?To Grow the Children in the Open Air? - School of Arts and ...
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Centre for Health, Medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>and</strong> Society: Past <strong>and</strong> Present<br />
at Oxford Brookes University<br />
History <strong>of</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>e Sem<strong>in</strong>ar Series, 5 October 2010<br />
“<strong>To</strong> <strong>Grow</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Children</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong>”<br />
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> Movement <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> first half <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> 20 th century<br />
Mike Emanuel<br />
(Oxford Brookes University)<br />
The sem<strong>in</strong>ar series <strong>and</strong> related podcasts are k<strong>in</strong>dly<br />
funded by <strong>the</strong> Wellcome Trust Strategic Award<br />
explor<strong>in</strong>g Healthcare <strong>in</strong> Public <strong>and</strong> Private
“<strong>To</strong> <strong>Grow</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Children</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong>”<br />
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> Movement <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> first half <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 20 th century<br />
A “non-evidence based” experiment <strong>in</strong> social health<br />
-------------------------<br />
Mike Emanuel<br />
Oxford Brookes University<br />
October 2010
David Turner, <strong>in</strong> The History <strong>of</strong><br />
Education , 1972<br />
• “ The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> movement is now dead<br />
- killed as much by success as anyth<strong>in</strong>g else<br />
<strong>and</strong> overtaken by improvements <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
general health <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation “
<strong>Air</strong> <strong>and</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>e
The Humours – <strong>the</strong> Hippocratic Scheme<br />
( after Bynum : The History <strong>of</strong> Medic<strong>in</strong>e )
From Miasma …..<br />
• Pierre de L’Estoile 1609<br />
“The disposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> air was malignant, full<br />
<strong>of</strong> thunderstorms … carry<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong>f large numbers<br />
<strong>of</strong> people <strong>of</strong> all ages”<br />
• Charlotte Bronte ; Jane Eyre , 1847<br />
“ That forest-dell where Lowood lay, was <strong>the</strong><br />
cradle <strong>of</strong> fog <strong>and</strong> fog-bred pestilence; which<br />
quicken<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> quicken<strong>in</strong>g spr<strong>in</strong>g crept<br />
<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> Orphan asylum, brea<strong>the</strong>d typhus<br />
through its crowded schoolroom”
……<strong>To</strong> Germ Theory<br />
• By <strong>the</strong> late 19 th century Pasteur’s discovery <strong>of</strong><br />
bacteria <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir role <strong>and</strong> Koch’s account <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> germ <strong>the</strong>ory <strong>of</strong> disease ( tubercle bacillus<br />
1882 ) redef<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong> air as a cause <strong>of</strong><br />
disease<br />
• The miasmas <strong>of</strong> corrupt air came to be<br />
regarded as germ-ridden .<br />
• Germ <strong>the</strong>ory dom<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>the</strong> new th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g on<br />
public health – chang<strong>in</strong>g concepts <strong>of</strong><br />
sanitation <strong>and</strong> hygiene
The Sanitary Idea<br />
• Public Health th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> mid 19 th century<br />
was dom<strong>in</strong>ated by <strong>the</strong> sanitary idea<br />
“ overcrowd<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>sanitary conditions was at<br />
<strong>the</strong> root <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> epidemics that afflicted <strong>the</strong><br />
great towns <strong>and</strong> cities “<br />
Lead<strong>in</strong>g , for example , to <strong>the</strong> Public Health<br />
Act, 1848
Fresh <strong>Air</strong> <strong>and</strong> Public Health<br />
• By <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 20 th century fresh<br />
( open , non-stagnant ) air became a potent<br />
symbol for social medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>and</strong> social hygiene<br />
