Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-23
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS,
An Inspection of the Adams sohool-R

Continulng IN public service the GLOBE
visited the Adams school yesterday. Just.
here, before entering into the details of the
observations had upon the Adams school, it
ia not amiss to declare that the GLOBE has
good purpose in these visits, and the inspec-
lions are already serving to attract attention
to the public schools. Such attention as,
may it be hoped. will awaken the demand
from indignant parents that their children
be no longer exposed to certain sickness
from the i'll ventilated buildings, in which
the children are confined for hours, without
fresh breath of air, unless it brings sick-
ness with its gusts of cold. It isn't ques-
ton of taxes, but of life and death. Life
if the authorities will remodel or devise
means to furnish air; death, if the children
are to be kept housed in rooms where it ia q
fight between extreme heat and extreme
cold, either giving. as the buildings are now
arranged, an opportunity for disease to fast
en- upon pupil and teacher alike. e.,..
In respect to the complaints already ut
tered by the GLOBE, the Adams school is lit
tie or no better than the others named.
oHEERLEss SCHOOL HOUSE.
The building is we'll enough on the outside,
but the interior is cherries enough to give
anyone lasting attack of the horrors. The
walls are smoke begrimed, the
wood work would swell with vanity
over even q touch of paint. So
far as cleanliness is concerned, the building
is we'll enough, but being barren of such re-
scrubbing and the muscular use of broom or
0n2tAr can't fyiVy fho oh,ro 0f rfr1r
The class rooms are large, have high cell
ings, and in this respect are somewhat bet
ter arranged for ventilation. But the very
height of the ceilings, the walls pierced by
four windows, give the rooms the appearance
of barns. Here, as in the other schools, the
only means of ventilation is by the windows,
and in consequence there's the usual fight
between currents of cold air and breath
laden atmosphere superheated by an i'm
mense cast iron etove. The temperature
cannot be regulated. The children next to
the stove are roasted, while the children I'M
der the windows SILVER. H. -@.
The exception likely to this condition is
found in Miss Hands, the principal, room,
for the better, and in Miss Gunnip's room
for the worse, if it be possible. The first
named room, while heated with wood de-
vouring stove, has had partial attempt
made at ventilation by sticking in two or
three small ventilators or gratings. This
room, too, is somewhat more cheerful than
any other, due, evidently, to Miss Hands
desire to make the best out of q bad bargain,
by slight ornamentation of the walls with
pictures or some such taking object.
LIKE ABSOLUTELY D1saRAoEFUL. -
Miss Gunnip's room is Isimply abomina:
BILE. It is situated on the first floor to the
rear. It is something on the by order
its dimensions being wholly inadequate to
the accommodation and comfort of the chill
dren in attendance. They are simply hud-
died together between two windows and
against huge stove. Cold and heat with a
vengeance.
IN CASE OF FIRE
The doors sof all the class rooms swung
on the hinges inwardly, or into the rooms.
Bad in case of fire, when score or more of
children, frenzied with fright, would huddle
up against the only means of egress and
prevent escape. In other respects, the
avenues of escape are fair. A broad stair.
way at the front and q narrow one at the
side give way out doors.
BL1ND1Na LIGHT.
The windows stretch up to the ceiling,
making long, narrow Sits in the walls
through which the light pours and is reflect
ed from the Vanished desks with injurious
effect upon the eyes. There are no shutters
or blinds, except some half riven curtains, to
exclude or by which to regulate and modu.
late the light. For the matter of that, all
the schools examined are shutterless and
without blinds.
Daily, 233 children gasp for breath in this
school. They are generally under - years
of age, the classes enrolled comprising the
LIST, 3D., Sd, 4th and 5th grades with pri-
mary department.. .....'..-
Miss Hand is in charge of the 9th grade
"a pupils.
Miss Patten has charge of IS chill
dren of the 4th grade. .--4. 80
Miss Davidson, in charge of the Sd grade
instructs 20 children. .s--
Miss Manning has the Sd and ID grades,
numbering 36 scholars.
Miss Dorsey's class, I'd grade, numbers
Al. .s.-es
Miss Gunnip has charge of "a of the Isl
grade, and Miss Oummius has . crowd fol
"a little ones Of the LIST grade or primary
department under her charge
TIE DISCIPLINE AND INSTRUCTION.
While the conduct of the children il
generally good, fault In the assignment o.
too much work to the teachers was detected
and which could and ought to be remedieo
by relieving the principal from having any
class in charge. Thus she would be free
to give her undivided attention tt
the discipline of the whole schoo
or6
over the intellectual training of her pupils
for after all everyone of the children are com
mitted to her charge, and she's directly re-.
sponsible to parents and the board of edu.
cation.
The public are invited and urged by the
superintendent and the board to visit thu
schools. When the public does come, az in
fact they did, yesterday, to the number OF
three or four, Miss Hand is called upon t.
escort the visitors through the building ard
make explanations to such inquiries az may
be made. Meanwhile her class is without 8
teacher.
INTERESTING EXERCISES.
Several of tho classes were at recitation
exercises being given in spelling by the SEQ.
ond grade, Miss Dorsey. The youngsters
managed to miss oftener than
once or twice, but for such little
ones did very we'll. Miss Patterns class,
fourth grade, did admirable in mental and
written arithmetic. In fact this study is
taught practically and with conscientious
care in the schools, so far as. visited. Per-
haps nothing in the public school system of
tuition is so worthy of commentator as the
attention paid to arithmetic, and the pro-
fciency shown by the children, even to the
Youngest, who talk figures understandingly.
Miss Manning's class, third grade "A,'' was
exercised in reading. Here the fault so COM
mon to- children in reading uaa obaarxad.