A Plea for Fresh Air in the Schoolroom
THERE is plenty of fresh air in the world; it costs absolutely nothing, and is very easy to obtain; yet what is so rare as a room, especially a schoolroom, that contains a sufficient supply of this cheap, abundant, and desirable substance? The foul air of hot, close rooms is responsible for a large part of the inattention and incapacity found in our schools. The writer not long ago opened door after door in a graded school, and closed each again quickly because it was impossible to enter the rooms on account of the stifling air inside. Outside it was December, the air fresh and bracing, but warmed by Virginia sunshine. Yet there was not a single window open in the whole building. Each of the sixteen-feet-square rooms had a hot fire in the stove, and contained from twenty to forty children or grown boys and girls. A second attempt was made to visit this school, and by leaving the door wide open in the first room and standing in the doorway, it was possible to remain for a few moments to observe the class. The pupils sat listlessly at their desks with heads bent over their books. Some were nodding—almost asleep. A few who had been at the board, walked languidly to their seats. The teacher slowly advanced to meet the visitor, and politely offered a chair, attempting at the same time to close the door. But the chair was courteously declined, and the position in the doorway maintained while some inquiries were made, and then the visitor passed on, wondering what sort of future citizens that teacher would make of her pupils. Similar conditions, varying only in degree, have been found in many schools both in country and in city. Doors have been opened on arithmetic classes, physiology lessons, writing exercises, and reading classes, but never in the course of many years’ experience has this visitor chanced to interrupt a gymnastic exercise or a game in the schoolroom. Never have the windows been found wide open, and the children running or jumping or marching to stir their blood and quicken their energies. Often has the question been asked, “Would you like to hear the children sing?” but never, “Would you like to see the children play while we air the room?” Frequently, even at recess time, the teacher remains in the room, and perhaps keeps in with him for punishment some unruly child, both continuing to inhale air long since made foul by the breath of scores of persons. The windows remain closed; the naughty child becomes naughtier, and the teacher crosser; the others return from walking about outside, glad to get back to the warmth of the close little room; and soon all are listless and stupid, and the weary round continues day after day and month after month until one wonders that any good material survives the ordeal. This state of things is not, however, universal. There are notable exceptions. The writer has in mind a three-story school building with four large rooms on each floor, all filled with colored children, all well ventilated, and all having their doors kept wide open into large, airy, well-lighted halls. Country schools, too, have been found containing plenty of fresh air and bright, wide-awake children and teachers, but these are exceptions. The ill-ventilated room is the rule; fresh air is tabooed; the spirit of play is frowned upon; a child is learning nothing unless he has a book in his hand. It is easy to change all this. Let the teacher take the matter in hand. It involves no expense—nothing but a little thought and energy. First let him resolve that the air in his schoolroom must be good. Let him see that the windows are opened before school in the morning, at recess, and at noon. Let him see that the fire is kept low. He should, if possible, have a thermometer, and keep the temperature at about sixty-five degrees. Then let him set his ingenuity to work and plan how to let in as much fresh air as possible during the day. One way is to throw open the windows after every two or three recitations, and give the children simple gymnastic exercises or let them play games for two, three, or five minutes to keep themselves warm. The time will not be wasted; more work will be accomplished in the end. And the teacher need not fear being discovered by superintendent or parents in the midst of a game; for a superintendent who does not approve of keeping the air good in a schoolroom and the pupils wide-awake is not worthy to hold office, and parents who will not uphold a teacher in his efforts to produce these results may well be spared from among his patrons.—Southern Workman.