Health in the School.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5258, 14 May 1895, Page 3

Health in the School.

At a recent meeting of the Otago Educational Institute, an interesting paper was read on the important subject of school sanitation. The author was Mr Georgo Balaille,' head-master of the Sandymount school, a gentleman who has given a good deal of attention to inculcating Mb idoasj upon hia pupils. la his ideas there ia nothing new; the whole point lies ia their application. Personal cleanlinesp, and tho importance of pure atmosphere, are the lessons enforced by Mr Balaille. In his paper he condemned the lack of cleanliness in the streets of our towns, and said that when there was added to this the danger . arising from imperfect ventilation, cleaming, and other sanitary arrangements, the wonder was that the whole city waß not decimated. In consequence of these terrible affairs there was not a echool in any of the large towns that had altogether escaped from I epidemic of some sort. Moreover, with reference to country schools, these paßt < few years he had scarcely beard of one which had come off scot free except his own. Of course, some would, no doubt, think this due to the singularly healthy aspect or position of his school. This waa not co, however, aince the same school under bis predecessors was as frequently scourged as others; but since under his charge, for the last eight years, it had not even been oace closed for any kind of sickness. This he attributed to a systematic carefulness of ventilation, fumigation and other measures taken for. the general cleanliness of the school. A school that has not for eight years been closed on account of sickness may well be taken as a model for others to copy. Mr Balsille laye eßpecial streßS upon free ventilation,, but in town schools, in addition to this, he says, there ought to be a sprayirg of the walls with chlorine water, or where the practice of white-washing is reeorted to, there should be a certain quantity of chloride of lime mixed with the wash, and the walls washed with the solution at least twice a year. Again, all school committees should set their faces as flints againet cesspools for the reception of nightsoil. These measures are so self-evident that the wondet is they are not strictly enforced everywhere.