The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-03-31
LETTER FROM A TEACHER
WAC Discusses III, Med, Of anew s,tooI BaI'd.r.

20 The Free Lance.
Having read the communication thl
Judge Wallace had published Do OH.
last issue oi your peVer. ] iee. shat
must .ay iou tliLg- on tae other
side oi o.. question. Whether these
views wili Boz regarded a- "c.aI-trap or
treason. am not sure, bu- at least
they will be- honest sentiments, created
hy experiences iu the scAooi-ioom' uotA
a. pupil and teacher
fredericksburg, crying need at pres
eut is proper school building. in winch
all the white pupils of the town may De
accommodated. a building properly
lighted. heated and most OF all. properly
ventilated. There are three grades Oh
tine regular school taught u dark un-
comfortable badly ventilated rooms at
the courthouse. and the overflow school
numbering more than forty pupils, De-
taught in d room probably One-third tle
size necessary for that nunber of pupils,
and having for lights and ventilation
one window on The side and two smaI
ONES at the end pi The room, one each
side of thedOOr None az these windows.
az the courthouse or the overflow, low
er from the top and the air thus blows
directly upon the children when lt ls
necessary to have tie windows raised
Try ~ much as they may, the teachers
find II impossible To- keep the atmosphere
of these rooms pure. Any person who
has tried 10 DO brain work in "a badly
ventilated room viii understand oi
once the difficulties confronting teachers
and pupils of the grades Without un-
Outstanding why, the children become
3rowsv. inattentivean generally stupid
and the teacher is almost as bad, Tor tDD
existing conditions affect both alike
they are poisoned 10y impure air
TIE schools are open 10 visitors. IL
any one who wishes 10 test The truth OF
these statements visit the above mon
toned grades, not for q few minutes, bur
for am hour or more. aud.my word iOrlf
that person will be- glad 10 emerge once
more into Gods pure air and sunshine
The City Council appreciates the iact
that our schools are rot properly
housed. The School Board is also alive
10 this pressing need Both OF these
bodies are composed oil representative"
business men OF the city, many OI them
fathers of families who naturally have
the welfare oi the children Oi the town
at heart. and who also are supposed To
have business interest OF the town in
their especial care As for the expense o.
new school. why go 10 the expense OF
erecting building inadequate to meet
the demands made upon 10 a lew years
hence? We have had enough OF make
shifts. The best is always the most eco
nomical. We want q building larc,
enough for our whole school. and one in
which teachers and pupils may remain
in comfort. We want q house we shall
not be ashamed To show to visitors.
Strangers visiting a place Judge the in-
tllpctual status of that place largely by
its school buildings, and in that respect
Fredericksburg has small cause iorpIide.
This is the day of monuments. let uf
erect one.not to any dead and gone nero
but "a monument dedicated to the ntall-
gence and progressive spirit OF Our peo-
DIE. and let il assume the shape oi nice
neT. commudiOus school building up-to-
dat i'm every respect
Respectfully,
Agnes p. Roach.
| March 29. 1906.