HEALTH IN THE SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16909, 23 July 1918, Page 4

HEALTH IN THE SCHOOLS.

t VENTILATION AND DISINFECTION. Measures for the protection of the health of school children are discussed by Dr. R. C. McDiarmid, in a report to the Huntlv Collieries Medical and Accident Relief Association, of which he is the medical officer. "I am convinced that public schools tiro the principal fori from which infectious diseases are spread, and the Huntly schools are no . exception," Dr.

McDiarmid writes. "Taking 10 square feet as the minimum area required for each scholar, the two schools at Ilnntly , are not, at present, overcrowded, pro- , bably they are well ventilated and kept | as clean as other similar buildings in the i Dominion. Hie Huiitly schools, however, havo the structural defects common to their class. Nearly all the ventilation of the different room's is effected by open windows. Each window is in two sections which, to open, slide up and down. By this arrangement it is clear that the window space can only partially be opened. The windows should be" constructed to open on hinges in two parts, from a vertical line in the middle of the window space. In a mild climate like ours they should bo always wide open except when weather conditions make it imperative to close them wholly or partially. When the rooms are empty there is no excuse for leaving the windows shut in fine weather. " The walls should be dusted and the floors, desks, seats, etc., washed with hot water and plenty of soap once a week, ana in times of epidemics the school should he thoroughly disinfected once a fortnight, if not oftener. The practical adoption 'of these suggestions would mean progress in tho right direction. It is to be hoped that the advent and general establishment of open-air schools is not far off, and that a saner and more liberal ?nd in telligent recognition of the requirements ot school hygiene will prevail."