Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-05-02
yxsr.srAs ELLIS, Esq,
kbFAbIAN LLL'ST ~"f'f
Editor of The "Amsyicaa Organ"

Editor Of the "ADseyscaa organ,
DEAE Sin; In asking you to favor me With an
insertion in your columns Of this communication,
permitting me to withhold the name Of It's author,
feel bound candidly 70 state my only reason for
desiring TO preserve strict incognits. am my
self teacher of one Of the Public Schools, and
have some apprehension that the suggestion ]
would most respectfully make TO the Board OF
Trustees of Public Schools may possibly be deemed
breach Of that etiquette which, in their Judgment,
should be observed by the teachers towards them.
In recent report OF the Board on the condition
Of the school houses &c., they say, I'm regard TO
these apartments and buildings, Il may be said, In
general and subject to the exceptions herein made,
that they are i'll adapted to the purposes for which
they are used deficient in space for the accommo-
dalton Of the pupils and teachers; in facilities for
ventilation; in suitable for the admission Of
air and light; and they also so contracted, as
necessarily 10 compel teachers andpupils to breathe
avitiated atmosphere, thereby inducing WEAKNESS,
langour, headache, nervous irritability, and pro
noting the development Of pulmonary and other
diseases. In many instances which have been
brought TO the notice Of the trustees, pupils have
suffered serious illness, the cause Of which might
be traced to the public school rooms"
Now, in view Of this condition Of these apart
ments, bog most respectfully to ask, adopting the
eloquent language Of the report II 1t be not due TO
the faithful teachers whose aching heads and tor
tured nerves are rendered exquisitcly sensitive BY
the wearying lsbors Of most trying and respon-
sible profession; whose physical systems are sink
ing under the oppressive weight Of toilsome labors,
made thousand-fol more difficult by the circum-
stances under which they are working due TO the
thousands Of pupils Of both sexes, who throng
these schools, and Who with greater or less prepa-
ration, viii soon be pressing forward with eager
haste to enter upon the active duties Of life; due
to tie fathers and mothers Of these children, who
have placed their most cherished treasures in the
public care and especially due 10 the character OF
the Board for consistency and common humanity
somewhat to abridge the period Of confinement Of
the teachers and pupils In an atmosphere so preJu-
dicial to their health? All the pupils Of the pri-
mary schools are Of tender age and susceptible of
disease in a tenfold degree to persona Of mature
age, and it Ii q marvel to me TINT, with full
knowledge Of this and Of their great exposure, the
Board requires they shall be kept seven mortal
hours in an almost foetid atmosphere.
In the perfectly ventilated and pleasant halls OF
the Northern and Eastern schools, rendered at
tractivc to the pupils by walls covered with pcto-
fia illustrations of the arts and sciences, and Of
manners, customs and costumes, and Fairgrounds
furnished with apparatus for gymnastic and other
youthful sports even there, live hours and half
Is the maximum period of confinement in the pr-
mary schools; and their most judicious arrange
ament il. one session only: From eight to two in
summer, and from nine TO halEpast two In winter,
with two rccesses of fifteen minutes EACH Longer
confinement than this Is there deemed to be incon-
sistent with due regard to the development and
strength Of the animal functions; and here soon
after two o'clock the pupils Of the private schools
may be seen vending their way to their respective
ZONES. The sallow countenances and trembling
nerves of many of the children the public schools
touchingiy appeal to the Trustees to shorten, at
least one hour, the period Of their confinement in
the close and impure atmosphere of their apart
ments. ~
Accord this Messieurs Trustees, and in duty
bound your memoralists, teachers, parents, and
pupils, viii ever pray. A TEACHER