The New York herald., 1876-10-05


hoped every man In the Board would support the pro-
posed appropriation Mr. GoudIng and others spoke
and the further consideration OF the matter was de-
fered The discussion clearly Indicated that the spirit
o the Board Is in favor OF the erection Of the home
THE SANITARY DANGERS INCURRED DY OUR
SCHOOL CHILDREN-How THEY ARE TO BE
MET-BRoAD CHARGES AND SOUND sUoGLs-
TIoNs.
The following in the concluding report on behalf o
the Committee Legislation to Promote the Health
OF School Children. by Dr. r. J. o'Sullvsn:-
Your committee having in the first portion OF their
report discussed fully the sanitary defects OF the pub
lie schools this city IN relation to tho air space
qured, &c. deem II unnecessary 10 rehcarsc The con-
clusons arrived at, us they have been pub
lished in full In the Official organ OF the
society Tho committee viii, therefore, content
themselves this occasion in stating the progress
maue, anu making sucn olher SUGGESTIONS us IA heir
judgment may tend to mitigate the evils TO which
school children are subject and place the unsanitary
conlition OF these schools clearly before the public
The efforts Of this society to promote the health Of
school children have attracted considerable attention
and have elected favorable comments from educators
interested in the success OF our schools and the
the American Social Science Association at saratoga
reference made IN audatory terms to this society
in the action taken on sanitary reform In schools A
member oil the committee WAS invited TO participate in
the proceedings aud the discussion diseases OF
the scnoolroom. 1t is scarcely TO say that
no more important subject has engaged its attention,
II the wcllbeing OF society ana the physi
cal condition oil the future citizens OF this
ols II Is pain TO the observer of passing events
that society in midst Is In state Of transition,
and that The physical condition enters largely into
It's causation. We see the evidence Vt this
in various ways-notably irritation of the brau and
Incidental dseasesnpplng IN the bud in tho prime OF
lie prosperous cilzens cutting them OF from
society and lowering them into premature grave.
This is no imaginary picture. Look around us IN pub
lie and see in those scarccy enternu mi,le
life evidence OF physical decline, the premai urely
bald and gray, the facial muscles photographing the
wearcd brain and overtaxed nervous system. II Is
stated by competent authority that ZOO 600 per-
annually slaughtered in the States by
prevcntable diseases '# What the percentage Of
school children may be say with any degree
OF accuracy but Il s lair TO conclude that Il is large.
The forcing cramming system in our schools and col
eges gives no assuring indication OF change lor aho
better III the generation that Is to follow II
expect change in the condition OF the adult
population let by all means turn attention to the
little ones, and save the youth OF the land from the
dangers that threaten them unless sanitary
the schools be instituted Among the most urgent
oulremcuts Of tho common schools Of this city are in.
expensive primary schools, with ample play grounds,
Sufficient class room and necessary nir space The pres
plan OF construction OF schoolhouses defective IN
many respects There Is too much ornamentaton
and attention given to mere Appearance entaihng
enormous expense The assembling room, only used
for short time during the opening and Tor cxhibl-
ons take up too much space TO the great detriment
OF class room accommodation, which especially
noticeable in primary departments, where there exists
the greatest need OF class room. Owing this
cause the younger children packed closely
IN tho galleries or consigned 10 tho basement or
ground class rooms which arc generally excessively
overcrowded badly ventilated and In other respects
untitled for class purposes The dangers which pu
p,Is are exposed will be more readily understood when
u is stated that these class lighted tho
yard and IN close proximity 10 the water closets,
surrounded in some instances by huge tenement
houses and separated only by few feet from he gall
lery infant classes, which average seventyfvc pu
ps--commony two classes occupying this space
packed closely Il is possible do. there being but
incrnission OF twenty minutes during the morning
session allowed these hapess little Ii no
wonder that these schools should be fruitful
oil the propagation OF contagious diseases These
the dark spots school system, the canker
gnawing It's vitality AVID undermining ITS strength 1t
is 10 eliminate this exrresccncc, heal the corrodng
sore and induce healthy granuation; in 3rd
juvenae this admirable but badly managed system Of
public education viewed from a sanitary STANDPOINT
that strive Tor and labor earnestly, having
abiding faith that when the public understand the
subject sufficiently. the evils complained OF
an established TACT, and not the mere theory 30
so frequently referred TO, but realized. These
remarks made to elucidate point having i'm
portant bearing Oh the subject We are now considering
II IS hoped that slight DEPRESSION VIII bc pardoncd
while brief auson Is made 10 the com puisory cdu-
eation law now being enforced In this city. Upward
Of 81 600 600 asked by the Board OF Education
school purposes Tor the ensuing year. Among tho
items s25. 600 incidental expenses tor the enforce
mcnt OF this law, and sl00, 900 ior roiormatory,
where children or the required age who do
not attend school are liable TO be COM
mitted There can DO no question, we apprehcnd,
to the necessity of thus law or its enforcement un-
der proper hyg,cnc conditions, which doubt was
the intention OF the trainers OF the Law. During tho
past month several thousand children were refused
admission to the schools, owing, as alleged, TO insult
Hccnt schooi room. rus applies mainly 10 primary
departments IL Is to these departments and schools
that these children compelled 20, according TO
ths Law, regardless OF sanitary requirement or class
accommodation or falling TO do so, must go 10
prison. The injustice OF enforcing this law, under
these conditions, must be plain any possessed
OF common sense. Indeed, il may be doubted IT the
higher courts OF justice would willingly enforce
penal law at the risk oil the health
or the llvcs OF those who obey Is
not provided tor them IL obvious that II Is the
duty OF the State, school boards acting under Its
auinoriiy when ~ oilers the advantage of a common
school education To those within Its Jurisdiction TO
provide schoohouses with ample accommodation anu
sufficient noor and air space and TO in every
reasonable way the heath OF the pupils II, on the
contrary the schools condition detrimental to
health las can easily be proved TO be the case In tho
schools OF this cityh school boards are dcre-
lct IN their duty, anu inil TO comply with
one of the most important requirements OF
their Office School houses where young children are
herded aud forced to cit Tor hours in vtiated atmo-
sphere la constrained posons do not come up to tho
standard IL would be cruelty to anmais--not TO
speak of tender little onesto add 10 their by
increase OF numbers without increased comodaon.
The idea Of compulsory attendance under these cir-
cumstances u preposterous and ut variance with all
aud beneucient Jaw and tho common rights OF
humanity We do not desire TO be understood as dis
paragng Ia any way The present Board OF Education,
as they are cny complying with the requirements
o the law We have no DOUBT, from the excellent dis
position they have lately manifested IN reducing the
attendance IA the more crowded departments, that
they viii give further attention ths matter 5v the
adoption o such to Improve the sanitary con-
diton Of schools within their Jurisdiction and
n ~. IA