure
up to the requirements of the institu
tion, there can be no set schedule or
routine which, will apply In all cases.
Frequently the schools will have to In
dulge in the walks and games of the
other children, but in these cases a
teacher is always provided to interest
them in livid stories which often give
as much knowledge as the pupils can
acquire in their rambles. In cases where
the condition of health is such that it
will not permit of attendance at all of
the classes the invalid Is allowed to
rest during certain periods while the
others go ahead with their work. Many
of the schools even employ busses and
automobiles to collect the feeble chil
dren from their homes In the morning
and-return them in the evening. ,
Immunity From Colds. "v
Another difficulty arises In the 'Win
ter time when the weather would ordi
narily be termed-inclement. Almost the
first question asked by critics and op
ponents wnen the proposition of open
air schools was launched was, How will
you keep the child from catching cold
or even pneumonia. If you expose him
to the' rigorous open air of, Northern
fa Be CHILE)
Givz the Subnormal Child a 'Chance, Is
Modem Demand Child Properly
Treated Does Belter Work Open Air
Schools and Their Growth.
. r MIL
i t ji A.'- I
Winters? This question' partially an
swers itself, because there' is such a
thing as man becoming acclimated to
weather conditions, and the' children
who attend these schools in. a short
time become almost immune from oolds.
If, however, a child who has been
walking or playing in the snow gets
his body or -feet wet., there can be no
harm come of it as lonir as he is active,
and the moment that he steps in on the
floor space, or, as in some -classes, the
open room, he is Immediately hustled
to the warm, inclosed baths and there
thoroughly dried before he is exposed
to the. cold again. But as long as Be
stays out of the dampness there Is Hp
danger at all, because the temperature
can be and is, when necessary.-moainea
bv a bio- lacketed wood stove that can
throw off enough heat to drive the chil
dren out if forced to it. i. - .'
Then the clothing answers the rest
of the difficulty, for it -would be foolish
to attempt such an institution without
properly clothing the child. Everything
that can tend to make him comfortably
warm is afforded. After he bundles
himself up in - such paraphernalia as
boxes, mufflers, sitting out bags and
arctic hoods he is little Tipt to need the
heat of a fire after a little acclimatisa
tion. Moreover, nurses are always In
attendance and a doctor pays -weekly
or semi-weekly visits of inspection and
is at hand when called upon. - '
Woolen Underwear Needed.
The problem of clothing- is a great
factor in the proper care of the ohlld.
The one essential thing' beside and be
fore all - other, articles - of. clothing
equipment' that' have- been , mentioned
is its Underwear. This must be - of
warm, snug-fitting woo," All of the
other articles are useless without this.
Perhaps the best idea .yet suggested
along-the line of1-cold weather com
fort for tne cnna is tnat of fitting
blm with an Eskimo suit of wool erltb
the usual aretla hood.'' V -'.-.:
The soapstones and hot water cans
which are placed in felt-lined boxes
for keeping the feet warm are old ac
quaintances to most, of us, but the sit
ting out bag is somewhat of a stranger
to those who have had no experience
with sanitariums, yet It comes in very
OCTOBER 19, 1913.
x
handy In . these schools on cold days.
The general plan of this bag is a heavy
woolen blanket, doubled and covered
with canvas and made to conform to
the-slfape of a steamer Chair.
There is,, however, , a special bag
now in use made especially for open
air schools. It is cheaper 'and better
suited to their use. It consists -of a
long flannel- blanket,- doubled in two
with an Insert of layers of eotton
hatting and newspapers, which are
sewed in the shape of a bag and made
to lit the special chairs now used,
Which enable the child to recline fur
ther than the steamer, chairs did and
are, consequently, somewhat different
irom them.
The greatest difficulty with the in
stitution of an open-air school in most
communities seems to be that of ex
pense. This is a great problem, but
where - there's a will there's a way.
Some communities, even little town
ships, that do not look as thounrh thev
would support a grocery -store, have
found that when they set to the task
of building a schoolhouse or of securing
something for this purpose, it was not
so hard -after all. They, have bought
old barns and torn out all or a part
of the southern side, and after clean
Ins; the old Dlace un a bit and nutttnir
a strong floor In it and. maybe a few
large : windows that could be drawn
up' against the celling they have con
formed the school to-the latest fashion.
Charity workers and mothers have sup
plied the clothing and new fixtures,
while from so-clables -and benefit af
fair enough -meney has been secured
to furnish the children with their
wholesome meals'. .'','.
Cities Can Accomplish Much.
If villages can manage in this way.
surely with, a little concerted;, action
large cities whose .. populations - run
into the hundreds of thousands of In-'
dividual, can by some means or other
cret sufficient capital together to' erect
at least, one If - not more .- open-air
schools ana in & sreni- mwiy i tne
larcer cities this has been done. Whese
are the places where such Institutions
are most necessary, in the congested
heart of what might be called small
natlous, where tenement-bred -children
swarm the dirty streets and alleys andi
xh 3- ' : J A rv 'ffe m
Attf 111
- Conditions qf CfiJdrtZK
live in a constant ntate of physical
and often moral pollution.
