The Detroit times., 1911-05-06
SCHOOLS TOO HOT,
SAY BRITISH FOLK
Visiting Educators Swelter With
Mercury at 20 in Class Rooms
Criticise Heating System.

Il
Percival Sharp, one OF the three Brit
ish educators now in Detroit for the
/ purpose OF making an inspection OF
the local school system In connection
with an international investigation OF
educational methods. Mr.. Sharp made
the statement in reply TO a question
In regard TO his impressions while
inspecting the Central High school,
! Friday morning.
II couldn't work in the rooms OF
the Detroit schools Mr.. Sharp con-
J tinued They are altogether too hot.
over In England, We think the rooms
are hot at 90 degrees, but here you
are shivering at that temperature.
! You want the thermometer to register
! 20 degrees In the school rooms. We
were in room, Thursday, where the
temperature was 60 degrees and Mr..
Martindale, shivering, said, Let's get
out OF here | thought the room was
! Just comfortable
IL notice that they heat this build
ing (the Central High schooD by the
hot air tanning system. We don't
like that in England; We think that 1t
bakes the air. We use the hot water
|
our ventilating with the windows. Our
schools are, mostly, one-story high,
with the rooms opening into big
corridor. BY this arrangement, we
have excellent ventilating facilities.
don't suppose you could think OF get
ting along with one-story schools here,
because OF the high price OF land. You
would need a lot OF one-story schools
TO accommodate your large popula-
tion. In our city of st. Helens, We
have 100000 people, and in the con-
gested districts we have schools or
two and three stories
I Those who heard Mr.. Sharp's criti-
cism of the heating and ventilation OF
the local schools were inclined to
treat it rather lightly, but II was not
| long before they experienced full
realization of the truth of his re-
marks On entering the big auditor.
| ium OF the school, where 40 or so
pupils appeared 10 be practicing pub
lie speaking and reciting, the air was
sitting. Mr.. Sharp shifted II reluc-
! tantly and didn't remain in the room
/ any longer than was absolutely neces-
sary.
A complete inspection Of the whole
school was made by Mr. Sharp and w.
=. Donald, director of schools in
Barnsley. Eng Mr.. Donald investi.
gated the literary features. while Mr.
Sharp visited the mechanical depart
ments. He closely questioned Supt.
Martindale, and J. Herman Tryborn.
director Of manual training, about the
| system employed in running the tech
nical training classes, and asked par
ticularly about the conditions which
/ are to obtain In connection with the
new Cass technical high school. He
seemed surprised to learn that Eng
lish literature and other subjects were
to be taught in addition to the me-
chanical part of the curriculum; also
that one modern language, French or
German, would have to be studied by
students OF mechanics who wished to
enter university.
Mr. Sharp said there are technical
training school classes and equipment
in connection with the high schools
of England. but that they are patron
lied, largely, at night by apprentices
from factories.
! Mr.. Martindale said that the new
| Cass technical high school would like
! ly get more pupils than 1t could care
for, inasmuch as some factories had
intimated that they intended to send
as many as so pupils to the night
classes.
| After leaving the Central High
school, the party, which included Will
! liam B. Wreford, representing the
Board of Commerce, went to the plant
of the Burroughs Adding Machine Co.
and the Packard Automobile Co.,
where the visitors were given practi-
cal demonstrations in regard to the
schools of instruction these firms con-
duct.
d. B. Johnson, director Of schools
In Ealing, Eng, another member OF
the party, spent Friday morning In the
Eastern High school, investigating the
system of teaching singing In Detroit
j. E. Pickles, director OF education
in West Bromwich, who Is also a
member Of the delegation, Is In Chi
cago, inspecting the system of applied
arts in the schools OF that city. He
will join his fellow-investigators In
II Detroit tonight