The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-31
BY MRS. E. c. OSBORN.

we are erectlnB tuberculosis nos
pitals and our public schools are man.
ufacturing the patients for them. It
is common occurrence for janitors
to sweep the halls while school is in
session. l visited school some time
| ago when the janitor raised great
clouds of dust while the children were
passing through the hall after the re-
cess period. The doors OF the rooms
where the children seated themselves
were left open, and the janitor con-
tinued to sweep. I protested to tho
principal Of the school, who spoke to
the janitor, but the sweeping went
right on until 1t was finished.
Sweeping and busting while the
children are at school is very COM
mon occurrerse in both the high and
grade schools In Detroit. Children
are asked to clean black boards and
erasers.
All kinds OF diseases are propagat-
ed by improper conditions OF heating
and ventilation. In the newest schools
the clothes closets are made part OF
the foul air duct and the foul air OF
the school room is sifted through the
children's wraps. Dust and disease
germs are thus carried into the
| homes.
The Fairbanks school, comparative
ly new, has been In such an unsani-
tary condition that the people made
a public protest short time ago.
There Is scarcely a single school In
] the city In which the heating and ven
tilating system Is not faulty. One of
the serious troubles is the overhead
( ing In mild weather. This could be
easily remedied The superintendent
should have a system Of reports from
/ the principals and teachers relative to
all health conditions, and these reports
should form the basis of reports to
the board OF education, asking for
corrections in case fundamental
changes are necessary. Almost all
OF the difficulties, however, are with
in the power of the superintendent,
supervisor OF buildings, and principals.
But no such reports are made and
complaints OF teachers are practically
prohibited. Parents making complaints
are brow-beaten and cowed by both
superintendent and principals, and
when such parents are persistent they
are dubbed "agitators' and trouble
makers.
The conditions In the Central high
have never been formally reported by
the principal or superintendent
The general managers OF the
schools. the superintendent, the super
visor OF buildings and the principals
are put In charge and paid to do this.
Why do they not go IL?
She Central high school, built
at enormous expense, has several
rooms so connected with the toll
ct room ventilation that the pupils
can hardly remain in the rooms. Ger
tain small rooms where the classes con-
stantly recite are without any means
OF ventilation, and the windows must
be kept open. Some of the rooms are
SO overheated by faulty system that
Il is necessary to open the windows,
and the children are subjected to al
ternate blasts OF heat and cold. Lung
troubles Of various kinds naturally re-
suit. This Is not a matter Of recent
occurrence as the superintendent
| wished to convey in a recent article
| I'm the Journal have personal
knowledge of it as extending over a
| period of nearly three years.
| The Central high school Is a school
building monstrosity. There are cor
ridors that must be artihcially lighted,
which are long and lonely and not
properly policed No principal, how
ever gifted, can be entrusted with the
care OF more than 1,5OO pupils In one
school. with safety to the pupils, es-
pecially pupils OF high school age.
There can be no real personal super
vision over even that number by a
man OF highest ability, yet here are
collected over 1900 pupils. Several
clandestine marriages have been re-
ported, and thievery In the Central
| high school is such a serious matter
that Il has long needed the attention
OF the police department. The school
authorities wish TO ignore the exist.
ence OF this condition. and the hisn