, 1882-10-14

The large attendance at cur schools makea
it matter of the irst importance that the
buildings should be managed with regard to
heating and ventiiation 50 as to secure fhe
best sanitary condition The schools to
great extent have charge. not only OF the
minds, bat of the bodies Of the children oi
the community, and As much attention
should be paid TO the one, as to the other.
The daily gathering together of large num-
bers Of children Of all classes undoubtedly
creates occa,ion for the spread OF diseases
incident to youth, and hence, the most con-
slant and rigorous care should be taken to
mitigate the danger. l. is one that cannot
be entirely separated from our school sys-
TEN. but it can be lzrgely controlled by good
sanitary conditions in the buildings and by
strict regulations. Some CT the rooms IN
our best school buildings are overcroWded-
In these rooms the teachers are overworked
and ventilation is of course imperfect. An
oyercrowded school room cannot be made
hea,thful except by lessening the number
of its occupants. During cold weather, now
here, the difficulty Of keeping the school
room thoroughly ventilated and preserving
at the same time q proper temperature and
freedom from draughts, is greatly Increased
and requires constant watehfulness of those
in charge. Aside from this, there is another
evil. commonly enough practised in this
country. which has been songht ont BY
snperintcndents in the east, and corrected in
many places. We refer to the habit Of max
ing children stand through long continued
recitations. Here Is what An educational
journal says Of it:
"A more serious evil than any sh0rteom-
ing Of the textbook makers Is found IN the
discipline OF the school room which requires
the children 20 stand up daring the recita-
tions Of their class To boys this is npl-
sance and weariness OF flesh, but 1t proba-
bly, has no more serious result than inspiring
them with hatred Of learning and of every
thing connected with study. But with the
girls the injury done to their physical sys-
ten is alike beyond calculation and repara-
ton. The time occupied in single recita-
lion is from twenty to thirty five minutes
to remain standing perfectly still anu IN =
constrained attitude, toeinc mark ana IN
der a: watchiul eye OF teacher for that
time is a physical ard mental effort that
would tax the energies Of an ordinary man
but little girls and girls just entering INTO
womanhood are required to do this, not once,
but half dozen times a day. OF the NO
men OF American birth not one III ten Is
physically fit to live nine oat OF ten are TO
a greater or less extent invalids and suffer
ing from injuries connected with their sex
ual structure The causes of the physical
bad condition of our women ale too nnmer-
Gus to mention, but If anything was wanted
to complete her break down, It would be
very eiiectually done by the barbarous IT..
Juirements put upon her while at school OF
standing up and toeing line. The enforce
ment of such a rule argues either gross igno-
rance of the most elementary facts ot PhysI-
ology, or still more culpable indifference to
the health and welfare of the pupils who are
compelled 10 ruin their health to get an
education. The only reason alleged IN eN-
cuse for 1t Is the convenience Ot the teachers
but onvenienee Of the teachers which IL
obtained only by the sacraiice OF the chill.
dren's health is too dearly bought