Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-03

lty Wne1 the process OF eOucaLlOu Is AAduo W
include training, with view TO eradication OF
inherited disease-the repression OF morbid
idi0syncraeies and the scientific-that is physl-
illogical and psychological culture OF such
faculties and attributes of the mental and
bodily organism as shall conduce to per
feet health. Meanwhile it is perhaps
in respect to the ventilation OF school rooms.
the length Of time spent in study, the method
of studying, the posture of the body long main
tanned, and the management CT light. with the
consequent strain on the eye-sight Of children
and Of growing youth OF both sexes
Sanitary Arrangements of Schools--As re-
CARDS drainage, etc. there is much to be said on
these topics. venture some practical remarks
on the subject.
space from the statement of the late Professor
E. A Parkes, under whom studied Military
Hygiene" prior to entering the English armv.
It is impossible to expect that the air OF an in
habited room shall be absolutely as pure as
the outside air. for nothing short of breathing
in the open air can ensure perfect purity at
every respiration. In every 1nhaoired room
there will be some impurity Of air. Toe practi-
cal limit OF purity will depend on the cost
which men are willing to pay for it. Ii cost is
disregarded, an immense volume Of air can be
supplied by mechanical contrivancfs
The question, therefore, arises: what is the
Standard of practicable purity of the air we
should endeavor TO obtain for our school
roomsl From calculations made by Professor
air required for each adult per hour. in order
to maintain q certain degree of purity in the
atmosphere, is 1900 cubic feet. The respiratory
1mpurity added to the air viii, OF course, be
less with children than with adults, and con-
sequently the amount of air required TO main
tain the standard of purity will be less. though
children evolve absolutely less COG in given
time than adults. yet relatively, for their body
weight, they expire more.
In fixing standard for school the age, too, of
children ought to be considered; they require
1900 cubic feet.
In public school rooms. where the boys are
not confined moro than two hosrs at time,
the room can be purified by opening the doors
and windows when they are out; also where an
efficient system of ventilation was adopted 450
cubic feet would properly be sufficient, and
the air of the room not be detrimental to
health We all know that our public schools
do not have more than 100 cubic feet. if it has
this much, for each child. We must,
therefore, consider the means by which
foul air may be removed and fresh air intro
duced. 50 that the standard of purity can be
maintained without making use of rooms of
inconvenient SIZE; this is afforded by ventila-
ton, which may be natural or artificial. How
often is the air to be changed in a given time!
According to Prof Parkes, If the space to be
ventilated be equal to 1CO cubic feet for each
person, the air must be changed to twenty or
twenty five times in an hour, in order to sup
ply 1850 cubic feet, considered necessary for
children If the air has TO be changed fire.
quently within given time draught is occa-
stoned. The London (England) School Board
gives 100 cubic feet for each child.
According to the London Lancet, as a rule,
4JU cubic feet seems TO be the aVefas q. or which
is given in the best schools. This is fer too
little; and when we reflect how important pure,
fresh air is for young persons, in order to effect
properly the tissue changes, which are most
active at this age, and how very susceptible they
are to the influence of animal poison, the neces-
sty of providing them with ample breathing
space becomes apparent
Although the , expense OF construction fSn
the full allowance that has been considered
necessary $3.50 cubic feet for children under II
years of age, and $50 cubic feet over that age
is an important consideration: still an APP
proach to the standard ought to be aimed at
either by reducing the number of scholars or
providing additional building.
Fortunately the ventilation OF our schools is
carried on by the chinks Of the doors and win
Temperature of school rooms should not be
allowed to fall below IS deg. or arise above 60
deg. F.
There are several ways Of artificial ventila-
ton devised by sanitary engineers Method of
extraction OF propulsion: Where the former is
employed, fresh air previously warmed can
be introduced from the upper part Of the room
and the foul air drawn off from the level of the
floor In deciding on the adoption of artificial
or natural ventilation. many circumstances
best adapted for large buildings in which a Sc
rles of large class rooms on the same floor are
built, have to be warmed. The best method is
by extraction. A system Of propulsion is
more suitable for our large school rooms.
