[Report 1919] / School Medical Officer of Health, Cardiganshire.

  • Cardiganshire (Wales). County Council.
Date:
1919
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1919] / School Medical Officer of Health, Cardiganshire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    69/72 (page 69)
    In my opinion, insufficient fresh air is permitted in the Elementary Schools. The windows which can be opened are not sufficient to allow the air in the room to be continually fresh. I would therefore advise that the modern Schools be reconstructed by opening out on one side. By this means fresh air will have an uniuterupted passage to every part of the school. 2. In dealing with the fresh air as a curative, we are dealing with Open Air Schools as Sanatoria. It is sufficiently obvious that in this County day Open Air Schools would not he practical. If open air schools are to be formed, as they should be for the cure of disease, boarding schools are the only solution. A central open air school should be provided for this County. Types of Children sent to the Open Air School.—The Edu¬ cation in an open air school differs from that in ordinary elementary schools not only in the amount of fresh air received but also in the different curriculum. Less formal instructions is given, and more rest. Good and sufficient food is given and mental and physical fatigue prevented. The type of child to be admitted to the open air school will be those children suffering from Anaemia, Tuberculosis (in all forms) debilitated, Pulmonary conditions (other than Tuberculosis,) Heart Disease, etc. The staff should include nurses, besides the elementary teachers. The school would necessarily be under the supervision of the School Medical Officer. Should the necessity for an open air school not jusify its formation in Cardiganshire alone the central counties of Wales might amalga¬ mate and form one jointly. Therefore in dealing with the question of Open Air Schools, I heg to suggest that :— 1. All schools throughout the County should be altered so as to make the classrooms open to the air, and 2. A special Open Air School or Schools should be provided for the weakly, illnourished and tuberculosis children,