A Crisis in Education and Public Health
In 1904, Germany opened the first outdoor school in Charlottenburg, near Berlin, to combat tuberculosis. Designed by health officials and educators, it provided open-air classrooms, activity areas, and a “cure gallery” for sunlight exposure. Tuberculosis killed one in seven people, and poor ventilation and overcrowding in schools worsened the problem.
Spreading the Idea Worldwide
The success of Charlottenburg’s forest school inspired similar institutions globally. By 1908, outdoor schools had opened in the U.S., starting with the Providence Open-Air School in Rhode Island. Lessons took place outdoors, even in winter, with children wrapped in wool and seated in “sitting-out bags.” These schools aimed to improve health through fresh air and physical activity.
A Global Movement
By 1925, hundreds of open-air schools operated in cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago. They were seen as a way to address urban overcrowding and poor hygiene, though their implementation reflected the racial and class divides of the time. Many were supported by anti-tuberculosis associations and public health campaigns.
Decline and Legacy
With the advent of antibiotics after World War II, tuberculosis treatments improved, and outdoor schools fell out of use.
In 1904, Germany opened the first outdoor school in Charlottenburg, near Berlin, to combat tuberculosis. Designed by health officials and educators, it provided open-air classrooms, activity areas, and a "cure gallery" for sunlight exposure. Tuberculosis killed one in seven… pic.twitter.com/riCacRKUXd
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