– a basic human right that would result <strong>in</strong><br />
improved health <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> population
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Sanatorium for<br />
Treatment <strong>of</strong> TB<br />
• First German sanatorium for systematic open air<br />
treatment <strong>of</strong> TB <strong>in</strong> Silesia , 1854<br />
• First British open-air Sanatorium , Norfolk 1892<br />
• First detailed published results <strong>of</strong> open-air<br />
treatment <strong>of</strong> TB <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong> , Lancet 1898.<br />
• It was estimated that <strong>in</strong> 1897 ( L<strong>in</strong>dsay ) <strong>the</strong>re<br />
were 0.25 million TB patients <strong>in</strong> Brita<strong>in</strong><br />
• National Association for Prevention <strong>of</strong><br />
Consumption formed 1899
Nature <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
Movement
Transcendentalism ; Emerson,<br />
Whitman<br />
“Nature” by Emerson <strong>and</strong> Whitman’s<br />
“Leaves <strong>of</strong> Grass” seemed to have<br />
strongly <strong>in</strong>fluenced <strong>the</strong> open air<br />
movement
Walt Whitman : Song <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong><br />
Road<br />
• From Leaves <strong>of</strong> Grass, 1855<br />
• “Now I see <strong>the</strong> secret <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
best persons<br />
• Is to grow <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> open air <strong>and</strong> to eat <strong>and</strong> sleep<br />
with <strong>the</strong> earth “
English Social Services : Sir George Newman 1946<br />
Emerson <strong>and</strong> Whitman ( Transcendentalism ) cont<strong>in</strong>ued to <strong>in</strong>fluence <strong>the</strong><br />
open air movement even to <strong>the</strong> middle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 20 th century
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> – “ An Idealised Back to<br />
Nature Movement ?“<br />
From The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Nursery <strong>School</strong> ( Rachel McMillan <strong>School</strong>, Deptford )<br />
pub 1927 by E.L Stev<strong>in</strong>son – <strong>the</strong> <strong>School</strong> Super<strong>in</strong>tendent
The growth <strong>of</strong> Education <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 19 th<br />
century<br />
• In 1818 about 25% <strong>of</strong> English children<br />
received any education<br />
- Dame schools <strong>and</strong> Charity schools<br />
- Sunday schools<br />
- <strong>School</strong>s <strong>of</strong> Industry ( domestic service,<br />
ragged schools, lace schools etc )<br />
• 1870 Forster’s Elementary Education Act<br />
<strong>in</strong>troduced state education <strong>and</strong> build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong><br />
state schools
Froebel ( 1782 – 1852 ) <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Children</strong>’s Garden<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d – a practical guide from 1895<br />
Based on Pestalozzi ( 1746 – 1827) – a child’s education is like <strong>the</strong><br />
blossom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> a flower<br />
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> Movement moved this idea literally <strong>in</strong>to a real<br />
garden sett<strong>in</strong>g
The Garden <strong>and</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong>
The Garden <strong>of</strong> Eden <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
rediscovery <strong>of</strong> paradise through<br />
Christian Socialism
Henry Taunt’s<br />
Photographs <strong>of</strong> 19 th<br />
century Oxfordshire<br />
Follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> urban movement <strong>of</strong> labour after <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>dustrial revolution<br />
rural life was pictured as healthy <strong>and</strong> natural
Kate Greenaway<br />
<strong>Children</strong> dressed with considerable formality but <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> outdoor space <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> garden<br />
Kate Greenaway “ Under The W<strong>in</strong>dow “ 1879
Kate Greenaway : The Birthday Book , 1880<br />
Fresh <strong>Air</strong> <strong>in</strong> January – <strong>the</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> “ wrapped up warm <strong>in</strong> a cold<br />
outdoors “ - <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> premise <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Health movement
Alice In Wonderl<strong>and</strong> ( illustrated by Arthur<br />
