Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-03-04
s. H. c.

In my article of the 9th, did not mean to
question the motives of the Prudential Commit
tee, for doubt not he acts from honest eonyic
tons, and that he has done what he believes to
be his duty; yet he has permitted the impulse OF
his executive powers TO carry ham beyond due
consideration II he had weighed this matter
well, his better Judgment would have saved him
this error, an error from which our children must
not suffer, for if it is not acknowledged, by giving
the means OF ventilation that the school board of
1871 adopted, in accepting the report of our late
and most worthy citizen, Alfred d. Foster, Esq,
an appeal will be made to a source that will cor
rect it
That may understand the opinions then en-
tertained, will here introduce extract of that
report:
1.-The school rooms in the district are now pro-
vided with commodious seats-four of them with
the ventilating school house stove, manufactured
by our fellow citizen, Henry w. Miller.
1t IS of immense Importance as regards purity
of atmosphere and constant ventilation.
Whenever a new stove is needed none other
should be allowed to be used, and it may be a.
question whether stoves of that should not at
once be put into all the houses even at the loss
of those now used The volume of warm, fresh
air which is thus constantly thrown into the room,
tends 10 keep up vigor and animation, An OBJ
server will Immediately perceive the difference be-
tween a pure and a corrupt atmosphere, in the
countenances of the scholars
When this improvement shall be introduced in
to all our school rooms, there will be little more
that can be done, to render them as comfortable
as they can be expected TO be-
The district voted to add $3.50 to the appropri-
ation and that the board be directed to substitute
the Ventilating School House Stove, for those
now in use, in every case where they deem it OK
pedient. Our children fol- fifteen years have
5reathed freely. But now the chairman of aysub-
committee takes upon himself the responsibility
of annulng the act of the citizens established by
ballot. Another, with greater responsibilities,
questions the wisdom of their decision. And we
seem to have power that dscards it all, to seek
economy in adopting what common sense has long
ago condemned.
Your correspondent of the 2Sth says" do not
know how many cubic inches a child or adult
breathes minute, neither is it of much conse-
quence."
In my article of the 9th, he can learn how
much, and learn the consequences of denying it,
By not knowing, he made a blunder, which
must prove to him that it is of consequence to
know all the bearings of subject before he at
tempts to transform its radical principles. Again
he says" This l do know, that many of the
school rooms were far from comfortable" Now,
I positively assert that he has rendered them far
more uncomfortable, and ten fold more deleteri.
GUS to health, by what he calls common sense
arrangements.
In stoves he has mutilated, 1 know the ventat-
ing attachment was imperfect 1t was his duty to
perfect them, not to remove them; by virtue OF
his office, he was bound to do 1.-THE had no other
alternative. Because we have poor ventilation,
is that any reason why we should have that little
taken from us
In advancing this for his justification, he shows
the weakness of his defence, for he says, the
ventilation only connected with the dead air be
tween the floor joists." How, then, with his
"common sense arrangement" has he made the
rooms more comfortable?
No one will complain at the removal of any
"absurd contrivances which gave us the sem
blance of pure air." On the contrary, owe
many thanks to your correspondent, for showing
to the public that they have not what they sup
posed they had proving that there has been neg
ligence somewhere, and that there is duty for
our Prudential Committee to perform, any neg
lect of which will meet with the censure Of our
citizens. Il.