Evening journal., 1914-05-23
MENACE no SCHOOL 5HILDRENs HEALTH.


MENACE 10 SCHOOL 1HlLDRENS HEALTH.
ETEkE are certain Wiimins ION High school eondi-
tions forth in circumstantal detail, that de-
mand the immediate attention Of the entire member
ship Of d Board Of Education, and particularly that
OF the Health Committee OF that Official body and the
local Board Of HEALTH
To tho Editor OF THE EVENING JOURNAL
Sir-M1lile the attention OF the public IS being d-
rected toward conditions existing at the High school
as IS administered by the lanitor II may pc lust as
we'll to suggest at this time that the notice OF the
Board of Health and the Health Committee OF the
Board OF Education be called to <he rules which exist
for the Of the building
have frequently had business in the High school
at 10 O'Clock tn the morning and ] find The ianitora
assistants sweeping the stairs and corridors. am in-
formed by those ia position TO know, that this rs the
regular daily program The ianitor claims that lie
has authority from the High School Committee TO
sweep the shops at the noon hour and the halls at
anytime he dt during school hours II pupils or
teachers need 70 leave their rooms during this sweep
ing hour they have 70 walk through piles Of dirty saw
dust and dustadcn atmosphere. The boys who go
TO shop at 1880, 80 into dust-laden atmosphere
and the morning classes work ~ the shops unsWept
from the noon before The regular class rooms are
swept only twice d week.
From October to May the windows locked and
Wedged that under circumstances not even in
case oi fire, could pupil or teacher raise window
for breath fresh air. The late superintendent, DIT.
IWitmyer had his teachers devote five months more
to the study ol health problems affecting school
children and yet every day had tO shut his eyes
the unsanitary methods OF the High School ianitor.
Boys and grla of High school age are old enough to
know that these things are not right and Il is not to
be wondered that some Of them should suggest that
"cleanUp Week had better begin right in their own
rooms
roller towel to 80. Before the complete domination
OF the lanitor the manual training teachers used to
have charge Of The towels, and they provided enough
So that the boys might have fairly clean ones for use
Now the towel supply is under the janitor's control
and the familiar towel OF the printing office can find
ITS counterpart by Wednesday on any week The COM
mon drinking cup should also be relegated to OBJ
livon
The latest order to be haAded down by the jantor
have boon in the habit or turning the lights dur
ing change of classes SO chat the corridors may be
lighted but lately wooden doors securely locked have
been placed over the switch boards, and but
the janitor has key, various te1chers have been
told who have complained to MIR. Berlin the prin-
cipal
Economy IS a most desirable thing in public ser
wants and it may be that the 5anor trying over
come the oYerdrat OF the Board 81 Education by say
ing on lights and clean towels
Not only IN the High School is his autocraHc sway
Iel5 but teachers ih other schools are complaining
since the High School antor given control all
the school janitors Ia the city
ne may pc good lanltor from Che Boards view
point Of oppressive economy but he does not know
the FIRST principles Of sanitary conditions for he school
children CITIZEN
The person who wrote that letter knows the condi-
tions thht exist in the High School The communica-
ton il not based upon hearsay but upon actual
knowledge That fact emphasizes the necessity the
Health Committee Of the Poard Of Education and the
Board Of Health % act quickly and decisively to put
an end 70 such menacing Conditions those forth
With such parucuarity. AS the High School Com
mttee * dominated by and as that one man
Is dominated BY the High school ianitcr, it Is useless
for the public to look for any relief from that quarter
The board whole and its Health Committee should
take il up and the Board Of Health should make an in
vestigaton and force the reforms needed
q Is unfortunate for the public and fortunate Tor
those members OF the Board Of Education who are
responsible for such conditions that there is no school
election this year If there were certain members of
the board would be retired beyond question and their
retirement would widespread public satisfao-
ton