The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-11-04
Representative ot The Advertiser Finds That Rooms Occupied by White Children Are 0vercrowd- d and That Ventilation of Many of the Buildings is Poor.

cry. in different sections of the city, are exposed to conditions recognized as unfavorable to comfort, the principles of hygiene. and to the rules of health. This statement-made wi:h important qualifications which will be developed -is made after an investigation of the ten white schools of the city by a representative of The Advertiser. du- ring the last ten lays.
 Several weeks ago The Advertis CT made the suggestion to the Board of Education of the city of Montgomery that an inspection be made of the sys- tenn. with the object of presenting to the public the physical conditions oh- taining in the city schools. It is a matter of record that comparatively few of the several thousand parents of school children in the city ever make personal visits to the schools. Reports they may hear of conditions surround ing their children during six hours of the day for nine months of the year are received only through the children themselves, and are not always to be relied upon. For the purpose of mak- ing a matter of public concern a mat ter of public knowledge. The Adver- tiser undertook the problem.
 Approved by School Omcials.
 The suggestion of this newspaper was met with approval by the Board of Education and by Superintendent c. L. Floyd. Every assistance was offered Advertiser by the Superintendent and by the respective principals of the diff ferent buildings in the prosecution of the assignment. His visits were un- heralded to the teaching forces of tLe schools. At no time was hesitation on the part of any teacher or principal expressed to disclose any feature of thA ~l~ tons In the school. the doors of the closet were thrown wide open.
 In making mention of faults in the schools of Montgomery, it Is just lo state that there is, perhaps, no one de- feet which evists in every bull /rg. In- deed. in several of the buildings, con- diticns are as nearly perfect as could be obtained. Faults found are indi- vidual in their application. and cannot be charged to the system as a whole. Certain undesirable conditions exist in certain buildings. and others in other locations.
 Speaking generally. the faults of the schools of the city are those of defec- tive architecture in some of the old buildings: defective equipment. espe- cially with regard to ventilating sys- tens: defective sanitary systems in certain of the schools: and lack of room for the accommodation of the number of pupils in attendance. which in at least one building the Sayre Street School. Is decidedly pronounced.
 There are other troubles which are due to delay in making repairs. This is notably so in the case of leakage of the roofs of certain buildings in re- pairs needed in the heating equipment of at least two buildings and in delay to provide a remedy for the periodical 1nurdation of the cellar of the West End school. In several instances. ac- cording to information received, the work of repair has been ordered but not completed; in others repair Is still under considerations; while in still oth- CTS the matter, apparently. has been neglected.
 Inspection Brought Remedy.
 In one particular measures which had been overlooked have been ordered attended to since the inspection began. This is in the providing of disnfec- tants for the closets of the different buildings, in none of which, it was learned, had any of the commodity been used since the beginning of the school term this year. Within the last week. however. quantities have oeen ordered from the City Sanitary Department for every building in the city.
 There are in the City of Montgomery ten schools devoted to the use of white children. These include the Sayre Street
 
 Sayre streets: the Cottage Hill or Her ron Street School, at 200 Heron street; Capitol Hill School 100 North Union street: Decatur Street School. corner Decatur and Alabama streets; Bellinger Heights School. at Lawrence and Fin ley streets; Highland Park School at Highland avenue and Arthur street; West End School, at Clay and Conecuh streets; the little Hunt street school near Hunt and Lafayette streets; the Boys High School, in the old Billing mansion, 519 Clayton street; and the Girls High School at Lawrence and High streets. These buildings were visited in the order named. five morn- ings when school was in session, being devoted to the inspection.
 SAYRE STREET SCHOOL.
 Perhaps the poorest conditions to be found in the city are those at the Sayre Street School. The building is old and built along lines not in accordance with the principles recognized in the modern school structure There is no system for ventilation. the teachers being compelled. in order to get fresh air, to open windows. During cold winter weather. the open window works a hardship upon teachers and pupils alike. On cold days. 1t was stated, the thermometer is freouentIv = stances last winter the rooms were so cold as to necessitate the closing of the school
 To avoid, so far as possible, the ill effects of the lack of ventilating sys- tenn, the teachers take advantage of the thirty minute period of recess, in which to throw open the windows and secure a supply of fresh air. This sup ply. however. on days which are too cold to admit of the window being opened, during the time the pupils are in their seats, without discomforrt. is not sufficient for the remainder of the session.
 Defects At Sayre Street.
 In addition to their lack of proper ventilating system, the teachers of the building are further handicapped by a defective heating system Steam heat, generated by a furnace in the cellar is used and passed through pi es to the different rooms of the building. The day on which the visit of inspection was made, the temperature of the rooms of the building on the first and second floors was evenly regulated, the Thermometers registering very close to 70 degrees. which is regarded in the schools as being the temperature most desirable for school work. On cold days in winter, however, it was said difficulty is encountered in keeping the temperature of the rooms above 65 de- grees, and it has happened that in eooms on the north side 0k the build