Rackham) by Lewis Carroll , first pub. 1865<br />
“The best tea parties always took place outdoors”
William Morris “ A book <strong>of</strong> Verse” 1870<br />
The Garden was central to <strong>the</strong> Pre-Raphaelites .William Morris was a<br />
friend <strong>of</strong> Margaret McMillan , <strong>the</strong> founder <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Deptford <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
Nursery <strong>in</strong> East London
A Garden illustration from William Morris “ A<br />
book <strong>of</strong> verse “ 1870
Monet – Impressionism <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ple<strong>in</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
Movement<br />
Outdoor oil pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g was made possible by changes <strong>in</strong> pa<strong>in</strong>t technology<br />
but co<strong>in</strong>cided with, <strong>and</strong> was very much part <strong>of</strong>, <strong>the</strong> culture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> open<br />
air movement
Frances Hodgson Burnett pub. 1910 -11<br />
Classic <strong>and</strong> well known story <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> spiritual <strong>and</strong> physical heal<strong>in</strong>g powers<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> open air . <strong>Air</strong> has its own fundamental <strong>and</strong> powerful property <strong>of</strong><br />
heal<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> garden is <strong>the</strong> book’s central symbol<br />
As <strong>the</strong> garden is restored so <strong>the</strong> human spirit <strong>and</strong> with it physical health<br />
(Note : FHB was a Christian Scientist)
The Secret Garden – “That’s fresh <strong>Air</strong> ..lie on your<br />
back <strong>and</strong> draw <strong>in</strong> long breaths <strong>of</strong> it”
Heidi by Johanna Spyri ( 1827 – 1901 pub 1880 ) –<br />
An alternative <strong>and</strong> earlier str<strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
Heal<strong>in</strong>g literature – based on <strong>the</strong> “ great outdoors<br />
“ as dist<strong>in</strong>ct from <strong>the</strong> more formalised Garden<br />
Heidi’s disabled companion Clara rega<strong>in</strong>s her<br />
health on goat’s milk <strong>and</strong> fresh mounta<strong>in</strong> air
The Scout Association<br />
• Many o<strong>the</strong>r open air movements flourished <strong>of</strong><br />
which <strong>the</strong> most successful was The Scout<br />
Association created <strong>in</strong> 1910<br />
• Baden-Powell’s Brownsea Camp, 1907<br />
• Scout<strong>in</strong>g for Boys pub. <strong>in</strong> 1908 – 4 th best<br />
sell<strong>in</strong>g book <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 20 th century ( estimated<br />
over 100 million copies sold <strong>in</strong> 87 languages ).<br />
Chapter 4 is devoted to outdoor camp life.
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s<br />
“There is reason to believe that<br />
noth<strong>in</strong>g will so <strong>in</strong>crease <strong>the</strong><br />
happ<strong>in</strong>ess, <strong>the</strong> health, <strong>the</strong> moral <strong>and</strong><br />
mental sanity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> nation as openair<br />
schools”<br />
Macfie – <strong>Air</strong> <strong>and</strong> Health, 1909
Annual report on <strong>the</strong> Health <strong>of</strong> The<br />
<strong>School</strong> Child , 1912<br />
Sir George Newman<br />
• The method <strong>of</strong> an <strong>Open</strong>-<strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> is a process<br />
<strong>and</strong> not merely a school <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> open air – a<br />
comb<strong>in</strong>ation <strong>of</strong><br />
“ Fresh air <strong>and</strong> sunlight<br />
Proper <strong>and</strong> sufficient diet<br />
Rest<br />
The hygienic way <strong>of</strong> life<br />
Individual attention<br />
Medical Treatment<br />
Special educational methods”
Wash<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Doll’s Clo<strong>the</strong>s – Ed<strong>in</strong>burgh Free<br />
K<strong>in</strong>dergarten 1903<br />
Garden playtime <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Froebel tradition<br />
From The Margaret McMillan Archive, Greenwich University
The Waldeschule at Charlottenberg ( nr Berl<strong>in</strong> )<br />
<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> opened 1904<br />
As shown <strong>in</strong> Berl<strong>in</strong> Congress - <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s 1911
Charlottenberg “ rest time “<br />
Between 1904 -1911 OA schools opened , for example, <strong>in</strong><br />
