Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1871-03-25
Ventilation,


The published lecture OF DR.. EAMEs, and
the report of our Superintendent, CLEMENS,
has worked up our community to the necessi-
ty of properly ventilatng our dwellings and
school buildings. This is no fancy of the
mind no chimerical notion, of those seeking
gain by its publicly. As 1t is necessary to
health that we have good food, and plenty Of
it. equally true is 1t that we hayc pure air, in
full and Constant supply. / write this article
TO state some few facts about our school rooms
Some of the rooms in our school buildings are
in this respect better than heretofore.
When the primary department occupied its
former room, there were quite number of
cases of sickness, that were known to result
from inhaing its impure air its teacher Miss
LEAK, had severe sickness from the same
cause.
The new building has given this school one
of the healthiest rooms we now have Care
has been taken by the superintendent and all
of the teachers, by raising and lowering the
window sashes, to admit pure air and for the
escape Of foul air. All the principal school
rooms have openings near the ceiling to let
the foul air escape. Formerly such ventila-
ton was thought sufficient Experience and
modern intelligence shows it is not. Our Su-
perintendant by experiments in the school
rooms, and in representations to the Board of
Educalion has, since he has been with us,
showed the importance of more complete
ventilation. 1t is now somewhat, painfully
evident from the more or less severe head
aches OF the scholars, aud other evidences
from this cause, that the school rooms, for the
want of pure air, are unhealthy. To put mod
ern improvements in old buildings is expen-
sive. This is one cause of delay with u.s. 1t
is expected public officers Will be in advance
of the majority. II on any subject they are
they can go no iaster than they are backed up
by the community. The Board of Education
are held responsible for the efficiency of the
school in all its interest This is all right on
ly when the community gets worked up all at
once, it should not be too impatient, for its pay
is not in green backs, but blessings lover the
left)
The financial burden has, since the organiz-
ing Of the Board of Education, been
ofconsderable trouble except during the last
three years. Not a school year has closed,
SINCE ] have been connected with the Board,
but that about $1,000 has had to be borrowed
to pay the teachers But for this, the small,
unhealthy room used for the primary school
would have been vacated some years ago, and
other Improvements made. We see now by
our village papers, that taxpayers are calling
on the Board to give them u chance TO vote a
tax to have the school rooms ventilated All
nj I Mr. tny o1,oll I,a
dated. Please, however, notce<Ais one fact.
This is a change in the programme, and it in
dcates progress. Thanks for it, / will state
for the information of all Interested, that at
the last meeting the Board directed tue Sec
retary TO write to several parties of experience
in the ventilation of school buildings for in
formation on that subject. After getting all
the information and all the suggestions posi-
lble, they purpose adopting the plan they BE-
lieve will be the hest tor our present build
ilgs. Let me, while writing, quiet the minds
of any who are fearful we are to be oppressed
with long and heavy tax to build a new
school building. The Board does its business
without ostentation, and generally has treated
blame and commentator alike, by trying TO
have school that shall be an honor to the
village-which we now have. Never have
they entertained the idea of erecting new
and costly school building, as the growth and
population of the village will not warrant it.
No railroads-ne new school buildings for
some years to come. We should-and do
now-need the Odd Fellows Hall to enlarge
the room for the high school; this with the
second story of the new building put up last
summer, would, after being ventilated, &c, do
very well, for perhaps ten years, if we have
no railroads. 1t will be very good thing for
this village 10 haYe the railroads completed,
and by the increase of population, be compel
ed to build us suitable school building. But
it will take the scream of the locomotive GO
ing to jamestown and Youngstown, and the
solicitations of the tax payers to wake up the
Board to the necessity OF this enterprise. Ash
tabula is called a slow yillage--I suppose the
Board is included. Wooster has expended
$4,000 in new school building and its fur
niture, and are groaning under the taxes TO
pay it. Our enterprising sister, Geneva, ex-
pended some 0000,-sweating under their
increased burdens. Are saying-"Oh, the fol.
ly of sinners ~ The village of Morgan put
on airs, and built large school building
they are rejoicing in law suit. Jefferson
did the same thing, and though they haye
the smartest lawyers in this county, they can
not keep off the financial grpes. We do not
wish to go with the multitude to do evil in
this particular SO, gentleman taxpayers.
please do not be alarmed. The members of
the present School BOARD are not oppressed
with gratitude as much as with responsible