The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-04
CROWDED SCHOOL HOUSES.
kHE LITTLE PUPILS IN WEST SIDE
PRIMARY DEPARTMENTS.
The Condition Of the Dark, Noisome Rooms
Exactly Observation-Disclosures of Children
sickened and Thousands Endangered.

Exactly Observation-Disclosures of Children
sickened and Thousands Endangered.
"The Black Hole is the name by which
one Of the class rooms In Grammar School II,
In West Forty-seventh street, IL known. IL is
In the part OF the building occupied by the pti-
mary department, which has a register OF nearly
a 800 children, composing twonty-four classes
packed into twenty rooms. 1.-THE Black Hole
o. one of three dark rooms that open into mar
row hallway. Its only window is obstructed by
building close by, so that no sunshine and out
little air can enter. Two classes Of children are
crowded into IL. Another room in the eastern
end IL nearly as intolefable. There are many
rooms In the old OF main building which nave
but one window apiece, and defy all attempts
at purincation while classes occupy them'
Throat complaints are abundant.
Three hundred children and eight teachers
occupy six bedrooms and the back parlor of
brown stone house In Forty-second street, near
Eighth avenue. Every morning they all assem-
bic In the front and back parlor, leaving no
standing room, and participate In the morning
exercises. The classes in the little low ceiled
bedrooms average about forty each. The house
was constructed for the use OF one or two fami-
lies, and there have been no alterations to meet
the new requirements, except the erection OF
Gre escape.
81 In West Forty fourth street has fifteen classes
and only ten class rooms consequently the gal
lsries are made into class rooms, and three
classes are taught In the assembly room, where
the recitations confuse and distract pupils.
Down stairs, on the playground floor are
two rooms that are only nj TO store
wood in one has a window opening into the hot,
dark boiler room. Within a loot OF another
is factory. the smoke Of which blows IN when
the sash s open; and third looks out upon
the dark playground. Corresponding to this
room, on the west side, Is another worse still,
its windows made useless by high tenement
building, fence, aud a low she'd In this latter
room. chalk marks on the blackboard eanhot
pal changes the classes In these rooms three
times day, but the rooms should not be used
The primary department Of Grammar School
%, In West Ihirty-nfth street has four central
much from the heated Railways as the open air.
In two OF them gas is used on dark days. This
properly accommodated. There are twenty
classes to only fifteen class rooms and ono OF
ment Measles; whooning cough, scarlet fever
and diphtheria keep 200 Of the children at home.
but when the pupils are al present classes are
In the dark assembly room, which Il so shaded
by adjacent buildings that IN one-hMf II Is I'M
possible to read on the brightest DAYS, and in
che other half gas lie burned In cloudy or stormy
weather.
In the primary department OF Grammar
School ~, in West Fortieth stree, four classes
try to study ard rsc'te In the mein room with
oat Interfering with each other four classes
are confined in dark. unwholesome boxes under
tho building; and four are crowded in the gall
there are six classes without rooms. one OF
the best rooms 10 the building is never
properly ventilated, because II the window "a
the outhouses nils the room. one Of the dark
and unwholesome rooms on the playground hoor
Is similarly exposed, and no window can be
opened, however poisonous the atmosphere OF
the apartment may have become after Its 20
Client light is also denied, and gas is often used,
because Of tue fences and buildings that stand
been cut out OF the west end of this room no
class should be allowed TO use 1t. There are
which are nearly as bad as the first. One is shut
up against stencil. and another has window
SSS S'm in n, scS Ss5k
Although the primary department Of Gram
mar School No; 80 10 West Twonty-eighth street
tween 1000 and 1900 in 10 classes are
packed within its ten class rooms daily
room with standing children 500 are en-
2bied to participate In the morning exercises
the full complement attend, the building is
more crowded than any other In the city. In
the worry small assembly room, three. and some
each OF the back galleries (Which are worse than,
most apartments OF the kind being without
windows in the rear two or three Glasses, num-
bering 10 all between 100 and lis children, are
PACKED. while In the legitimate class rooms.
and In four dark cells on the ground floor.
every available foot Is occupied. row OF
stables behind the school house creates such
stencil that in mild or warm weather.
when the school is most crowded and fresh air
Il imperltiyely necessary. II is impossible to
those OF the class rooms having windows toward
the stables are denied proper ventilation, The
Tour cells on the ground door ousht not to be
lnhaoited. Water lows or is dragged into them
from the playground in wet weather, the foul
stable air lils them when the windows are
lowered, walls md buildings close TO them on
btrrct both Hight and mir and the
unfortunate teachers are Obliged TO make
desks Of the steam r,diltor5 for want
Of room, so that when, after being parbaked all
day, they venture In the outer air, they are
stricken with colds. In spite OF this. In each
poll from 30 to 80 little boys and girls are tor
tured every day. Two hundred OF tue scholars
are sick at home, measles being the general
complaint.
Grammar School -, at stanton ard sheriff
street.. occupies new, weil-hghted and fairly
ventilated building but In the primary de lart-
ment there Is surplus class. for which proper
accommodation Is not provided.