The Sauk Centre herald., 1903-10-22
SCHOOL SANITATION.

the teachers and school board meet
ing in this city Saturday and, we be-
lieVe, will be of value to all Of our
readers who are interested in school
work: -
The topic assigned to me, "school
sanitation" is presume, to be treat
ed In general rather than a scien-
'tlhc sehse. Sanitation is defined as
preservation of health, and "school
sanitation" should mean the health
preservation of the children attending
our schools both in villages and coun-
try districts. Naturally the first
thing to consider in establishing a
school in new district is the location.
preferably this should be central, but
should that point fall at a place tn at
Is not we'll drained and OF u good
character of soil it seems to me that
a little change one way or the other to
such a desired spot would be much
better thar geographical location.
What little may have to say on this
subject is not from a scientific study
but from a general observation of the
condition and location of buildings
see in my rounds through the coun-
try. 1t is surprising how little atten-
tion we pay to this subject, and how
little material We have at hand to per.
perfect ourselves in so important a
subject, even if so disposed. In our
public library of nearly 5000 volumes
in this city there is only one small
handbook devoted to the subject, and
aside from an occasional magazine
article, nothing to call our attention
to this subject.
Having located the building prop
erly the next step is to see that the
building itself is properly built with
regard to warmth, ventilation and
= light. In my opinion most country
buildings would be better for a good,
we'll ventilated and lighted basement
with cement floor, because this re.
moves us from any contamination
from the soil beneath, a source of no
little danger unless ideal locations
can be secured, and that is not the
rule. In this basement could be in
stalled the heating plant and fuel room
and a hot airshaft apart from the
chimney to aid ventilation in the as.
sembly room above. think the added
cost would be but little and would re-
pay in usefulness and health many
times the outlay. In the assembly
room most of the light should be from
the left side and rear of the room.
The amount OF light should be regu'
lated by the size of windows to CORE.
spond to the heating capacity. These
things can be ascertained from any
good architect, but it is rarely done.
In ventilation there is only one per.
feet systematic fan system or forced
ventilation: but the cost of the plant
and maintaining it, puts it out of the
question; hence we have to depend or
natural ventilation, by windows,
doors, freplaces, shafts, chimneys etc
Opening the windows directly is not
successful except in moderate or warm
weather. Still much may be gained by
certain devices from this source with
little i'll effect.
For warmth, steam is the only per-
fectlv satisfactory method. but II
iet, infc 1>il lX
be by stoves or furnaces for hot air.
Next we should consider the seats
and in mixed school this is no small
matter, and requires very Careful
judgment to adapt them to the age:
and sizes of the pupils. I do not thinl
this item receives much attention
Floors should be of hardwood, wei
oiled and scrubbed at frequent inter
walls. This saves the clouds of dust
that the ordinary soft floor and fire.
quent sweepings give rise to. The
dust contains many germs detrimental
to health.
Among the many things that the
teacher is required to know, not the
least is, who shall be admitted as pu-
pills? I do not deem it wise for any
pupil to be in attendance, who has
any infectious or contagious disease O.
the body or eyes; and as many OF these
diseases are simply the result of neg
ligence and general carelessness ii
seems that the school boards should
have sufficient back kboneto stand by any
teacher who insists on general cleanli
ness; hence 1 see no reason, even in
country district, why a small space
can not be given to material to farther
this matter. DR.. Ramsey of New
York. is so radical as to insist that nc
child should enter school until his eyes
have been examined and if defective
properly refracted. While I think
this is extreme, still I do know thai
many a child receives punishment
from supposed dulness or carelessness
when the reason he cannot recognize
F from T, or E from B, Is not his fault