Belgium, Switzerl<strong>and</strong>, Hungary,, Engl<strong>and</strong>, Italy, France, United<br />
States .<br />
From The Margaret McMillan Archive, Greenwich University
Uffculme <strong>School</strong> ( Birm<strong>in</strong>gham ) open classrooms<br />
1911<br />
This was a social project <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cadbury family
Uffculme <strong>School</strong> architecture - Birm<strong>in</strong>gham 1911
The open rest shed at Uffculme <strong>School</strong> 1911<br />
January 1912 – “ <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r was very bad this morn<strong>in</strong>g. Bitterly cold<br />
with snow fall<strong>in</strong>g …..<strong>in</strong> spite <strong>of</strong> wrapp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m up well <strong>and</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g plenty<br />
<strong>of</strong> exercise some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> delicate ones seemed to feel <strong>the</strong> cold keenly”
<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s <strong>in</strong> <strong>and</strong> around existed around<br />
many cities – Knowle outside Bristol<br />
From “ The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s <strong>of</strong> Bristol 1913 - 1957“ Jeannie Shotey
“Pre – Tuberculosis”<br />
• It was believed that TB usually began <strong>in</strong><br />
childhood as a condition known as pretuberculosis<br />
<strong>and</strong> that certa<strong>in</strong> populations <strong>of</strong><br />
children were especially susceptible – those<br />
from <strong>the</strong> slum districts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> big cities<br />
• For <strong>the</strong> most part <strong>the</strong> children were not<br />
suffer<strong>in</strong>g from actual tuberculosis<br />
• If <strong>the</strong>se children could be reached <strong>the</strong>n<br />
perhaps <strong>the</strong> prevalence <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> disease could<br />
be dramatically reduced
Hugh Broughton’s practical guide book <strong>of</strong> 1912<br />
formed <strong>the</strong> bluepr<strong>in</strong>t for many subsequent OA<br />
schools – Broughton was strongly <strong>in</strong>fluenced by<br />
Baden-Powell’s Scout<strong>in</strong>g for Boys
Broughton 1912 – Build<strong>in</strong>g a pet house<br />
“ <strong>Children</strong> who live <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> open become acclimatized to cold <strong>and</strong> should<br />
not be fussed over”
Broughton 1912 – a map made <strong>of</strong> soil ( with<br />
contours <strong>and</strong> tea cup ! ) to teach geography
Broughton - History taught as outdoor drama
Fresh <strong>Air</strong> was <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>me but good nutrition <strong>and</strong><br />
hygiene were effective <strong>the</strong>rapy<br />
Menu from Broughton – The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> school 1912
Rest time at Uffculme school 1931<br />
Post lunch rest period was a traditional “ activity “ at <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s
Fresh <strong>Air</strong> class <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Italian section <strong>of</strong> <strong>Children</strong>’s<br />
Aid Society <strong>of</strong> New York City 1919<br />
“ if this is good for children with weak<br />
constitutions , why not for healthy children as<br />
well?<br />
Physical Culture Pictorial Nov 1919
York - Sleep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Snow – late 1920s<br />
From “ The Story <strong>of</strong> York’s <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s “ , Brian Sanctuary 2001
Outdoor lesson , St James’ Park London 1936
<strong>Children</strong> sleep outside Spr<strong>in</strong>gfield House <strong>Open</strong><br />
<strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> , Clapham Common 1932<br />
Getty Library
Rachel <strong>and</strong> Margaret McMillan<br />
ILP activists, Christian Socialists <strong>and</strong> founders <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> Deptford <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Nursery <strong>in</strong> 1911<br />
Margaret McMillan Archive, Greenwich University
The Urban slum sett<strong>in</strong>g where most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pupils<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> early OA schools orig<strong>in</strong>ated<br />
The McMillan Archive, Greenwich
Evelyn House , 353 Evelyn St , Deptford.<br />
The garden was <strong>the</strong> girls’ nursery<br />
The boys used <strong>the</strong> local graveyard as <strong>the</strong>ir school<br />
ground !
