The Virginia enterprise., 1908-11-06
from the attacks of this hidden

' from the attacks of this bidder
enemy.
Perhaps there is no more fruitful
source of disease in the home and
in the school than filth. Even if We
exclude all other reasons for secur
ing cleanliness in our school rooms
the fact that filth generates disease
is reason enough. Filthy accumul.
ations of decaying animal and
vegetable matter produce such con.
ditions as are favorable to the prop.
legation and dissemination of all
kinds of disease germs. 1t il there
fore the first duty Of the teacher to
insist upon clean and pure sur.
roundings. Where janitors are care.
less school room floors become
covered with dust and dried mud
from the children's shoes, inter
mixed with the indescribable debris
of fruits, meats and vegeta bles
from the daily lunches. Many of
the children gathered in the rooms
are afflicted with skin or lung affec-
tions, or come from homes thus
afflicted. Some come from neglected
homes where bathing is not re-
garded as duty, nor cleanliness a
virtue; their clothes are often satur-
ated with filth, and their physical
condition may be generally un-
Inviting and even forb,dding. These
children brush up against each
other, expectorate upon floor al
ready unclean, and use each others
books, pencils, handkerchiefs or
other articles without thought of
consequences. Is it wonder that
a large percentage of these children
become afflicted with the white
plague before they;are thirty years
OF age?
The filthy habit of expectorating
upon the floors of the school rooms,
should be absolutely forbidden.
The expectorated matter, drying
upon the floors, thoroughly mixed
with minute particles of earthly
matter, and disturbed by the broom,
the feather duster or even by gust
of wind, is perpetual danger, in
or out of the school room.
| The floors Of the schools should
be cleaned daily with the brush,
and the woodwork should be
rubbed with a damp cloth in place
of using the feather duster. Besides
the floors should be scrubbed once
a week, and treated with a wet mop
every time they need it, if this is
every school day. The desks inside
and out should 'e cleaned and the
windows washeX as ofteu as may
be required to Keep them, free Of
dust accumuIations. This system
attic cleaning will not only help to
make the school rooms pure and
healthful, but if done regularly, will
materially Tighten the janitors
daily work. Clean, well-ventiIated
rooms with plenty of sunshine in
them beats farrnaldehyde fumiga-
ton, on top of filth, all to death.
All the newer school buildings of
the range are provided with lava.
tories, bath rooms, soap and towels,
and teachers should scrupulously
require the use of these facilities to
secure cleanliness of person on
the part of their pupils. The child
neglected in the home whose person
or clothing is habitually in need OF
cleansing or disinfecting should be
kindly but firmly remanded to the
home for proper care and attention
Good natured Indifference in these
matters on the part of teacher is
reprehensible. 1t would be good
thing in some localities if the
teachers would take few moments
at the opening OF school to inspec,
the classes and require every pupil
to begin the day with face, hands
and teeth clean, hair brushed, and
} shoes in proper condition. 1 realize
, that this is no easy task, but when
> the habit is once formed and the
. public sentiment Of the school is
; established, the difficulty vanishes
tuberculosis of the lungs il
; peculiarly "house disease" 1t il
caused by the development of liv
ing germs in the lung cavities, due
in large measure to the want of {
) sufficient quantity of pure air
, Those who live out of doors tn.
. year around, and sleep either in thu
: open air or in rooms thoroughly
, ventilated by open windows art
!, practically immune from infection
of this disease. 1t is quite clear tina
r bad ventilation in school rooms
churches and public halls. rankt
l high as a cause of this disease
; Persons suffering from lung trouble
2 are continually throwing off th'
bacteria in the breath and in th'
l excretions of the mouth and nose
, The handkerchief of the consump
f tive literally holds teeming millions
. of these bacteria. Those who inhal'
f this contaminated air are in serious
3 danger of infection. In a crowded
Z school room one or more pupil'
= may carry the germs in books O
3 clothing from homes where tn