The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-27
OUR CHILDREN IN DANGER.
Ths Public schools Overcrewded. Improp-
erIy Lighted, aud BADLY Ventilated.

Ths Public schools Overcrewded, improp-
criy Lighted, aud Badly Ventilated
To THE EDITOR OF The SUS-Sir: At
the last meeting OF tho Medico Legal Society
psper was read by tho Hon. George II. Yeaman
on State Medical Polity, OF how far the State
n safely Interfere for the Protection OF the
Health Of the People. Remarks were made by
Doctors II. J. O'Sullivao, John c. Peters, and
Others. That part OF the paper which c lied at
tention to the defective ARRANGEMENTS, physical
discom forts and neglect OF the health Of chill
dren I'm our public school ELECTED marked atten-
ton. and the discussion that followed was very
interesting.
The class-rooms in the primary schools are In
a crowded condition, the children packed
closely In il-ventilated rooms, which are den-
cient In light aud seating, and are liable To be-
come tho centre Of epldemics. Unquestionahle
evidence WINS adduced, and the fact demon
strated beyond question that diphtheria. scarlet
fever &C., were carried from these schools To
various parts OF the city. some time since tue
school authorities were warned by the medical
profession Of what would follow by their neg
letting the me3su es ncCvss nv for the protec-
tiOn of the health OF school children. These
suggestions were dtsregardcd. and owing to IN
attenti n to the sanitary condition OF these
schoOls hundreds OF the lives Of school children
h We been sacrificed.
The attendance In primary schools tnow uu-
ward " 6O,0Oo) IL constantly Increasing. The
comru snrv education law has increased the
attendance during the year several thous inds,
intensifNing the evils to which the pupils are
subjected. How are these defects IN school
sanitation to be cOrrectrdr u II Clearly the
duty Of the school authorities. Our law makers
and law administrators attend 70 theoretical
con truction, IL they attend at all, rather III n
&C. the practic 4 application % law and legal Oh
ligItion. In this connection a brief allusion u
a few points relative to recent LEGISLATION ~
school effalrs NAV perhaps he admissible. In
former times persuasion. rather than compul-
sion guided the action OF school boards IN their
rulings. IL appears mt present that n different
practice u pursued. Now we have compulsory
attendance with Inadequate school accom- mo-
dalton and quite recently compulsory vaccina-
ton
First a. 20 the comnnsorv education law
The proUriety OF It's enforcement IN the present
unsanitary condition OF the schools is doubtful
IL IL reasonable to suppose that the trainers OF
datton would he provided. and precau Ions
taken necessary for the ply steal well being OF
the pupils. This We have seen Is not the case.
Second-Compulsory vaccination. However
Tactic. II can scarcely be claimed that 10 has
rea -hed that degree OF perfection In public
practice which would Justify commission, un-
less IN extraordinary Gases. or when individuals
are In close contact with the disease. IL IL al
Legged that IA a reason for having recourse TO
compulsory vaccination In the sch ools that only
one-fourth Of the vaccinations on former oc-
casOn were obtained, although IN that in
clnated or not, as their parents or gulrdians de-
sired. This result was Satisfactory to all CON
cerned.
lhirdy-rhese remarks are not made in O
spirit OF undue criticism. IL would DO unfair to
the new members Of the Board of Education
that they should be held responsible tor the
sins omissions of their predecessors. They
have commeDdaoiy entered upon their duties
sud 10 Is hoped that when they settle down "a
school duties they will correct the evils referred