School life is essentially unnatural one;
school training is necessarily an artificial pro-
cess. and unless it is conducted under rational
and favorable condition, universal education
can never be an universal blessing
There is little doubt that the mental pressure,
which is now so common in schools. causes an
excessive waste of nerve force for mental
work which should be subservient to bodily
growth and development, and 1t is important
that parents should be aware OF the possibility
of sacrificing physical to mental development.
The reverse may certainly occur, the result
being fine, but not very intellectual animal,
and therefore in this as in many things it is 1.-THE
hap medium that is the best and safest.
Mental overstrain in poorly fed children and
bad hygienic surroundings produce a vast
amount of diseases. The sy stemsof examining
for exhibitions" and what Prof. Huxley calls
the ''abOmination Of desolation," of competi-
tive examination, prizes. etc, that goad on
children of various strength and capacity to
task. that the brightest and strongest are
hardly equal TO, are responsible for much
injury of mind and body, and IN 1t the higher
education, now so earnestly demanded for the
gent.er sex. is too often bought at the expense
OF shattered constitution and unstrung nerves
Put if these things must be, in the name of all
things and justice, let them be surrounded by
all the checks that can lessen their power for
evil.
As the muscles Of the back become fatigued
by sitting long in a constrained position the ten
dency is to bend over more and more, and this
faulty position, at FIRST assumed for temporary
relief, becomes, by frequent repetition, a con-
firrned habit, and may end in permanent de-
has stated that 80 per cent Of curvature of the
spine, not induced by local disease, are devel-
oped during school life, and we are aware that
STOPPING and crooked position at schools has
sad effect upon the heart and lungs and alb
dOminal organs as well as on the spine and
sight.
The most common aud important defects in
school furniture are the benches, with unsuita-
BILE backs. too great distance between the
seat and the desk, too great distance between
the height of the seat and the desk. The size
e. Al H. 49, H..
seat are not without their affect upon the vel
fare of the eyes.
To use desk and seats Of the same pattern
and size for large number Of children of all
ages, as in our public schools, Is not more ra-
tional than the system Of distribution Of army
clothing" by which, as Dickens complains,
"all the tall soldiers got the short pantaloons
and the short soldiers got the long ones" II
child is uRcomfortably seated he is pre- ty sure
to lean forward to the desk, thus bringing his
eyes too close to their work, and at the same
ton. The backs Of the seats ought to be
straight, and consist Of piece Of wood four
inches broad. If this is ar Unstable il would suit
any. child. The proper height OF this back
support the loins sufficiently to make
it easy and comfortable for the most
delicate children to sit perfectly straight.
They ought to be broad enough to support
almost the whole length of the thigh, the height
of the seat enough TO allow the sole of the foot
to rest in its natural position, and the desk
high and close enough to allow the elbow to
rest upon it without displaclDg the shoulders.
A fat desk promotes stooping position with its
attendant evils, Of close sight and gTavitation
of blood to the eyes. and besides does not per-
NIT the direction of vision most favorable to
the natural and easy movements Of the eye
balls.
An inclination of 40 to 50 degrees is consid-
cred the best for reading, IS when the body is
erect and the eyes are directed downward
and forward this brings the page at about
right angle with the lins Of vi sion. This would
be too steep for writing, hut by a simple mech
anism the desk and seat can De made adjust
able to any child.
Management of Light, with the Consequent
Strain upon the Eyesight-As the sense
of sight is the chief medium of educa-
ton, 10 is hardly possible to over-estimate
the importance and necessity for carefully OBJ
serving the manager cnt of light In school
rooms It has been positively established by
care fui and extensive statistics, that short
sight is most frequently, if not almost exclu-
sively, developed during school life.
This is due partly to the fact that the eve
during this period Of its growth is more liable
t. change in form, and partly to the fact that
children have much stronger power of ac-
eommodation than adults, and therefore hold
objects much closer to the eyes. The book or
paper should never be closer to the eve than
ten inches, and If there is short sight enough to
prevent he letters from being distinct at this
distance, it Is better to wear proper glasses in
studying.
AS q vast amount or reading is done by arti-
fetal light, and by imperfect eyes, the print
with ease, and pale ink should not be used In
writing.
In erecting public schools il involves but lit
to- f1ear