To free these little urchins from
thetr lives in the darkened gutters and
to let a little sunshine and fresh-air
into their existence before they come
to maturity, with the fixed idea that
the whole world Is dirty and dirt and
meanness Is the purpose of our exist
ence. Is a philanthropic duty that ought
to appeal to every. human heart that
has been spared from such a life. In
some big cities children grow to man
hood so wrapped up in poverty and
disease of one sort or another that
they do not believe in such a thing as
happiness, and consequently they have
a bitter feeling against mankind In
general and get the Idea that the world
owes them something. This is what
swells our criminal records.
.An antidote must be found some
where for these conditions, and that is
what the open-air school is acting as.
It proposes, to take children out of
these morbid surroundings and give
them a little chance for real life, and
it is remarkable how It Is succeeding.
Battleships as Schools. ,
To offset the great difficulty of ex
pense the Fourth International Con
gress on School Hygiene, wnicn aa
journed only last month, adopted i
resolution to petition rhe United states
Congress to place at the disposal of
the several states or tne union an of
the cast-aside battleships of the Navy,
to be used as health schools for tuber
culous children. The Hygiene Con
gress brought forth statistics showing
that there are nearly a million tuoer
oulous children, or. children predis
posed to tuberculosis, who are now at
tending the public schools throughout
the country.
It also , stated definitely that the
open-air school was. in its opinion, one
of the most wonderful agents in the pre
vpntlon . and cure of consumption In
childhood, and determined to ask Uncle
Sam to place In the waters of the dif
ferent states his useless old war craft
to' be used as open-air schools in the
battles against the white' plague. The
City of . New York has already pressed
a steamer- Into service as an open-air
sanitarium school. . .
Teachers,; as a rule, are easily found,
for those who are really best fitted for
the work seem to possess that pleasant
personality-which makes them readily
accept the position when, it Is offered.
As rule they are chosen or detailed
from the regular public school staff. On
account of the harder work attending
open-air teachlng.ertaln concessions
are granted to them. For Instance, in
some communities they teach only six
months of the year, and another teaoh
er is found to serve the other six
months, and both are, paid a regular
yearly salary. In some places their
salaries are raised from one-third to
one-half, whlleln others . the-school
term Is limited to five or six months
during the warmer - weather, and the
teachers are paid for full services.
As has been said, each of these
schools has kept from the beginning
Individual records, of the mental and
physical state of each child that has
r- ill
attended them. These records alone are
a certain proof of the practicability of
the theory upon which the open-air
schools were founded. But these do not
constitute the only proofs of It.
Those who have Intimate knowledge
of them and can keep their eyes on
the children that have been turned out
of 'these schools can readily testify to
the soundness of this theory. Some of
their first pupils have now reached
maturity, and evhat were once puny lit
tle children are now big, strapping
young men and women with a glow of
health In their cheeks that rivals even
a husky farmer lad's1. .
And one of the strangest things about
these children Is that pupils who were
formerly very dull and slow to loam
seem to have grasped facts eventually
much faster than their brighter neigh
bors, and many of. them are now quite
successful business men and women.
Result Already Achieved,
The permanency of the outdoor school
Is well established and from now on It
should go forward by leaps and bounds
as It has been doing during the last
few years. The results that have been
obtained have measured up In every
detail to what was expected and In
some cases have gone beyond this. Sick
ly children have been brought back to
health. Well children have been made
stronger- and have been freed from the
danger of contagion. Dull students have
been made to learn and lazy ones have
taken a new interest in education.
Whether they will ever totally re
place the old school room is another
question, as this long established insti
tution has its own. advantages, and in
a great many communities is well
equipped to meet Its requirements; but
In congested districts where the rate of
child mortality and disease is high,' the
open-air recovery school is the proper
thing and will soon be the only thing.
Its longevity, however, is an assured
fact, as anything that bears the mark.
'Made in Germany, and Is so readily
taken up by John Bull and Unole Sam
such rapid succession, may be
counted upon for a long life and a
thorough trial. F. A L CONNOLLY.
Oh! You American Girls
Of the total adult, population of the
United States, 17,000,000 are unmarried.
The alarm of E. E. Rlttenhouse, of the
Conservation Commission of the Equita
ble, at present analysing marital con
ditions here at home, seems justified.
His report brings us to the realization
that 9 out of every 100 men over 20
years of age in the United States al
most two-fifths are unmarried, and,
what is still more terrifying, the spin
sters are in the lead by about 6 per
cent, while in London they outnumber
the bachelors by Over 22 per cent.
in addition, we have the disquieting
mortality figures from Professor W. W.
Wilcox, of Cornell University, showing
an amazingly high death rate for the
nmarrled. For Instance, the death
rate for unmarried men between the
ages of 30 and 39 Is 119 per cent greater
than that for married-men of the same
age and 87 per cens greater in the
case of unmarried women between the
ges of BO and E9.
The United States census for 1910
Iscourages pessimistic speculation, for
there has been a small but gradual In
crease in the percentage of married
persons in this country since 1890. But
t does not Xollsw that the next census
will record the same upward curve.
The late Professor William Graham
Sumner expressed disquieting doubts
bout the future of marriage, when in
his "Folkways" he said:
'It la idle to Imagine that our mores
about marriage have reached their final
tage. , . . That those who are now
satisfied will alone control the changes
which the future will bring to the
ores. It Is not difficult to make mar
riage such that men will refuse it.
Women have revolted against It In the
pnst. It is not beyond Imagination that
they might do so again. New York
Times.