Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-03-01
COMMUNICATED.

Mr.. EDIToR-Haying had occasion,
short time ago, to call at the Graded
School on business, stepped into the
primary room to ask a question. |
was there not longer than minute,
but the atmosphere was so foul with
the exhalations of the many children
with whom the room was crowded
that | was glad to escape into the fresh
air. Since then l have been thinking
over the condition of things upon which
l came so unexpectedly and have been
disturbed by a sense of my response
Utility in the matter as a citizen of
this town. If I could not endure the
atmosphere of that room for more than
one minute, what must be the effect
upon the children and the teacher
who are compelled to breathe it for
six hours every day for FIVE days in
every week.
Of the condition of things in the
other rooms in that school | know
nothing, as the primary room was the
only one entered, but, if we can make
a comparison in a matter of such mo-
ment to all, that is the room in which
there is the greatest need of pure air.
The effect upon those little children,
especially at a period of life when they
are most susceptible to such influences,
cannot but be injurious, tending to
break down their health, to make
them an easy prey TO disease and to
leave its baneful mark in some way
on their whole future. As | believe
the physical, mental and moral are so
closely allied that one cannot suffer
without the other, l apprehend a
damage TO the characters as well as to
the bodily health Of these children.
There must be, under such circumstan-
ces, vexations and irritations making
the administration of discipline more
difficult.
do not know what steps, if any,
towards securing proper ventilation
have been taken by the gentlemen
who have charge of the school building
Possibly they are as much exercised in
the matter as | am and are simply
waiting for the support of public opin-
ion before taking the matter vigorously
in hand-but the case is too urgent to
admit delay. Allowing the windows
to remain open while the school is in
session would be more dangerous than
helpful, as the draught that would be
thus created would be almost sure to
give the children cold, especially after
they had been for hours breathing
impure air. am sure the solcitude
of parents and the good sense of the
community in general would sustain
the trustees in any expenditure which
may be necessary to the health of our
children. Economy in sanitary mat
tiers is always wastefulness, but never
more so than in connection with a
school building, and particularly so
in a primary school room. Mental
work is extremely difficult in a badly
ventilated room-neither teacher nor
scholar can do their best, and there
fore much of the money expended in
running the school is wasted. Vastly
better results might be obtained with
less money if the sanitary conditions
were improved.
| am informed that the teacher of
the primary class to which I allude is
one of the best in the county, but |
can imagine how greatly she must be
hampered in her work and how severe
ly her energies must be strained in
contending with the obstacle Of which
| speak. The future Of our town de-
ponds to a great extent upon our
children and their educators, and
their health and morals are of too
great Importance to be needlessly
jeopardized.
WM. H. NELSON.