The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-04
VENTILATION IN SCHOOLS.
THE Sry's EFFORTS SECONDED ny
EMINENT PHYSICIANS.
The Dangers to which School Children nre
E>poscd - Primary schools Overcrovdcd
Proper sanitary Appliance Needed.

AZ the meeting of the Mcdco-Lcgal So
ciety last evening. DIR. II. J. O'Sullivan read the
final report OF the Committee on School n.y.
gcne. appointed in March. 1876. The report
opens with the relation Of m interesting incl
dent connected with the first efforts Of
the society to amcloratc the condition
of the school children. 1t says: AT
the meeting in June, 1876 Mr. George H.
Ycaman read paper on state Medical Polity
that was followed 10y an Interesting discussions
during which member. convcrsant with sani-
tary affairs in relation to schools made some
remarks that were published in full in The
Sun Of February n. 1877. That cnterpris-
ing journal sent representative 10 the
Board Of Health to Investigate the subject
and much interesting information was elected.
When the attention of President Wood was
called TO the report printed in THE SUN. in
which were set forth the dangers to which
school children are exposed through the insult
ncicnt ventilation and capacity Of the school
buildings. he sgid that what was therein stated
was correct. We are raising children TO Kill
them. said he. As long us the law permits
children ~ four years 10 attend school, tho
primary schools will remain ovcrcrow,led and
Will continue to bo merely nurseries, rs they
are to-day From the reports made at Il meet
ing OF tho Board " Education In the early part
Of the current yenr. tho fact was nsccrtaned
t,at in one ward alone over 200 children
were refused admission tn the schools because
tnefr was no room Tor them. In other districts
large numbers were denied admission for "A
Xix" rpnsun
-" More lEnn ss5ooOoo was expended last year
for school purposes Among the other eNpcn-
diturrs were shuulu for The salaries of Profess
sors teachers. Il -. of the Normal College; for
nautical schools sdjNuU. enforcement Of Com
ru.sory act :2o 0on. and about $4,000 for tie
College of the CITY of Now York These super
nuou. departments which do not necessarily
enter into the plan Of the common school sys-
tenn. reIuhN an annual cNl 'nliture of funds
viii "a should hoe devoted 10 the more press ing
needs NJ the system viz, the erection Ot plain.
substantial lrimaiy schools. with proper SAM -.
tury nppun 'c- for tho protection NJ the pupils
| practicable. h' provided existing school houses
| should bee improved. and the new ones built
| should boo SURROUNDED on nll sides with adequate
open -uu'c To So 'ure light ventilation. and
| room for rrD iratiln.
| that I'M th' N.w Yor, College DO Der cont. 81
tn pupils II the Introductory classes were
near sighted ~ freshmen, 252 per cent; OF
s"n..n,gr :. ~ rsr Gn';i nni ot !pn1grs gX,
! WAS found That ll.ul per cent Of the pupils
were fHr,sishtnl Dividing all the ,hoars
| examined into "a" three great classes. Amcri-
| cgn. German. and Irish. There wer" found To- be-
* per cent. Of the Irish nonr-s gifted. of the
| Americans, 1873 per cont. ;of tn. German. % %
cent"
The report. in referring to, the Sanitary In
| -pr tors. says: W. have been crrdlby in
| formed That some 81 these officials wrrc never
| se"n IN th" ground clas- rooms Of the primary
| departments m tue more d"n-'ly populated dis
| trlDt- during their term of oilirc II this state
nient b" correct nnd We SEQ NO reason t. doubt
| %. bow could INTEL gent Legislation he expected.
| under these circumstances in relation to the
saHltitrS interests oi the schools r. During the
! past four yoHr- The schools have, i'm tact. been
/ deprived Of sanitary Inspection but during the
vacation the Board of Health caused m inspee-
/ tion 10 Joe made of the school buildings. Sin
teen ~ thes" were found wanting in sanitary
r.JuirH meut-.
tn" r.i port goes ON 90 say: II Is plain from
tiI".- iu l. that Nuf Little iWn be Nlrcfrd from.
/ the action oi the Board of Eduaatiln with re-
! Eard 90 the sanitary interests OF TIA" schools,
! and TINT tho legislation which hn~ emanatei
! from THIS l'i"iy is tn only feasible mral- Of
-llvln.ihi- dinl cult yrobl' IN. Probably inuociiy
iu the eiviilrd lrld has the medi, al profess on
loss influence than IN New York. Especially is
| this notice able in the sphere in which their
| sfudics. amt experience naturally incline medi-
| cal men 60 itkc an active part IN matters per-
| tanning a. public health. There j. no physician
| in the Board If Education. while surely thu
| physical wants Of 100000 children require the
! services u u trained saniiarian in the Central
Board OF tlucau.n g. al IN IN. enfor .emc NJ Of
| sanitary Law. Mayor Schroeder OF BROOKLYN
| haS r''Dnsn g"d This fact I'M appointing DR.. Bel
49, member 9i the Board Of Education OF that
rifN'
Tirc'ort u ~ ofl-ors or the ensuing yoai
resulted IN taf rAoi'e 81 The Hon Geo II. Yea.
iuau t- Pro- lens. DR.. C. =. Wood ana -. :. E.l.
| di' f-l.. Nll''- Presidents. lIr. Gtn ". ", lis
! Roe rllr. = rotary, Dr. Jan I. CNauVoau
| lorr"- puudlng secretary and Dr. IAos ;
| Bahaa. Treasurer.