New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-18

HON. SCHOOL FUNDS NAY BE APILIED.
We print this morning additional facts and
figures in regard to the condition and needs of
our public schools and additional comments on
the state of affairs which has been disclosed.
The information given by the well-known san
itarian, DR.. A. \. Bell, concerning the serious
dangers to the health of thousands of children
from defective light, ventilation and drainage
is of grave Importance to every parent who has
Il boy or Il girl in any one of the older and less
carefully constructed buildings There is
great force in Dr. Bells suggestion that the
root of the evil may be found in the system
which divides the responsibility between the
Board of Health and the Board of Education.
1t would be far better to hold the Health De-
paltmtnt solely responsible for the sanitary
condition of our school hOuScS. il should be
required by law TO have all necessary changes
and improvements made without delay, the
Board of Estimate and AppOrtiOnmcnt being
authorized to make a special appropriation for
the purpose. Unfortunately, it is evident that
we cannot rely on our Board of Education TO
look sharply after the health Of the children.
Some of the members are too busy in efforts 10
raise salaries in the Normal College, and in the
executive and supervisory staff of the central
OIllCt W tOllltIH dbbtl lllt lHllltu
air which these little ones are breathing. Others
without taking the pains to investigate the sub
icct thoroughly, dismiss the whole matter with Il
shrug of the shoulders and a cOntcmptuous
remark about cXaggcration and humbug."
Bat no one can deny that the inspectors Of
the Health Department only few days ago
sent in at least seventy reports showing defects
i'll the sanitary arrangement of the school build
ings These inspectors are not prone TO cxag-
geTatc or to find fault unreasonable They
have nothing to gain by mi,rcprcscnting the
condition of the SchO0l-h houses, and they know a
great deal more about drainage and ventilation
than do most of Our excellent Commissioners,
The gentlemen who take up the time of the
Board with plans TO add 81 900 TO the salary
of the City Superintendent and to raise the pay
of President Hunters accomplished associates
while these evils exist, are making Il great mis-
take. One Commissioner says that at any rate the
children who come from tenement houses are i'm
much healthier surroundings in the school
rooms than they are in when at home. Very
likely. But how long since the City of New
York set up its tenement-houses as standard
by which to measure its schools?
No. thousand times no. Ii is the first.
the most pressing, the instant duty of our Com
missiOnCrS to see 10 it that our schools are sweet
and clean and sound Everything must wait
for that. Mr.. Jasper can struggle little
longer Oh a salary of $4,000; the professors
in the Normal College can exist for time on
81, 600 cach every scheme to enlarge the out
lay on our system of public instruction can wait
until the air i'll our school houses is made pure
and wholesome. If necessary we can even put
of the building of new houses and spend some
of the money which might be used for them on
the old ones. But meanwhile do not
crowd the rooms now in use to an unhealthful
extent This great city owes it to her people
that every child within her borders shall have
an opportunity to gain common school educa-
ton at the public expense. But that education
must not be given in such foul air as to stunt
and enfecble the childs body and imperi its
life.
We think, however, that few intelligent and
thoughtful people, after studying the articles
which THE TRIBUNE of last Sunday and of to-