New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-17
TO EXTEND "QU|ET zones
Mrs. Isaac |. Rice Would Protect
Schools as She Did Hospitals.
WILL APPEAL TO ALDERMEN
Letters from Educators Show
Need of Reform-Less Noise
Means More Fresh Air.

,aunairn for the enforcement OF
GREATER quiet around the public schools OF
this CITY. so the windows o. the clsssrooms
NAV be open more often. thus improving
conditions for children and teachers, IS The
latest undertaking OF the soclety Io' u'e
suonrossion Of Unnecessary Noise, which
had much 20 do with the beginning OF '"e
safe and sane Fourth OF July movement
tuo years ago. Mrs. Isaac L. Rice presi-
dent OF the society told last night now
the idea originated and what progress hao
been made TO date.
''Our plan" explained Mrs hlce' j.
tvorold. First. We wish 10 replace w
cobblestone paving that stiH covers tlle
streets surrounding many OF our schoo's
with a=7halt or other uoiSeless material
50 that the trafic which must 90 by VIII
make the minimum amount OF noise. anu
secondly. Ne wish 10 have signs placed on
the school streets similar 20 those now on
hox,i+al streets n call the attention Of
hucksters automobiles and other noisy
re-sons 10 the presence OF the schools.
NV first step IN the matter was taken
resrl- two years ago. when I was visit
ing the schools. 70 get the children not 70
rlsv within a block Of the hospitals. In
MANY OF the rooms I entered the air was
positively fetid I asked one OF the teach
ers why she did not open the windows.
Listen. she said. and after that the con-
ve-sation was in pan omime. Not sound
coyld no heard above the frightful noise
from the streets.
Ever since then 7 have been collecting
da-s and opinions from prominent edu-
md
cictv viii 20 before the Board of Alder
men within a month 20 ask them 90 pass
an ordinance similar 20 that which threw
the quiet zones around the hospitals
am waiting only until answers come from
all the circulars T have sent out. $50 that
nv evidence will he irresistible.
Mrs. Rice ~ first confined her search
+o~ information 20 the schools NJ TINS
CITY. from which she received upward OF
four hundred letters. many from children
uhor7 she had never seen or addressed.
Referring n tins in the circular recently
sent around the country. sine said. in
-splv 10 these letters received perfectly
astonishing number of reQIes-not short
and rerfunctorv. but earnest and toucn-
inr-such pathetic appeals for relief and
such eager offers Of assistance.
The latest reply 20 this circular came
YESTERDAY from Ernst J. Lederle. commits
sfoner Of Health for the city. II said in
part.
am entirely IN sympathy with the q
eo~fs of vOrr society TO esta D1s1 zones
of,iet zones IN the neiEhDornood or Guy
schools ] should be very GLAD 10 I'hd az
rssistsuCe in your work. which - poSSlol'
under the laws am authority OF lle 4fpai u
r7ent. and T believe that m1cn can ue &C
lor70lie1ed hv the progressive education OF
public opinion.
Mrs Rice showed nearly a hundred re
niles already received from state commits
siorere and city superintendent Of edica
-io1 as far west as Colorado and az TAI
couch as Alabama. The one Of which she
was most proud was headed. iepartmeu
of Interior. Bureau Of Education an'
signed nv r. ?. ClaVton. 10 was date
October r.. After heartily approving MIS-
Riaes efforts. 10 said.
IL is astonishing that people WI pun,
srrooinouses maintain Schools anu sen.
tbatr children 10 them ar great cost dHt
take So little care 90 make CONDITIONS sue
81 20 secure the hest results. To WoAil du'
y-a~, largely 20 the effectiveness OF th
public schools 200 all our cities pr pm son"
Nv they should ne placed IN quiet I'""9-
Other enthusiastic letters Mrs. Rice 70
cefved were from Dr. EuEen" Porter stat
Commissions Of Health. a. :. Draper
state Commissioner Of Education. and DIT
William H Maxwell. City superintendent
% Schools.