The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-03-31
OvERCROWDED
SCHOOL ROOMS

The attendance at the sessions of the
Pierce County Teachers institute indi-
cate the keen interest that is being taken
in school matters at this time.
DR.. A. Z. Winship proves to be one of
the most popular speakers who ever came
to Tacoma. His addresses are as inter
esting to school patrons as they are to
teachers. He combines the qualities of
wit and a philosopher, and commands the
closest attention of his hearers His adj
dress this morning on Manners and Nor
ais was a mastery production, worthy
the attention of teachers and parents
alike
An address that was listened to with
much interest was that given this morn
ing by j. b. Keener, an attorney of Ia
coma. ON THE Physical Side of Educa-
ton The speaker dwelt upon the ne
cession for the development of both the
mind and body. He said that if it was
true that there is no brain stimulus ex-
cept that which comes through the mus
cles, educators of today have fallen far
short of making the conditions proper
for the highest physical development
Mr.. Keener spoke of those things that
hndered the best physical and intellectual
development. He put special emphasis
upon the untavorable conditions existing
in many of the best schools and the prob
lens and hindrances that make proper de-
velopment impossible, In this connection
he said:
Another very serious problem that con
fronts us is that of overerowded school
rooms. When is a school room overcrowd-
cd? When there is no more room for
desks? When there are more children
than single desks? When there is but
standing room? Judging from observa-
ton, all these theories are held. The only
safe criterion is cubic air space for each
child. Each child may have desk and
still the room he overcrowded Children
may have only standing room and the
room may not be overcrowded Four or
five years ago, citizens committees in
vestigated the schools of Boston, Buffalo.
Philadelphia and Washington as to their
Overcrowded conditions. The reports of
these committees showed the results OF
the investigations in these four places to
be similar
'"1he entire buildings in five wards in
Philadelphia were Overcrowded, some to
"suffocation.' In Buffalo "a out of Sc
grammar schools were found to have every
room overcrowded. In some of the rooms
the air space for each child was as low as
66 cubic feet instead of 250 cubic feet.
the standard. Now, these are representa-
tive cities, and if such results are found
10 exist in them, may not even more
startling things be found in other cities,
towns and townships? Then, too in most
of these schools the furniture was insult
able for the children sometimes so high
that the child's feet were swinging be-
tween heaven and earth while at times
the seats were too low and small. COM
pelling the child to sit in a crouching posi-
ton. Truly the days of physical torture
are not thing of the past"
Last night the teachers of Tacoma gave
reception to the visiting teachers at
the Ferry museum. From an educat tional
point it would have been impossible to
select a better place. The evening was
spent in listening to good music and brill
liant speeches.
The program for tomorrow will be as
follows
FORENOON.
NJ f. church-Address. rs Teaching
a Profession?' DIR. A. f. Winship.
High school-Room introductory
G6Onelfg, Professor Morgan. Room 10
"What Are Bacteria? Where Are They
Found? How Do They Lve?' DR.. Veg
ener Room 4-"Primary Reading-the
Thought Side" Miss Sawyer. Assembly
physical Diagnosis of School Chill
dren," Professor Yoder. Room 8-"Art
in Schools" Miss Campbell Room o
Subject to be supplied, Assistant State Su-
perintendent McCully.
NJ. f. ehuch-Address, "Finding the
Remainder" Superintendent F. B. Coop
er.
AFTERNOON
High school-Room l4-"Selecting a
Reference Library in History and Civics.
Professor Yoder. Room 10" Bacteria in
Relation to Disease. What Diseases Are
Caused by Bacterial Dr. II. F Wegener.
Room 4-"Some Parallels Between Teach
ing and Supervising. Superintendent F. B.
Cooper. Assembly room" Primary Read
ing on the Form Side.7 Miss Sawyer
Room s." Correlation, Professor Morgan
Room 9-Subject to be supplied, Assistant
State Superintendent McCully.
NJ. E. church-Farewell address DR.. \.
E. Winship.