Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-10-11
SCHOOLS TO STAY OPEN
If FLU EPIDEMIC COMES
City Health and Educational Officers
Decide on Crusade Against
Disease.
RULES ARE PROMULGATED
Zach Pupil Must Have at Least
Fifteen Cubic Feet OF Air Space.
Conference Held With Director of
Public Welfare Levy.

Richmond public schools will not be
closed If there is a recurrence of the
influenza epidemic this year. This an
nouncement was made yesterday by
Director of Public Welfare Levy after
conference held in his office and at
which health and school officials were
present. In addition to pr Levy. there
were present A II. Hin superintendent
OF City schools: DIR. y. NJ. Chichester.
Acting Chief Health officer. and DIR. T.
y. Emmett, Medical Director of the City
Schools.
At this meeting MIR. Hill. in behalf
or the schools, agreed that certain rec
concentrations for the prevention of in
fuenzai and for observance of health
regulations in case of an epidemic
would be carried out, and upon this
assurance Director Levy made his an
nounCenent
The whole matter originated in
meeting of health officers OF the prin-
cipa' cities Of Virginia held some weeks
ago, IN which 1t was unanimously
agreed that city schools would not be
closed provided the fullest co-opera-
tion was given in the efforts to stamp
Levy Made Chairman.
Or, Levy was appointed chairman OF
committee TO draft the proposed
regulations and below will he found
excerpts from these rules. DIR. Levy
states that he uses the word .'nu'' adj
visedly. as there is yet no conclusive
proof AS 10 whether the influenza which
is appearing month after month
through every year is the same as tho
epidemic which last year cost SO many
lives.
In accordance with the agreement
reached yesterday. the school authori-
feet cctrain preventive measures as
follows:
There must be ct least fifteen square
feet of space per pupil and each pupil
must have at least 200 cubic feet of
air space. Ventilation must be adc-
quate. but chilling of the children to
carry out the ideas of a fresh air crank
is as much 10 he avoided as inadequate
ventilation" Each room must be thor
oughly aired several times n day, but
the temperature must be restored TO
SiNty-eight degrees within a reason
able time after opening.
Proper Heating Urged.
There must be an approved heating
system. and busting and sweeping is
not TO he permitted while the pupils
are In the building! other regulations
Will also be put into effect.
Teachers must teach thoroughly "hu"
bulletins which will be provided and
must promptly send 10 the Office any
child showing symptoms of a cold" or
of Illness of any kind. During an epi-
demic children must not be punished
by making then, stay INDOORS or keep
thoroughly drilled in:
Not exchanging ediblcs, pencils.
books or other articles.
Not putting pms. pens, rulers, fingers
mouths.
Not coughing or sneezing without
putting handkerchief TO face or turn
ing face 10 floor.
Reading "fu" bulletins.
In keeping hands we'll washed.
Hold Daily Inspections.
Arrangements must be made for daily
inspection of every pupil Immediately
after school opens and for the eNclu-
sion OF all pupils showing the slight
est symptom OF flu" or illness of any
kind.
The statement concludes:
The health and school authorities
should cooperate in bringing promi-
nently before the community the ma
ture OF the work 10 be done in the
schools, in accordance with all the
above, and every effort should be made
TO have the people thoroughly under
stand the object of this work, SO as
to create an enlightened public senti-
ment. Upon this measure will largely
depend whether the people will con-
fidnetly trust the measures adopted by
these authorities, or whether they will,
AZ heretofore, become pauicky and in
sist that the schools be closed"
In connection with the regulations.
DR.. Levy will hold a conference with
school principals next Wednesday at
4:30 o'clock.