The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-11
SCHOOLS NOT FIT
REPORTED AGAINST
DR.. Clark of the State Sanitary
Inspection Tells Griey-
Gus Tale.
ASKS FOR MORE POWER
TO COMPEL SANITATION
Bad Conditions Detailed i'm
Many Rural and Some
City Schools.

comforts and the modern conveniences
of the latest city educational building,
every one realizes, but the actual con-
ditions of some Of the poetical little
red country school houses would not be
appreciated or believed, according to
State Sanitary Inspector Clark, unless
one had accompanied him on several
Of his recent tours Of inspection in the
rural districts. That the country child
has right to decent sanitary condi.
tions would be freely admitted by even
the most ardent urban dwcller, but ac-
cording to DR.. Clark, that great heri-
tage OF the country child, fresh air, is
shut out from his enjoyment as surely
AS though locked in Jail.
DR.. Clark has visited school after
school only TO find one condition worse
than the other In many cases the
school had been enlarged in the most
makeshift way, with little regard to
the health of the pupils, as though they
were so many cattle. But while the
Inspector might advise. threaten and
scold he was powerless to help condi-
tions or order them improved, and the
trustees of the schools. the only Off
erals who could do anything, knowing
ms heIIplcssness, were serenely indifrer-
ent TO his complaints The inspector did
his best under the circumstances; he
ADVISED and suggested to the teacher,
gave instructions how to mir The room
so as to give pupils as much ozone as
possible. In some eases the suggestions
were received gladly; in others they
were lnhfferently listened to.
Those interested in the matter arc
making strenuous efforts to have the
present legislature solve the problem
and give the country child equal rights
IN regard TO health with the child of
the pavements by putting into TIE hands
OF the State Board of Health the author
lIy, to condemn and order improvements.
IhIs would mean revolution in rural
conditions
- 1t is only because of the excellent
climatic conditions of Utah." declared
the inspector, "that there is not a
greater amount of illness of yarions
Kinds IN the country than now exists.D
AND That 1T is not necessary to 90
very far away from home TO find things
almost as bad, is proven by n condition
eSHiIs'lng SaI. IN one OF the ward schools in
ISalt Lake, where children are said to
DE huddied up against a radiator siz-
zllng not, and broil and perspire until
they reach the cold air. Then their
mothers wonder why Tommy and Jim.
my and Jane. have colds all winter
folloWlng is the report Dr. Clark has
made or hls recent Investigations.
one OF the greatest crimes being .ner-
petrated today is that Of negligence as
Ics9Tds the sanitation of schools Such
neg @neSHgence is nothing less than criminal
and should he brought 10 the notinn a.
those who make our laws that the Gov
altlons may be corrected before n js
sIiza sII 'aIe: re , II we as indyIduals could re-
whs, 'me NJ great responsibility we assume
~heh we undertake 10 provide buildings
lot educational purposes and couId Sec
.ne necessity OF the strictest precaution
fr9rhIe tlry measures In order to prevent eye
ana the dull, apathetic, and seemingly |
oachWarc intellect. we would do all in |
our power to raise the standard of orr
SCHOOLS To one OF proper efficiency
But, not until much damage has beop
gone, are we brought face 10 face with |
s'e cause not until our children acquire |
with lasting disease do we probe The |
matter to the bottom. and attemnt to |
make amends. II the children arc bacl, |
son som for IN q scnGSe nf%a there here Is usually rea
Ihey are, If we take the trouble 10 IN
qulre' kept In a close. poorly vantiIate5
ar Tor ter pupils, and where there are
i1prty ,py or fifty pupils crowded together
they become intoxicated by their own
eaete ea,sw IL nds'er, w, We AL know how neces-
inspired air shall be CONTINUOUSLY dis lse
thsi chhafssd from the body. and we know
ties OF the vItiated air may produce The
effect Of undue coz in the air is 70 inc inc
ttne tetreiere with the function of respira
tsGhc vbac il therefore follows that the air
winch we breathe must be as free as
possible from the impurities which We
continually discharge and only by cono
SISnt TIs G qiin.l9n r,I OF them by constant sup
proNimate)y speaking: each pupIl in =.
school room should receive at least eno
ebonJ cb,'ia leet OF air space, and the rooms
Times I'm day The windows should be
large and numerous and according 70
she she,r estlmaies nd1 OF different authorities,
a tenth to fourth OF the floor area
How poorly our schools follow this
sIan1ard or requirement has been ex
emplihed time and time again in NV
tours OF inspection throughout the varj,
o, ons portions OF the State. have expe-
rienced all sorts and conditions of
Of Tea,,,renen rev came % up to the standard
are overcrowded. In one of the 49,
towns of our State. I found the earret
ana emne6 6asement aI th OF the main building oc-
put tEese were especially so, and Inc
lsht vas insufficient the pupils being
3oneeo 3ol , 10 pend over their work in or.
Neas the main building OF the school
an Old dwelling house had been put into
service and Used for the school rooms; ms
'upied by thirty one pupils. giving 70
zach pupil less than 90 cubic feet of air
pace ABOUT $40 of that required The |
''her room measured 15x2TX9 and &C
sommedated forty pupils, allowing each
oupll about $40 OF the requisite amount
,, u ar space. In both OF these rooms
he he light was very poor, being furnished
~ Two WINDOWS TO the room. In some
'f the schools visited the odors werc ao
onl that ! could not stay more than a !
eW minutes In each room MANY nf
he pupils milk cows and take CO.. ~ ~
iorses, and then come to school ono
AN readily Imagine the mixture or H.
llready fouled air with these djsoerea e,.e 3
InIe odors. The cellars Of many schools
II once dangerous and q menace r. tbn I
.eai,h OF the pupils Proper drainage I
YOU'D DO AWAY with such difficuifIes 8
md could be put In at very IittIe ev 1
'ense These and many others fust no X
'ad, are the conditions Confronting nc 8
oday. What we need is proper leeIsIa /
ION 10 give us the proper authority 10
ictate to the less experienced In s,cb
matters. what they must do and how to
70 1T. We must be dictatoriaI untu ,be d
mass Is so educated that they can nrn- O
Aet and care for themselves. p-o o