The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-11
DEATH In SCHOOL HOUSES.
ONE SCHOOL HILF VICAYr WHIIE
OTHERS ARE CROWDED


A School In which One-Foarth OF the chill
drcn Have Been Down with Contaqi
Disenses-The Painful Record Continued.
One of the many causes OF the over
crowding OF the public schools Ia the compul-
sory school law relating TO truancy. Although
none Of the school principals have noticed any
marked increase In attendance from this law at
the opening OF the terms, all unite In testifying to
the efficiency Of the truant officers In prevent
ing such children from absenting them solves to-
ward the close OF tho sessions. In former years
the number Of pupils In the schools diminished
rapidly toward the end OF each term. but during
the past year they have oil been under the con-
slant espionage of the truant officers. and have
been much more regular in their attendance.
The primary department OF Grammar School
No 81, In Monroe street, occupies not only the
primary door, proper, but the door that was for
mcrly IN use by the girls grammar department.
Although 1t has this advantage over other
schools In the vicinity, with tho fruther benefit
OF light and air, only ten primary classes attend
and there is room for at least 800 children more
This illustrates the unovonness OF tho dlstribu-
tioD OF children through the schools. In
Madison street. within n few blocks of this half
vacant school Is Grammar School No. T. in
which 800 children are huddlcd to rether like
cattle. Contagious diseases have stricken down
dark aud sitting rooms.
In the same neighborhood In Broome street.
between Willett and sheriff streets. Is Grammar
school No. -. which has also AN overcrOwded
primary department. The teachers In charge
Yesterday ,represen'ed the primary attendance
- unusually small partly because nearly two
hundred children had recently been promoted
into the grammar departments and partly be-
chuse throat affections have caused the con-
stant absence Of about 100 children during the
winter But Notwithstanding this depiction,
every class room In the prim aryd apartment was
| a. 4
two classes were being taught In the assembly
room. Although the school building Is only nve
years old, II Is constructed without regard to
either comfort or health. The front wings
which ini the old.style school houses contained
but one room on each floor, are divided into
two rooms. so that each apartment has windows
only one side. The same expenditure Of money
would have partitioned these wings In sucn "A
way that each class room would have been sup
piled with window at either end making IL
possible To secure a current Of air.
The pupils In the primary department OF
Grdmmir School No. |, IN Nandcwater street.
near Pear. are just recovering from protracted
Siege OF the measles. This department has an
attendance of between so and CO.. children.
composing ten classes, and provided with eight
rooms. Two OF the class rooms are the CALLER
les, which properly belong To the assembly
room, aud IN which the supply Of fresh air is
defective. Tue high wall behind them obstructs
both light and ventilation.
The registers which heat the primary depart
ment OF Grammar School No Il. In Marion
street, near Prince, frequently nil the class
rooms with foul air. Perhaps II Is owing to this,
In certain degree, that nearly one hundred
This primary department, having nine classes
and but seven rooms, has been Obliged
10 use two class rooms belonging to
other departments In the building. Two
OF the class rooms In the wings which
were designed To accommodate about 81 chill
dren each, have IS crdDmed into them. one Of
the front rooms also cantians a large class, and
has put one window, and no other means OF
ventilation.
Gcommar School No. 90, in Greenwich street,
is between two buildings that leave about two
feet on either side for light and air. In the
II N In
main room. The front class rooms have win
dows on only one side. and are rendered
still m pre unpleasant and unwhosome by the
proximity OF the Elevated Hallway on which
trains pass every nlteen minutes, darkening the
rooms and causing vexation and disturbance.
This department also occupifs the lower rooms
OF rear building, two Of which are dark and
unwholesome, one having its solitary window
oostructed 10y stable and ths other having Its
window darkened by tenement building.
SIX hundred children are confns cd Ia rooms
adaLted Tor four hundred in the primary dep IT.
ment OF Grammar School No. 10 In Wooster
street. Eleven classes are provided with but
seven rooms, leaving three classes to be ia
structed In the main room, while two classes
put up together In one OF the galleries In
cloudy weather and during the short winter
afternoons, the assembly room and the galleries
ore so dark on account OF the proximity OF the
buildings on either side that the use OF gas Is
necessary. Two OF the front rooms have but one
window each ana cannot be properly ventil lated.
During tue winter the measles greatly dimin-
lshed the attendance al this school,