The New York herald., 1921-06-18
CITY SCHOOLS BAD
FIRE TRAPS AND MENACES
coatinuea from First paae.

4
drinking water, wash basins and
towels. The equipment, on the whole,
is wofully inadequate, is old and in
many cases worn out and impossible
to keep in a satisfactory and sanitary
condition. In 81 schools the santa
ton is reported as bad ana wretched.
and in III as only fair. No report was
made upon 3 of the schools in this
particular, and in the remaining the
condition was reported as good, even
| though usually there was lack of
wash basins and towels.
Such remarks as old and terribly
unsanitary.' dark and evil smelling
old. out OF repair and filthy twelve
toilets for 1900 boys old and in fearful
condition illustrate the kind of condi-
tons which are all too prevalent. There
are practically no basins or towels for
the teachers or pupils. and where there
are any they are insufficient in number
Tho toilets are usually in dark base
ments or in the yard with no connecting
passageway-cold, clammy and only too
frequently repulsive to even those OF
less sensitive tastes. Such conditions
are characteristic of sanitary standards
of decades ago. 1t is beyond belief that
| they should be tolerated by either the
| 'One new school, P. S. 4S, The Bronx,
with excellent equipment. is on the list
because of the unhealthful condition
created by the presence OF a huge city
garbage dump not 500 feet from the
| school Tho odor and attendant flies
make conditions unspeakable at times
| and are ever a menace to the health Of
teachers and pupils.
OF the forty old school buildings
visited eleven are reported as being
menace in case Of fire and twelve as
having only fair protection, meaning
either inadequate fire escapes or too
small and cramped hall and aisle spaces.
Where rooms are overcrowded in
adequate aisle spacing Is almost un-
avoidable. however dangerous 1t may be-
In some rooms children were observed
sitting three or four in a seat crowded
close together with less than eighteen
inches aisle space between rows.
"Stairways were frequently found
dark, conducting to panic In case Of fire.
and even fire signals are found to be
missing or out Of order. To permit such
conditions to exist is criminal neglect
There is no greater menace to the lives
Of school children in overcrowded school
buildings than inadequate fire protec-
ton. This should receive the immediate
attention of the authorities before a
catastrophe occurs"
"Only ten schools were reported as
having good or adequate fire protection.
No report was made upon five schools
head. being one story country school
houses.
Lighting and Ventilation.
'In 1s of the 81 buildings regarding
| which a report on this item was rendered
Al md
inadequate. In a number OF the build
ings where gas is still used, as electricity
has not been put in. there Is an oder of
the gas which vitiates the ventilation.
Fair conditions were reported in build
ings, meaning that some rooms are sat
isfactory but others are not. Out Of the
total 10 were reported as good.
I'm one building having poor lighting
a large number of the children were
found to be suffering from severe eye
strain and defective eyesight. Constant
artificial light is necessary in many
rooms, even on the brightest days.
Inside play space. meaning a GYM
nasium or playroom where regular
physical training can be provided and
where the children can spend their recess
time on rainy days. Is absolutely made
quate. OF the thirty-six schools re-
ported upon in this particular twenty
seven nave InstucQQdlc AiluOOi Piay SPoSSp
usually in dark cheerless and forbidding
Easements, IL at all. Only nine Of the
whole number were said to have any
kind of inside provision which could be
generously interpreted as satisfactory.
"Outside play yards are well nigh
conspicuous by their absence, the lack
being sometimes met by closed street.
OF the thirty-five schools reported under
this head. twenty-one were said to have
nc outside play space, or, at the best,
very inadequate room For example,
one school. Public School IL, Manhattan
t314 West Seventeenth street), has
yard 100 feet square for 2.400 children.
Fair or good conditions were found
i'm fourteen schools, most of which were
In suburban or country districts. where
the problem Is naturally not so acute as
in the city proper. In some instances.
a street block in front of or near the
school is closed to traffic. which pro-
vides some relief. but this is obviously
an emergency measure, and~is satisfac-
tory only as such. until space can be
acquired where adequate play and exer-
else is possible.
"Some of the most crowded schools
have virtually no inside space, as well
as inadequate outside space. and no
closed street Such a state of affairs Is
serious, to say the least. 1t is impera-
two that something be done quickly to
remedy such indefensible conditions.
Teachers' Rest Rooms.
"The factory laws of New York State
specifically require the provision OF spe-
cial dressing rooms with adequate ia
cilities for women workers-at least
couch for their use. separate washing
facilities and drinking water and sani-
tary toilets The sanitary standards are
definitely prescribed. both as to cleanli-
ness and order. This protection the
state extends to every woman worker.
no matter how rough and unskilled her
work may be.
"Of the % schools upon which re-
port was made in this connection. ~
have either nothing for the teachers or
very Inadequate accommodations. Usual
ly some small. dark cubbyhole consid-
cred unfit for classroom Is turned
over to the teachers to fix UP as best
they can. Sometimes the teachers room
is used as an overflow coat room for the
children's wraps; sometimes IL serves
also as the schools dispensary, or as the
one place where children can be
cleansed of vermin. The remarks rs to
these rooms were usually: One bleak,
cherries room for teachers two small.
dark, badly ventilated rooms for sixty
eight teachers one toilet and one basin
for fifty-cight teachers
staten Island school Praised
"The sanitary provisions are almost