LEVIN HEALTH CAMP.

Shannon News, 4 May 1926, Page 4

LEVIN HEALTH CAMP.

STRIKING BENEFITS DERIVED. BACKWARD CHILDREN MADE ALERT AND ROBUST. At the last meeting of tlie Education Board, a report was received from l)r. Muriel Morgan, who was in charge of the health camp held at Levin last month, under the auspices of the Wellington Education Board. The report was enclosed in a covering letter from Dr. Ada Paterson, Director of School Hygiene. The latter stated that there could be no doubt of the benefit derived from the camp, and the Board might feel satisfaction in the good result obtained. The site of the camp was an ideal one, and the generosity of the Agricultural Department in lending it was greatly appreciated. They had alsot to thank the Defence Department for lending camp equipment, and could not speak too. highly of the kindness shown hy the manager of the Central Development Farm and his staff, and by the manager of the Boys’ Training Farm, Weraroa, also of Mr Foss, headmaster of the Levin High School, iwho arranged for tlie transport of the children and the pupils of whose school gave a most generous donation of fruit, vegetables, eggs, etc., to the camp com. f missariat. The Board was to be congratulated upon the wholehearted devotion shown by the teachers of the Mt. Cook special classes to the interests of the children. Anyone who visited the camp was convinced of the benefit to be derived from it. The children '.were thoroughly happy, mentally more alert, and physically more robust. ' The educational value to the children in transplanting them to an environment filled with the interests of country life was very great. There could ibe no doubt that health camps of the ki'nd might with benefit be made an established part of the education not only of backward children, but or normal children. A month of life in such surroundings and under such conditions, not only gave health, hut would provide cation” in the widest ancl best possible sense of ,the word. . In the course of a lengthy report, Dr. Morgan stated that twenty children attended from Mt. Cook classes for three weeks, and six from Thorndon School for two weeks. Many were below normal physically, hut only three or four were much under weight. iSeveral came from unsatisfactory homes, and at one it was reported that the only cooking was done on a frying-pan. The children very ■much enjoyed their meals, after the first day or two, "two or three helpings of porridge and everything else became the rule. Seven gallons of milk were used daily. Improvement in the children while at camp could be noted from, flee first few days onwards. Discontented, sulky faces brightened, and slouchv, slovenly figures seemed to become straighter and more alert and active. Towards the end of the period the children all looked brown and happy, and bad good healthy appetites, the change in some of . them being most striking. Every child showed a gain in weight, the average gain being 211 h, those who were under-weight gaining the most. Teeth became noticeably cleaner, half an apple after meals making that doubly sure. The advantages included formation of good regular habits, personal cleaniness, behaviour, etc., discipline and control for the whole twenty-four hours, instead of only during school time, being of benefit, some had to become accustomed, to regular hours, early bed-time, window’s open at night, etc., but all settled down very well to the routine. Those in charge of the children were able to‘study the twists and turns of their characters' far better than under ordinary conditions. These children,, needed to live a healthy,well ordered life, with freedom from undue excitement and confusion, but even from tw’o weeks of camp there were good results which would in some measure become permanent. Mr G. T. London expressed his admiration of the work done at the camp, and considered that .appreciation should be recorded of the fact. Mr London moved, and Mr. Howe seconded, that the reports of Drs. Ada Paterson and Muriel Morgan be received, and “that the board express its very great appreciation to the Health'Department of the work that has been accomplished at the camp, and that a recommendation be made to the Department that a permanent camp be established in the country. Tlie motion was carried.