XXvi PROCEEDINGS. 



A consideration of these figures will make it evident that we are 

 severely handicapped in our work at the Normal School, and that pupils 

 and teachers are, in a greater or less degree, poisoned by the air in the 

 school building. 



This is in no way a peculiarity of the Normal School. With the 

 exception of some modern ventilated buildings in Halifax, and in a few 

 of the towns, all schools are just as bad. I have found most country 

 schools which 1 have visited with just as impure air as that at Truro. 



The amount of air space per pupil in the various rooms in the 

 Normal School is much greater than that in most schools. Six cubic 

 meters per pupil is considered ample, and in no room at Truro, except 

 the library, have we less than seven. 



The obvious remedy here is to provide some means of changing the 

 air. With the present heating it is impossible to do this by means of 

 windows, even if there were no danger from drafts by such a mode of 

 ventilation. 



The really important problem to be solved is the ventilation of the 

 country schools. Here are the greatest numbers, at ages when injury is 

 very dangerous, since it may effect the whole future life of the pupil. 

 That we may do the " greatest good to the largest number " by ventilat- 

 ing the country scnool houses is evident. The obstacle in our way here 

 is the complete ignorance of the people of the principles of ventilation. 

 This is perfectly excusable, since it is only within comparatively few 

 years that the subject has been studied at all. A " campaign of educa- 

 tion " is feasible, but is expensive. The Inspectors are the proper persons 

 to bring the matter before the teachers and the trustees. The Depart- 

 ment of Education can also do much by securing plans of suitable build- 

 ings and requiring all new school houses to be built upon one of these 

 plans. They may be of various sizes and prices so as to suit the needs 

 of poor or of wealthy sections. Thus, in time, every school-house in the 

 Province would be provided with pure air, and the cost be saved many 

 times over by the increased efficiency of both teachers and pupils. 

 Until something is done by the central authority in some such compul- 

 sory manner as I have indicated, I fear there will be no change. 



As for the Normal School, the only remedy for the state of affairs 

 existing there is to provide the building with suitable heating and 

 ventilation. 



