The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05
CLOSE OF THE EDUCATIONAL CONVENTION,

that the whole child be subjected to the
influence of education. The body should
be trained in such way as to give it per-
feet health, and hygiene thoroughly taught
so as to render the child capable of caring
Tor itself. Without perfect bodily health
there can be no perfect mental health.
Teachers should not deceive themselves
by looking on the gymnasium as illustra-
tive OF perfect hygiene. By the time the
nigh school is reached to give girls gym
nastlc training it is nearly impossible to
do so.
'The girls time out of school is spent at
the piano, sewing or in recreatlons not
always healthful. Under such conditions
the girls physical education must be I'M
/ dertaken. When people are told what the
new system Of physical education means
they are not always able to appreciate it.
1t Is claimed by some that the girls can
get all the exercise they need at home
Su1h exercise, however, is not physical
training. Others hold that gymnastics
ought to be considered a recreation. Such,
| however, Is not the case. If good results
are to be obtained they must be got to
work the same as in any other study. The
pubic school is the only place in which
the scholar could receive perfect education.
When people are made to understand the
necessities, physical as well as mental,
OF the child then we shall see the dawnlng
OF the day of perfect education"
ANOTHER important paper was read by
j. w. McClymonds on The Sanitary
Construction of School Buildings" His
remarks were illustrated by diagrams,
which he sketched on blackboard as he
spoke. Among the many old truths in
new gulse which he dwelt upon was the
necessity for the use of judgment is select
ing grounds for school buildings. In the
hrst place the site should be dry and large
enough to afford sevenGy-five square feet of
play space to the pupil. 1t is the first
Juty of the city to furnish ample school
grounds. The school should be located on
the northwest corner of the lot, where it
Will cast the least shadow. The worst
place for location is on the south. because
1t compels the children to play in the
shade. He had known of ice being for
three days in the yard of one of the local
schools Colds were the consequence.
The school should not exceed two stories
In height. Primary schools should be OF
only one story. Air should pass through
the basement day and night. The build
ing should have only single row of rooms
! along the corridors. The south light is
the best light for the schoolroom. The
east rooms are more desirable than those
on the west. The best shape for a school
room IS oblong. The ceiling should be
Il feet high, allowing 155 cubic and Is
square feet to each pupil
Regarding the furniture of the school
room, Mr.. McClymonds said that bodily
defects in children are frequently due to
! poor schooldesks. He believed there would
/ some time be used only the adjustable
! desk. The height of the desk should be
that OF the knee. Dangers Turk in the
sweeping of rooms. Damp sawdust should
| be used in sweeping and the schools could
| be kept cleaner with it. Each desk should
be cleaned and vanished when the desk
passed IN use from one scholar to another.
| When the classrooms are not in use, air
and sunlight should be admitted to them.
The permanent inhalation of impure all
brings on disease. They all knew the
truth OF that statement ANY system OF
heating the air which does not provide fol-
the renewal of the same is worthless. One
OF the best fireplaces was the old -fashioned
! fireplace. The London High School is
heated in that way, and schoolroom with
! two or three such tireplaces would be well
heated and well ventilated. A system oi
ventilation, to be perfect, must permit o
continued flow ot pure air. One of the
most important features of the school is
| perfect ventilation.
! In conclusion Mr.. McCleymonds recon-
mended that all light be admitted to
! schoolrooms from one side, and that al