The girl’s camp at 353 Evelyn St 1911 – Deptford<br />
McMillan Camp <strong>School</strong><br />
A n outdoor nursery was set up for younger bro<strong>the</strong>rs <strong>and</strong> sisters <strong>of</strong><br />
children at <strong>the</strong> Camp school
Churchyard as a Dormitory<br />
(Daily Mirror, June 11 th 1912 )<br />
• How some little boys <strong>in</strong> Deptford are<br />
improv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir health by sleep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> open<br />
air – between a dozen <strong>and</strong> 16 small boys sleep<br />
out every night among <strong>the</strong> tombstones <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
old churchyard <strong>of</strong> St Nicholas at Deptford --<strong>the</strong>y<br />
camp out just as though <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
country. This splendid scheme….. was started<br />
by Miss McMillan at <strong>the</strong> Deptford Health Cl<strong>in</strong>ic
Taken from “The Outdoor Nursery <strong>School</strong><br />
( Deptford )<br />
E. L. Stev<strong>in</strong>son 1927
Deptford McMillan school 1920s annotated “ <strong>the</strong><br />
children slept outdoors whenever possible “<br />
Margaret McMillan Archive , Greenwich University
An outdoor lesson at <strong>the</strong> McMillan <strong>School</strong> 1920s<br />
Margaret McMillan Archive, Greenwich University
The Deptford Camp <strong>School</strong> about 1936 – an<br />
outdoor shelter
Queen Mary visits <strong>the</strong> McMillan <strong>School</strong> 1921<br />
Margaret McMillan is beh<strong>in</strong>d The Queen
George Bernard Shaw visits <strong>the</strong> McMillan Nursery<br />
– 1920s<br />
Margaret McMillan Archive, Greenwich University
Margaret McMillan portrait <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Deptford<br />
<strong>School</strong> – “ <strong>the</strong> saviour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> children “
<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s<br />
Health <strong>and</strong> Therapy not Education<br />
• The Stretford ( Manchester ) OA school<br />
accord<strong>in</strong>g to its Medical Officer <strong>of</strong> Health ,<br />
1931<br />
“ … <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong>-<strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong> is essentially a place<br />
for recovery to health, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>cidental for<br />
arrest<strong>in</strong>g educational retardation , <strong>in</strong> children<br />
already damaged by ill-health….. Fresh air <strong>and</strong><br />
sunlight , … are amongst <strong>the</strong> oldest known<br />
<strong>and</strong> most effective remedies
<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Therapy <strong>in</strong> Hospitals<br />
• In parallel , hospitals built balconies where<br />
patient’s <strong>in</strong> beds <strong>and</strong> chairs could be placed<br />
outside <strong>and</strong> so “ enjoy fresh air <strong>and</strong> sunlight “.<br />
• These can still be seen at many older hospitals<br />
but are rarely still used<br />
• They are not part <strong>of</strong> modern hospital design
Public Health Campaigns for<br />
<strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong>
From – Better Health 1928<br />
THE OLD AND NEW WAY
Better Health 1929 - UK public health campaign<br />
poster – top rank<strong>in</strong>g for “ Mr Fresh <strong>Air</strong> “<br />
Better Health is <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial Journal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Central Council for Health<br />
Education
Better health July 1928 – UK public health<br />
campaign
UK Public Health Campaign 1930s
Glasgow tenement museum . The holiday<br />
fortnight as an opportunity to take <strong>the</strong><br />
“ fresh air “ - 1920s<br />
Glasgow Tenement Museum
The experiment <strong>of</strong> <strong>Open</strong>-<strong>Air</strong> Nursery schools …<br />
has proved conclusively that it is possible to<br />
prevent <strong>the</strong> greater part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> preventable illhealth<br />
by this means – see next slide
The decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> Movement
By 1947 <strong>the</strong> schools still took malnourished<br />
children but also a large number with asthma – a<br />
disease whose <strong>in</strong>cidence was <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> was<br />
more difficult to treat than <strong>in</strong>fectious disease
The Deptford school <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> 1950s<br />
The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong>s decl<strong>in</strong>ed after <strong>the</strong> second world war but cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />
through <strong>the</strong> 1950s <strong>and</strong> sometimes 1960s with a chang<strong>in</strong>g pupil<br />
demographic
In <strong>the</strong> 1950/60s <strong>the</strong> <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> movement faded away as a<br />
consequence <strong>of</strong><br />
• General improvement <strong>in</strong> public health through<br />
<strong>the</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> National Health Service<br />
