The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-20
Our Children in School,

We desire to call the particular attention
Of parents to the matter referred to in the
following extract from the proceedings of
the last meeting of the School Committee,
an order introduced by DR.. Files.
Complaint having been made to members of this
board that pupils In several of our schools have
tracted severe, and In some cases. fatal sickness
from exposure to drafts from widely opened win
dows in close proximity to their desks, it ishereby
Ordered, That in those school buildings where no
provision is made for ventilation, the teachers be
quired to give recess OF minutes at intervals of
thirty minutes, during which time the windows and
doors be opened and every effort possible be made
to thoroughly change the air of the rooms.
1t was said in this connection that the
High school and the Cumberland street
Grammar school "are in a condition that
demands attention if we set any value upon
the health and the lives of our pupils" We
have reason to believe that this note of
alarm is sounded none too soon, and that in
other schools than those mentioned the con-
ditions of health are not properly regarded,
and that some of the things which in 9th
er cities are regarded as essential to
the welfare, comfort and progress of the pu-
pills are in Portland systematically neglect
ed.
Upon inquiry we learn that some of the
schoolhouses were constructed without
reference to the necessity of constant,
thorough ventilation of rooms in which a
large number of persons are confined. There
il no way of ventilation except by opening
the windows. As practiced this is positive
ly dangerous, for the cold air blows directly
upon the pupils in some parts of the room,
and in the seasons when the rooms areheat-
ed, either by furnace heat or steam, they are
frequently overheated before the teachers
think of opening the windows, and the pu-
pills are in a condition when it is perilons to
subject them, sitting in their seats,to sudden
cold drafts. 1t is hardly less perilous not to
admit the fresh air and to allow the children
to continue breathing over and over again
the Initiated and poisoned air of the room.
There are devices for overcoming in de-
gree the fault of construction to which we
have referred, and it is surprising that they
are not more in USE 1t is possible to secure
constant ventilation by the windows and at
the same time prevent strong direct drafts.
TIE most simple device is to have for every
window board, say six inches wide, and in
length equal to the width of the sash. Then
by raising the sash, setting the board in the
groove and shutting the sash down close on
the board, there will be an opening between
the upper and lower sashes through which a
current of fresh air will flow from outside.
There are some devices for admitting air
through screen so inserted, and giving it
an upward current, SO that persons may sit
quite near the window without feeling a
draft. These might not admit air enough
for the complete venti~ ton of room occu-
pied for several hours by fifty children but
would be vast improvement upon tightly
closed room, and all the school rooms of the
city could be supplied with the best patent
device for each window in them at a
small cost, compared to the cost of altering
the building.
Another criticism we would make is upon
the neglect of any regular physical exercise.
The sessions of the High school are. very
long. To be sure they are interrupted by
two short recesses; but the pupils especially
the girls are not certain to take such exer-
else as they should for proper recreation Of
their bodies and minds, and the younger pu-
pills in the other schools need such exercise
still more. Five minutes twice in the schoo
session devoted to active exercise, marching
and calisthenics, with open windows which
danger, would refresh body and spirits ant
quicken intelligence wonderfully. In mos
places this is now regarded as essential t.
health and great help to progress in study
and it is required by committees. The Port
land schools are remiss and behindhand IL
this regard. DR.. Files's order ought to b.
adopted or something more ought to b,
dapa