The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-04-08
THE SCHOOL JANlTOR

The Janitor of the Sampleville
schools had a wooden leg.
That Is the reason ne was Janftor.
that and because he was brother-in-
law to the Secretary of the School
Board.
Sampleville was fourth class school
district, which means its population
: was something less than five thousand
MIR. Carter, the new Principal soon
discovered the Janitor was not quail
fled. either by experience or under
standing, to properly perform the du-
ties of his position, and asked for his
removal, the wooden leg was of course
no dis ratification, but he insisted
that the selection of such an important
school functionary should be made
for reason and not on account of an
excuse. The School Board refused to
make the change, and Mr. Carter be-
ing Philosopher undertook tie next
best thing-the instruction of the JAM
tor. He asked in turn each of his
teachers to do this, but they were all
as ignorant of Health matters as was
the .Ianitor.
Mr., Carter, who was somewhat of a
diplomat. called conference of his
teachers, including the Janitor, and
told them as they, with him, were ac-
courtahle for the health of the chill
dreE in their charge, he assembled
item for the purpose of discussing
and putting into effect avery possible
meals TO promote School Health.
He called attention to the heating
plant, II good one-dry air-the cold
air brought through a tight shaft from
the outside to the heating chenber.
The air did not pass through a sheet
Of wate.', according to the most approx
ed system, before entering tie fur
mace, but the outside it;lke was above
he surface of the ground and covered
with several layers Of chaese-cloth to
keep out the dust.
Every one knows the danger from
dust he said. "When h, eathed into
The lungs, it not only acts as an irri-
tam to the air passages. but often
carries dangerous disease germs. The
our defense. We want MIN to Keep the
outside opening of the air intake COW
cred, to change the "heeSe-cloth when
necessary and to look out for breaks
and loose joints In the pipe The
school code requires thermometer In
valueleSs unless used. Each teacher
must appoint n Monitor 10 record the
temperature every nour. These rec
ords must he sent TO the office of the
Principal at the end f each day. The
temperature must never be higher, than
seventy (70) degrees"
The matter of lighting and seating
were passed over, but Mr.. Carter spoke
of the germ destroying property of air
and light and directed that at the close
of each school day windows should be
thrown open and the school house
thoroughly aired and that at all times
out of school hours which Includes
Saturdays and Sundays all blinds
should be wide open.
The Janitor, interruptl1g, apo'ogized
for going back to the subject of dust,
but suggested as mud carried into the
school room on the children's feet
afterwsrd becomes dust, 1t might be
well to have mud scraper on the
outside step Last week l wore out
two brooms in sweeping" he said.
"Good," said Mr.. Carter. eve will
have\the scraper, we will also put the
brOoms in the discard"
The Janitor shook his mead. How
can we sweep without brooms?"
"Use a soft bristled BRUSH"
at won't take up the dirt, especially
where the floor is rodgh.'
1--WE will oil the floor and before
sweeping, sprinkle 1t with dust down
if we can't get that we will sprinkle
with dampened saw-dust, which is 81.
ways available"
81 suppose I might as well throw
away my feather duster, then" an
swe1ed the Janitor; "as there won't
be any dust"
.Oh, yes, there will be some dust,
but you may throw away your feather
buster Just the same"
MI. carter tieii eApidl iSu ti'o' 'iO
feather buster does not remove dust,
but merely alters its position.
The ideal buster is a slightly damp
ened cloth which removes as well as
cleans.
1--WE will continue the discussion at
another meeting said Mr.. Carter,
"at which time we will take other
subjects, for the present we will put
into practice the two principal topics
fiscussed-the keeping down of dust
and the keeping down of temperature
From now forward let our slogan be
No dust and the room temperature
pever over seventy"