OPEN AIR SCHOOLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10683, 1 February 1913, Page 8

OPEN AIR SCHOOLS.

4* • STRONGLY ADVOCATED BY DOCTORS. VIEWS OF DR BLACKMORE. At the recent Tuberculosis Conference held in Wellington, Dr G. J. Blackinore, of Christchurch, moved:— " That, as open-air teaching of children is a measure of considerable importance in helping to control the spread of tuberculosis, the various Education Boards throughout the dominion be recommended to earnestly considei the advisability of establishing open-aii schools, or open-air ; teaching in connection with the present scnools; thai their attention bo also drawn to the extreme usefulness, from a health poini of view 5 of open-air residential schools in suitable situations, where delicate children and those showing evidence oi incipient tuberculosis can be sent_ foi shorter or longer periods, and wlierc their' lives can bo regulated and then studies carried on under medical super'

vision." • Dt Blackinore said that there were a considerable number of children who were in a poor state of health —he could not say definitely that they were tuberculous, but were just the-class of child to become tuberculous—and it was far better that something should be done j before they actually developed con- ( sumption. A very great deal could be done by seeing that during the daytime, at any rate, they had abundance of fresh air. There were children who would with advantage to themselves be kept at school, provided they could be kept out of doors, but it certainly would not be to their advantage to send them to school to be shut up all day. With regard to the second portion of the irotion, hs stated that the proposal would benefit those children who could not, for financial reasons, be sent to the seaside, but after five or six months spent in a proper institution, where they would be properly fed and properly looked after, they would be A so built up that they would have every chance of growing into strong men or : women, instead of either dying or spend- j iiie their lives as chronic invalids. | pr Biaekmore's motion was seconded by I)r Hard wick-Smith, of "Welling- , ton, and carried unanimously. j