948 



Canadian Forestry Journal, February, 1917 



although the school was in the woods, 

 that although the method of teach- 

 ing and studying was so different, 

 it was still necessary to maintain 

 discipline. Some of them did not 

 seem to know what obedience meant. 

 Many were under the impression 

 that this was not a regular school in 

 any sense, that even in attendance 

 they could come and go as they 

 pleased. In many ways, too, our 

 facilities were limited, and, of course, 

 our difficulties to provide and care 

 for the children increased. The un- 

 usual amount of wet weather at this 

 season of the year was also a some- 

 what serious handicap, because our 

 facilities for shelter were limited. 



Ten Hours in The Air. 



During fair weather the children 

 spent ten hours in the open. They 

 usually arrived at the grounds about 

 8.30 a.m. and left for home about 

 6.30 p.m. After a breakfast of cereal, 

 milk, bread and butter, the nurse 

 took charge of one class. They were 

 divided into junior and senior classes. 

 At 10.30 they were served with a 

 glass of milk and bread and butter. 

 At 12 o'clock there was a general 

 wash-up. Dinner consisted of soup, 

 potatoes, and meat, bread and butter, 

 milk and some kind of pudding. 

 Supper consisted of bread and butter, 

 jam, Hght cake or oatmeal cakes, or 

 bread and milk, etc. After each meal 

 each child took its own cup, with 

 some water, and under the watchful 

 eye of the nurse thoroughly cleansed 

 its mouth and teeth. At one o'clock 

 came the rest period ; all were required 

 to go to sleep for two hours. The 

 cots provided by the Board were 

 much more satisfactory than the 

 camp, or recHning chair, which is 

 almost universally used elsewhere. 

 The cots 5 feet long and 3 feet wide, 

 had woven wire springs and drop ends, 

 so that they were easily handled. 

 A single military blanket and a small 

 pillow completed this equipment. 

 These were numbered and each child 

 looked after its own blanket and pil- 

 low under the supervision of the 

 teacher and the nurse. These cots 

 allowed complete relaxation of the 

 body so that the children's sleep was 

 sound and refreshing. 



Rebellion at First. 



The first two or three days the 

 children -thought this was a horrible 

 imposition; but in a very few days 

 every little pair of eyes closed natur- 

 ally and readily without protest or 

 murmur. After the rest period came 

 another study pe/iod, and then play 

 period. Finally the march through 

 the woods to catch the car home at 

 6.30. Besides the school work taken 

 up by the teacher, the nurse instruct- 

 ed the children in the use of the tooth 

 brush and care of the teeth; gave 

 health talks on cleanliness, care of 

 the body, ventilation, wholesome 

 food, manners and deportment; gave 

 breathing exercises, nature talks as 

 they rambled in the woods or on the 

 beach, etc. Every day, also, a cer- 

 tain number had to take a tub bath. 



Examined by Doctors. 



All of them were examined by the 

 School Medical Inspectors before be- 

 ing selected. The Dental Inspector 

 examined 58 children in attendance 

 and reported many mouths in very 

 poor condition, with abscesses, in- 

 flammed gums, and decayed teeth. 

 All children were provided with a 

 tooth brush, and after each meal the 

 nurse put them through the tooth 

 brush drill. Every child was thor- 

 oughly instructed in the use of the 

 tooth brush, and made to use it. 

 The Dental Inspector, removed jagg- 

 ed roots, and stain and tartar from 

 the teeth. At the closing of the 

 school he was able to report as fol- 

 lows: "I wish to draw your atten- 



WHERE SOME OF THE PUPILS COME FROM. 



