The New York herald., 1921-03-06
MANY SCHOOLS IN
US. FOUND TO Be
SERIOUS MENACE
Tens of Thousands Of Chill
dren Are Reported Housed
in Firetraps.
429 CITIES REPORT
$4,000 Pupils Either on
Half Time Study or in I'm
suited Quarters.
NEED MORE PLAYGROUND
Survey Conducted by Chamber
of Commerce Committee
Reveals Serious Needs.

Tens of thousands Of school children
housed in firetraps and hundreds OF
thousands OF them either on half time
or in makeshift buildings IS the condi-
lion in 429 cities OF the United States,
as disclosed in report made public
here yesterday.
The report was issued BY the Ma
tional Committee for Chamber OF Com
merce cooperation with the public
schools on a survey conducted BY the
American City Bureau.
The committee was organized in
February, 1920. to inquire into school
conditions. Its executive committee
is headed by George d. Strayer OF
Teachers College. Columbia Univer-
sity, New York.
The evidence presented Shows
clearly that there are tens Of thou
sands Of children now housed in old.
unsanitary. dangerous buildings" says
Mr.. Strayer IN his introduction to the
report. MANY of these structures are
best classified as firetraps."
Data was received from 42s cities.
The report saysi These facts. obtained
from 10 per cent. OF all the cities report
ing. show that in these cities. even OK
cluding those housed In annexes where
conditions may be normal. there are
more than 453 600 children who are
either on half time because Of lack OF
building space or are housed in port
ables. rented buildings, attics. Easements
or corridors. II would require an aver
age OF two thirty room buildings in each
of these cities to properly house these
groups of children alone"
The report sets forth statistically the
inadequacy OF playground space. 1T is
clear that in many cities children are
now housed In buildings In which there
Is less space on the playground than Is
supplied in the classrooms in which they
are taught" says Mr.. StrGyer in the
introduction.
Three million SIX hundred thousand
children are represented In this report
on Fairgrounds" Il Is stated, "and the
study discloses that one-half OF them
100000 children--have each a play
ground less than six by six feet per
pupil, and many OF them have no play
ground at all.
These facts Of limited playground
space" says the report. present one ot
the serious problems confronting those
VINO 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 become
20 strong that It will be considered q
breach OF trust for school authorities 10
erect school building on a site that viii
not afford adequate playground space
Tor all the pupils housed in the build
ing"
On the subject OF fire hazard IN
schools the report states: "Only per
cent. OF the total number OF buildings
are OF the types OF construction USUALLY
called fireproof. Only a small number
have fireproofing elements to lessen the
fire hazard 70 the children. At least 25
Per cent OF the two poorest types OF
buildings are Of two or more stories and
do not have a fire escape. Thirty-nine
per cent OF these two types are without
fire extinguishers and less than 10 per
cent or them have automatic sprinkler
equipment in any part Of the buildings.
Only II per cent. have automatic fire
alarms. Such facts as these demon
strate the existence of real menace 10
tho children OF these cities" One-half
Of present day schools were built prior
to 1897.
The report directs attention 10 "the
large number OF children between the
ages or 10 and 10 years who leave the
public schools" and adds. There prob
ably is no more serious problem or one
more difficult TO solve now facing the
people OF this country"
According TO the reports from 290 cit
les 9 per cent. or the children have left
school before their thirteenth year. ~
per cent. before n, 3S per cent. before
Is. and - per cent. before they arc Is
years old.
I'm the geograp phical groups" tho re-
port continues. the highest per cent.
Of these children remain IN the Western
cities Next In order are the great
plains cities. then the Southern, lns
great lakes, and lowest Of all are the
Eastern cities. In this last group only
% per cent. OF the children 10 years Of
age, and 56 per cent. OF those from "A
70 is years, Inclusive are In school"