The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-01-03
VENTILATION IN
SCHOOLS STIRS
MORGAN IRE
City Health Commissioner
Asks Board to Make
Thorough Survey.
CONDITIONS ARE FLAYEO
Urges Careful Supervision
to Check Spread of
Winter MaladieS.

DR.. Herman G. Morgan, city
health commissioner, today urged
the new school board to make a
thorough survey of heating, ven-
tilating and humidity conditions in
all city schools" as one of the first
acts of their administration.
Citing the wide range of tempera-
lures to be found in many school
buildings, DR.. Morgan declared that
a health board survey showed sit is
not unusual to find a temperature
Of 80 to IS degrees in one room and
temperature of from Sc to so in
another room in the same build
ing"
Such conditions are most unfa-
vorable and tend to spread the
winter maladies among the school
population, DR.. Morgan declared.
Under such conditions, children
are devitalized rapidly, they become
fatigued and if they do not con-
tract q respiratory infection it is
short of miraculous" DR.. Morgan
said.
appoint Competent Person"
"Don't take my word for it, but
have a competent person make a
thorough survey and I'm sure you'll
be unpleasantly surprised at the
findings" he continued. II know of
a number of cases where teachers
L1or1a coiJ +loo+ 4ho1y xr,o,.o AJ-Coro6
not to open windows because it in
terfered with the heating of the
building. If I were a teacher in
some Of the schools I'd take a
Ratchet and break out the windows
rather than live and house children
in such temperature.
Cost of a careful survey of aeri-
alton, ventilation and humidity con-
ditions would be money well spent
Some one should be designated in
each building to supervise this mat
ter throughout the winter months
Daily charts with hourly tempera-
ture and humidity readings would
be beneficial as guide to the STU
alton.
Proper ventilation is more i'm
portant than ever at this time. It
happens that this is a matter which
has been overlooked. 1t is little
short Of suicide to send children
into such poorly ventilated and i'm
properly heated schoolrooms.
Health Side Important
1.-THE organism which causes spina
meningitis lives in warm cir with
low humidity. About 80 per cent
of the absentees are i'll from the
winter group of maladies which re-
suit from such conditions. The
health side of children is just as
important as their education"
Asked if the board contemplated
q survey in accord with DR.. Nor
CANS recommendations, Russell
Wilson, board president, said:
Wen have to go into that"
Although DR.. Morgan did not di-
rect his remarks toward the G. G
Shipp heating and ventilating
equipment, it is known that they
were installed in majority OF schools
under the former boards regime.
Fred Kepner, holdover member
Sid the situation resulted from
failure 10 establish temporal lre coil
troll systems, which was "finan-
cial problem" with the board
Recommends Window Ventilation
Window ventilation was recon-
mended by DR.. Morgan if it can not
be accomplished mechanically.
II thought there was rule that
prohibited holding of school under
certain temperatures" said Julian
Wetzel, new commissioner. He was
advised that such a 1ule exists.
Temperature of SO to 10 degrees
with sufficient moisture in the air
was recommended by the health
commissioner.
DR.. Morgan struck a blow at the
sewage disposal system in use at
some schools, declaring it anti
quated fifty years ago."
THE city school city most GER
tainly should lead in sanitation
measures he said, citing a city
ordinance prohibiting insanitary
disposal systems.
The order does not include But
Ter university, the Indiana univer-
sity extension schools here, or In
diana Central college, DR.. Morgan
said, closing of these institutions
being left to discretion Of the
school authorities.
The Right Rev. Joseph Chartrand
bishop Of the indianapolis diocese OF
the Roman Catholic church, assured
city health authorities that paro-
chial schools under IS jurisdiction
will abide by the order.
Forty-two pubic SCHOOLS in Mar
ion county, outside Indianapolis, will
not be closed at this time, County
Health Commissioner Fred w
Mayer said today. The schools now
are In session and every precaution
is being taken TO prevent entry OF
the malady into the enrolment
Mayer said.
when public buildings are closed
we will dismiss our schools" he
added.
Hourly Temperatures
6 a. No.. 80 10 a. No.. %