Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-03
Health in the Schools.

Report of the Committee Appointed to Investfgate-Parents Consulted and Teachers as WeII-The Responsibility of Parents.
 The Committee on Schools made the follow ing report to the Board of Education last evening concerning the health of the sch ools, which WAS accepted and lodged on file:
 The Committee on Schools would report that they have spent considerable time dur ing the past week in trying to ascertain the true condition of the schools in respect to health, and have visited several of the gram mar schools to observe the rooms with re- spect to heating and ventilation, and the method pursued by teachers in reference to physical exercises and other means of ensur- ing favorable conditions.
 Principals of grammar schools have also been asked to report concerning the four up per rooms in their several schools in answer to the following questions
 1. How many pupils have been dropped l after five days of sickness since September | 1st
 ?. How many, if any, of those dropped were made sick by over study? 3. How many not included in the above are apparently overworked? f. In view of the facts in the case, ought the work in these grades to be reduced? The whole number reported as having been dropped for sickness is 158. In seeking to give accurate answers to the | second question principals have consulted | parents in most cases when it seemed possi- | ble that sickness may have came from over ! work or other causes for which the school is responsible, and have inquired particularly | into the habits of pupils out of school. These 1 reports do not indicate single case of sick ness for which the school is necessarily re- sponsible.
 la four cases the delicate appearance of the children would seem to bear out their I statements that their lessons are too hard, and it would appear that their parents are unwise in allowing them to attend school continuously, and in one care where the teachers are satisfied that child is working beyond her ability the parents had at differ ent times been advised of the danger. ! Most of the sickness has taken some one of the following forms Malarial fever, meas les, rheumatism, typhoid fever, toothache, scarlet fever, asthma, sore throat, colds, chills and fever.
 Several cases of severe cold are represent ed as having been contracted either while skating or selling papers
 The only death reported resulted from the amputation of 8 limb. Three principals are of the opinion that the amount of work ln some grades could be reduced with beneficial results. The others are emphatic in think | Ing that none too much IaDOf IS eXacGeQ, anO say that pupils smile when the possibility ot overwork is suggested. It is also affirmed that considerable portion of school time is consumed by music, drawing, calisthenics, oral instruction, recesses and other exercises, wherein little mental strain is involved, and that comparatively little time is spent in close 1 study. In regard to home work the time re ported as given to study varies from half an ! hour to an hour and half with an average not much above half an hour.
 I Easing our conclusion upon actual obser vation and the facts stated in these reports, ! the committee is of the unanimous opinion ! that there is nothing in the methods oi teaching, discipline and other conditions I of school life to warrant anxiety on the part | of parents, or to call for any marked changes in school management.
 There is no reason to believe that, were our investigation extended to the lower l grades or to the High school, different re- suit would be obtained. It belongs to the Committee on School Buildings to improve as rapidly as possible the facilities for chang ing the air in school rooms and teachers will be held to rigid observance of the rules which make them responsible for the use oi these facilities. Beyond this the responsi biIity must rest to very large extent with ! parents to see that their children are proper ! ly clad are regular and cleanly in their habits ! and do not neglect to take proper exercise l and recreation out of school.
 M. ZUNDER,
 F. B. HARRISON, | J. D. PLUNKETT.