Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-04-15
Sanitary Investigation of the Public
Schools.

The Olney Board of Health has lately
made certain investigations as to the SAM
tary condition of the public schools OF that
district with results which should be of in
terest to the public, since these schools are
doubtless fair sample of those of the rest
of the State.
Three Of the buildings were found in very
bad repair floors worn out, plastering of
and otherwise dilapidated, making them
difficult to warm and so draughty as to be
dangerous to the health of the children com
PEELED to suffer in them. Most of them how
ever are fairly well adapted to the purpose
| intended and doubtless the Commissioners
have been trying to do the best they can
with inadequate funds.
| In view OF the severe epidemic of small
pox, which orr gnating in Georgia, has
spread to other st, ties and is gradually APP
preaching us, il would be well to notice
how the law compelling all children who
attend the publ 'chools to be vacclnated,
is carried was found that most Of
| the te' 1t sufficiently impressed
Nv Importance of this law, nor was IL
thoroughly understood by all. Some had
made no examination of the pupils, con
sidering the law "dead letter." They, as
rule, agreed to attend to its proper OBJ
servance when its importance was pointed
out to them, 1t would be well for parents
themselves to see that their children are
vaccinated in accordance with law and for
their own safeguard.
1t was found that in only one school were
the children required to furnish and use
their individual drinking cups, though sew
eral of the teachers expressed themselves as
favorable TO the p Ian, and stated that they
would endeavor to have it introduced, thus
| oil nj nd a
danger of spreading diphtheria and similar
diseases.
All the teachers seemed to understand to
greater or less extent the responsibility
resting upon them when case Of conta
gious disease is found among the scholars,
or when they know that one or more have
been exposed to contagious disease. The
usual steps taken by the teachers may be
summed up as follows:
The child suffering from or who has been
exposed to contagious disease is sent home
and not allowed TO return TO school until
the teacher is satisfied by physcan's Ger
titicate, or otherwise that all danger Is past I;
and the other children are not permitted to
expose themselves TO contagOn so lar as
possible.
The entire absence OF contagious diseases
from the schools of Olney district this year
demc should not be permitted ever to gain
a foothod in our county. Much depends
upon our public school teachers in this re
spect. With our capable school board and
exceptionally intelligent public school teach
ers we should be in a very advantageous pc
sition to combat diseases If proper system
of CO operation between the State Board OF
Health, local health boards, and the school
authorities and teachers can be established
There was very general desire expressed
by the teachers To assist the board OF health
in every way in their power.
The eyesight of pupils is often seriously
injured by faulty construction or arrange
ment OF des ks and seats. Children are com
PEELED to lean forward or to sit In Injurious
attitudes because the desk is not suited to
the size OF the child, or the seat is not placed
in proper position. In nearly all the
schools the desks are antiquated and i'm
properly arranged. In some instances the
children are compelled to lean forward at a
considerable angle In order TO read book
placed on the desk. This is simply inviting
disease The front edge OF chair or bench
should be a little under the edge OF the desk,
the seat Just high enough to permit the sole
of the foot to rest flat on the floor with knees
bent at a right angle. The desk should be
| high enough TO bring a book lying on it just
about fourteen inches from the eyes
With but one exception the school build
ings were found to be without any prOvis
| ion for free circulation of air. Even the fine
new building at Sandy Spring was totally
deficient in this respect. trap-doOr in the
ceiling enables the teacher to let out the
overheated air when necessary, but the door
and windows alone supply pure air from
the outside. 1t is unfortunate that the i'm
portance of thorough ventilation without
draughts was not appreciated by those plan
ming this building, since the contractor fully
understood the principle and would have
constructed the building with scientific sys-
TEN of ventilation at little or no increase of
cost had the specifications called for IL
AS is well known the bad air Of a room,
including the dust particles, settles 10 the
lower strata, and a hole in the top OF the
building only permits the exit Of the warm
air, apt to be the purest, or admits draught
of cold air IRON outside upon the heads OF
those beneath. The opening Of a window
does admit fresh air, but also endangers those
sitting 10 the draught. The best method
would be TO force pure air already heated
into the room and provide an exit for i'm
pure air near the floor. The warm air will
then fill the upper part OF the room. forcing
the foul air down and out.
In our county schools IL is not practicable
to force in heated air, but pure air can be
admitted through box leading under the
floor and opening under the stove where II
will be more or less heated aud rise TO the
top of the room, then If a ventilating shaft
be placed in a corner out OF the way with its
opening near the floor some distance from
the inlet, the foul air will be forced down
and out When the shalt is part OF the
chimney the heat of the smoke pipe will as
sist the upward draught but when the shaft
has 10 be made independently some kind Of
ventilating cap, such as the Star, should be
placed on top To cause an upward suction.
The saving in fuel is Il considerable item in
favor OF this system, as the colder air next
the floor is drawn off and the warm air is
equally distributed from floor TO ceiling in
every part of the room. One school build
ing 10 the district il ventilated as described
above with entirely satisfactory results, the
room being comfortable and air pleasant
with door and windows closed.
Proper ventilation could be provided 10
all our schools at a cost OF not more than
$25 in any one case, and tor most buildings
$l5 would cover the expense 1t Is gener
ally considered that not less than 200 cubic
feet OF air space should be allowed for each
child this however depends very materially
on the question OF circulation Of air. One
school ia the district has 1913 cubic feet Of
air space Tor each pupil, and yet the room is
nearly always close and uncomfortable, be-
ing tight building with no provision Tor
ventilation except by window and trap door,
while in another with proper system Of
ventilation the air is always pure and pleas
ant and the temperature comfortable, yet
this school only has 100 cubic feet Of air
space for each child.
A coal stove with the door open, or a fire.
place, will give very fair method Of circu.
lation of air, but without proper inlet,
| draughts will be caused.
Cure for Headache.