The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-10-30
SUCCESSFUL IN OTHER CITIES
School oficials See Great Benefit to be
Derived from Having Zones About
the School Building Closed to Noise
Producers in Kenosha.
(By Mary D. Bradford.)


the country 70 draw around schools, as
has already been done around hospitals,
protecting circle, and thus creating
quiet zones for schools. This is an i'm
portant feature of school sanitation not
sufficiently recognized. Outside noise,
like the rumbling of cars and of heavy
wagons, changing of bells and shrieking
of whistles renders it difficult for
pupils to concentrate attention and in
creases the mental effort required for
school tasks. Under these circum-
stances teachers are obliged to shout
to make themselves heard and are UNI
able to understand what pupils are say
ing except by following the motion of
the lips Few outside the school room
realize the dreadful nerve-strain caus-
ed by teaching in a room facing on a
noisy street.
While the conditions are not yet as
serious in Kenosha as in some Of our
large cities, yet there are some noisy
situations, and teachers know it and
feel the difference between these and
the more favorably located school
rooms.
In the Durkee school, for instance,
onaratio1iS n,rSt no cnSr,anda1 IN yyao+
rooms while the street cars go by on
Ashland avenue. Fortunately the traf-
tic is not so continuous as in large
cities. The high school now has brick
pavement at the north and the in
crease in the noise is very apparent
and has been complained about by the
teachers engaged in the north side of
the building.
While brick is undoubtedly the best
pavement for streets where heavy traf-
fc must be carried on, those interest
ed in paving material for streets that
run by schools should take into consi(l-
Grafton the rights and the welfare of
school children and teachers, and such
material should be selected as shall
deaden noise.
In cities that are alert about such
questions, they have, in some instances,
removed rough pavements and sub
stituted sound deadening material, like
asphalt They have caused the diver
sion OF traffic, where practicable, be-
tween the hours of eight thirty and
four. This last il not only noise
avoiding but accident avoiding. They
have caused street car companies to
keep their tracks and cars in good
condition--pounding fat wheels are
made Enable offense Besides this,
warning signs remind people that they
are passing by school houses; and
hucksters stop their cries; auto horns
keep still, and needless racket is cut
out or offenders suffer the penalty Of
the law.
To cut out this noise, teachers fire.
quently keep windows shut that should
be open, and children are obliged to
set in unbreathable air, thus endangel !
ing their health.
This question is just now live one
in Kenosha when the paving of Con
gress street is being considered. Con-
gress street runs by the high school and
st. James parochial school. Those resi-
dents on Congress street, who are OPP
posing the brick pavement agitators
and furthering the cause of asphalt
are in line with a movement designed
to promote the comfort of teachers and
pupils, and the efficiency of instruction
in these schools.
But leaving schools out of considera-
ton, one would think that as a resi-
dence street, which Congress street is
now throughout its length, the people
living there would prefer having the
conditions such as have been insisted
upon by those whose homes are in the
beautiful, comfortable residence sub
urbs between here and Chicago,
asphalt pavement, wide parking, and
quiet, liveable conditions. A good OBJ
5ect lesson will be afforded right in
Kenosha to any one who will take
ride down Durkee avenue and then
Park avenue, or who will stop while
in each and compare them as to
quietness.
kenosha residents Oh Congress street
viii do well before committing them
selves to brick navemant RI ramam-