• Improved nutrition<br />
• The use <strong>of</strong> antibiotics to treat TB <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
<strong>in</strong>fectious diseases<br />
• Hous<strong>in</strong>g improvement through slum<br />
clearances<br />
• The Clean <strong>Air</strong> Acts
By 1974 many schools still had <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
titles but classrooms were ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong>doors <strong>and</strong><br />
outside activity e.g. “healthy “ walks were all that<br />
rema<strong>in</strong>ed
Correspondence ref Broadstairs<br />
Residential <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
April 1954<br />
• “ In o<strong>the</strong>r days it was .. The recognised practice …to keep all <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>dows<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> school rooms wide open no matter what <strong>the</strong> outside temperature.<br />
This caused <strong>the</strong> temperature <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whole build<strong>in</strong>g to be uncomfortably<br />
low, <strong>and</strong> we are advised it is no longer necessary to <strong>the</strong> same extent as<br />
before. We feel it would not be unreasonable to keep <strong>the</strong> school<br />
classrooms at a reasonable temperature but quite clearly <strong>the</strong>y must be<br />
properly ventilated…..it does seem to us nowadays not unreasonable <strong>and</strong><br />
a little old fashioned, that children <strong>and</strong> teachers should sit <strong>in</strong> classrooms<br />
with <strong>the</strong>ir overcoats on. At <strong>the</strong> same time we <strong>of</strong> course fully realise <strong>the</strong><br />
need for <strong>the</strong>se children to have as much fresh air as possible”
Reply to Broadstairs letter from its<br />
Trustees<br />
• I am directed by <strong>the</strong> M<strong>in</strong>ister <strong>of</strong> Education to<br />
state that she does not advise that w<strong>in</strong>dows<br />
should be kept open <strong>in</strong> cold or damp wea<strong>the</strong>r<br />
to such an extent that <strong>the</strong> whole school is<br />
<strong>the</strong>reby made cold …. There should be no<br />
need for children <strong>and</strong> staff to have to wear<br />
outdoor cloth<strong>in</strong>g when <strong>in</strong> class. The children<br />
can get ample fresh air by out <strong>of</strong> door<br />
activities “
<strong>Open</strong> air school build<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>in</strong> Cropwood nr<br />
Birm<strong>in</strong>gham <strong>in</strong> 1995 – no longer <strong>in</strong> use
2008 – Some ideas rema<strong>in</strong> . The Secret Garden<br />
Outdoors Centre<br />
“ It is almost a form <strong>of</strong> child abuse to keep a child<br />
<strong>in</strong>doors “<br />
The Independent 29 Nov 2008<br />
Back to Nature - 2008
Daily Mail Onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
10 September 2010<br />
• Doctors prescribe “ fresh air <strong>and</strong> farm work for<br />
patients with depression “<br />
Care farms <strong>of</strong>fer <strong>the</strong>rapeutic help to people with<br />
a wide range <strong>of</strong> problems from mental health<br />
<strong>and</strong> autism to recover<strong>in</strong>g stroke victims
Alder Hey <strong>Children</strong>’s Hospital<br />
Plaque <strong>of</strong> Dedication 1990s<br />
• It is not so much for its beauty that <strong>the</strong> forest<br />
makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that<br />
subtle someth<strong>in</strong>g, that quality <strong>of</strong> air that<br />
emanates from old trees , that so wonderfully<br />
changes <strong>and</strong> renews a weary spirit<br />
Robert Louis Stevenson 1850 – 1894
From <strong>the</strong> Christian Garden to “<br />
Contemporary Environmentalism”<br />
• Belief systems change with time. Faith has<br />
never been evidence based. But <strong>the</strong> belief<br />
that fresh air is health promot<strong>in</strong>g appears to<br />
survive <strong>the</strong> multiple faith systems that have<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>ed it over <strong>the</strong> years. The <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong><br />
Education movement is just one example <strong>of</strong><br />
such a belief system where evidence to susta<strong>in</strong><br />
it has never been substantiated ( or seriously<br />
challenged ).
“<strong>To</strong>wards The Resurrection”<br />
OxonNews August 2010<br />
• Oxfordshire County Council Newsletter Article<br />
“ <strong>Open</strong> <strong>Air</strong> Education<br />
A campaign is underway to encourage<br />
Oxfordshire <strong>School</strong>s to take opportunities to<br />
use <strong>the</strong>ir own school grounds as additional<br />
classrooms for children”<br />
“ On child commented – you can see <strong>and</strong> do <strong>and</strong><br />
learn more stuff because you’ve got fresh air<br />
<strong>in</strong> your bra<strong>in</strong>”
Please contact Tudor Georgescu for fur<strong>the</strong>r details: Tgeorgescu@Brookes.ac.uk<br />
Visit us onl<strong>in</strong>e at: http://ah.brookes.ac.uk/history<strong>of</strong>medic<strong>in</strong>e/