The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-03
WIDE SURVEY

Data was received from 429 cities. The report says: These facts, obtained from 70 per cent of all the cities reporting show that in these cities. even excIud- ing those housed in annexes where con- ditions may be normal, there are more than 453, 900 children who are either on half time because of lack of building space or are housed in portables, rented buildings, attics, basements or corridors. It would require an average of two SO- room buildings in each of these cities to properly house these groups of children alone" The report sets forth satisfactorily the f inadequacy of playground space. Tt IS clear that in many cities children are now housed in buildings in which there is loss space on the playground than is sup piled in the cIassrooms in which they are taught" says MT. Strayer in the intro duction.
 Three million six hundred thousand children are represented in this report on playgrounds," it is stated, and the study discloses that one-half of them 1S00, 900 children-have each a playground less than six by six feet per pupil, and many of them have no playground at all. IMPROVEMENTS
 These facts of limited playground space says the report, present one of the serious problems confronting those who are interested in the welfare of American school children. Whatever the cost, adequate playground space should be provided for those school buildings already erected in congested districts. Public sentiment must be- come so strong that it will be con- sidered breach of trust for school au thorities to erect a school building on a site that will not afford adequate playground space for all the pupils housed in the building"
 On the subject of fire hazard in schools, the report states: Only five per cent of the total number of build ings are of the types of construction usually called fireproof. Only small .number have fireproofing clements to lessen the fire hazard to the children. At least 26 per cent of the two poores. types of buildings are of two or more stories and do not have & fire escape. Thirty nine per cent of these two types are without fire extinguishers, and less than ten per cent of them have auto matic sprinkler equipment in any part of the buildings Only Il per cert have automatic fire alarms. Such facts
 
 real menace to the children or these cities" One half of present day schools were built prior to 1897.
 ATTENDANCE SHY
 The report directs attention to the large number of children between the ages of IS and 16 years who leave the public schools" There is probably no more serious problem or one more as difficult ito solve now facing the people of this country" 1t says.
 According to the reports from 2g0 cities, 6 per cent of the children have left school before their 18th year, 19 per cent before 14, aS per cent before Is, and GA per cent before they are 1s years old.
 Tn the geographical groups" the report continues, the highest per cent of these children remain in the west ern cities. Next in order are the Great Plains cities, then the southern, the Great, Lakes, and lowest of all are the eastern cities. In this last group only 29 per cent of the children 16 years of age. and 56 per cent of those from II to 1 6 years inclusive, are in school''
 Attention is directed to "a notable falling off in attendance" at evening schools during the last six years, "a period of unusually high wages"