Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-04-17

NOls klO SOeANN
disease, it is safe TO say, to be
found in our city. This may he
pretty much entirely remedied in
our schools by obtaining good fill
ters. At the Third ward, cheap
water room might be built against
the back side of the wood house,
which, with thick sawdust walls,
would prevent the freezing during
cold weather. OF course it should
open directly into the school room.
2.-The school yard at Campbell
vile is filed with stumps and all
sorts of rubbish, and during much
of the year is partly covered with
water. A little expense in clean
ing away stumps and possibly grad
ing and fencing would make a
much needed improvement there.
1t is a great pity also that neat
wood house was not built just back
Of the school building and opening
into it instead of that outlandish
shed right by the front door
Schools ought not to teach children
to do such an awkard thing.
3-A good microscope for use
in the study of natural science, es-
pecially that branch of hygiene
which treats of adulterations in
food and Impurities in water, would
be very valuable acquisition
The examination of impurities and
animalculn in the water Of the
shallow wells of this city, wonld be
very interesting and profitable
What scholars read, and what the
teacher tells about these matters,
sound too incredible for belief, and
teacher is usually not rich enough
to prove his assertions. The cost
Of such an instrument, as would
serve our purpose, would, however,
be but little.
4.-Your attention has, no doubt,
been called to the imperfect accom-
modations afforded to the pupils of
the Second ward school. This
school was opened as a sort of ex-
pertinent, nearly four years ago.
During the first year, the average
attendance was about %. The
numbers have gradually increased
until the average, this year, is Al.
Quite large number, who ought
to GO to this school, are obliged, for
want of room, to go down to the
Central builing. 1t is also safe to
say that n neat school room, there,
would serve as strong attraction
to no small number in that quarter
who avail themselves of school
privileges but rarely, and also TO
another class who hold some slack
allegiance elsewhere. The room at
the Second ward, now used, con-
tains about $500 cubic feet of air,
while each of the large rooms at
the Central building contains about
$4,000, or six times as much as the
room at the Second ward. Now,
if the Second ward school room
can accommodate with good, fresh
air IL pupils, then one of our large
school rooms should accommodate,
equally as well, $40 pupils. But
with this large number shut up in
one of those rooms, even for an
hour. the air would be rendered
totally unfit for respiration. In
deed only sixty pupils, in one of
those rooms with the doors and
windows all closed, vitiate the at
mosphere to such an extent, that a
person going into this contamin-
ated atmosphere, from the pure air
outside, finds it exceedingly offen-
sive to breathe. One needs only
to try the experiment to complete
ly satisfy himself on this point.
The great difficulty then of obtain
ing pure air in sufficient quantity
for that small room without di-
rect cold draft, can, ! think, be
readily appreciated.
My plan would he to build a one
story building with two rooms.
Between these rooms / would have
a hall and also water room, both
these communicating by door
with each school room. The water
room should be in the rear of the
hall, and in the rear of the water
room, and attached to the school
building, would have a neat wood
house. The accompanying draw
ing of the plan will sufficiently ex-
plain the whole subject.
In this connection / am well
aware that there is necessity for a
better school building in the Third
ward, but the necessity is by no
means so urgent as that of the
Second ward. There can scarcely
be comparison between the ac-
commodations furnished by these
two buildings, and | am sure that
no impartial observer would hesi.
tate in pronouncing upon there
comparative needs. / trust that
this matter will receive the careful
consideration which its merits de-
mand.
Respectfully submitted,
L. S. DEWEY.