The New Student's Reference Work/School Sanitation

School San′ita′tion may be defined as the application of knowledge and of the laws of science with a view to the preservation and promotion of the health of those attending school. Formerly the term included little more than the proper heating, lighting and ventilation of school-buildings; but it has been extended to include all factors with which it is practicable for the school to deal, which concern the health of the pupil, as the detection of defects of sight and hearing, contagious diseases, adenoid growths, causes of malnutrition. In some schools even the teeth of the children are periodically examined by a dentist, who gives free individual advice regarding their care.

As to heating and ventilation, in general that system will be the best which will in the simplest way possible effect an even heat throughout, with sufficient change of air and avoidance of direct draughts upon the pupils. Fire-places are very desirable whenever architectural conditions will permit them. When in use, they insure the best of ventilation and are excellent for furnishing the small amount of heat often required in spring and fall. If a stove is used for heating purposes, it should be surrounded by a zinc jacket extending from the bottom to a distance of several feet above it, to prevent direct radiation. Air is heated at the bottom and rises to the top of the jacket and thus a fair degree of circulation is insured. The chimney should be large and bisected vertically, half being used for the escape of smoke and the other half for the escape of foul air. In large buildings a force-fan is necessary to insure continuous circulation. This can be provided at small cost. Good ventilation demands 2,000 cubic feet of pure air per pupil per hour. Teachers should assure themselves from time to time as to whether the ventilation system is working, by seeing whether there is sufficient draught up the foul-air flue to draw in a small scrap of paper. For large buildings heating by steam-pipes is preferable to that by hot air, as with hot air it is difficult to have the heat evenly distributed on windy days.

The essential thing in lighting a schoolroom is to secure sufficient light without having it fall directly upon the eyes of the pupils or teacher. For this reason it is best to have all the light come from one side of the room, preferably from the left.

Such good school-desks are now manufactured that there is no excuse for the failure to have pupils hygienically seated at desks adapted to their size.

Teachers should always be on the alert for the detection of any physical defects in their pupils, and these when noticed should be reported at once to the proper persons. Every school should be examined from time to time by a physician with reference to the physical defects of the children.