THE GLOBE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1882. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN SCHOOLS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2687, 17 November 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1882. CONTAGIOUS DISEASES IN SCHOOLS.

Me. Cunningham has withdrawn his motion re the prevention of contagious diseases in schools, for the Board of Edncation has received copies of a pamphlet on the subject from the Education Department. This pamphlet was originally circulated by the Education Department of Canada, and was found to be so much to the point that it has been thought worth while to circulate it for the use of our own schools. It contains recommendations and instructions as to vaccination, and a number of other subjects, snch as the entry into houses whore people have died, &c. We trust that the Education Department are not of opinion that the circulation of these recommendations is quite all that can bo expected of them. There can be no doubt that the public at large are not quite satisfied with that body in its action in the matter re vaccination in schools. The various reports of the Medical Officer of the Board of Health render it certain that the state of affairs that at present obtains with regard to this subject is not all that can bo desired. That officer has pointed out the absolute necessity of the compulsory vaccination of children attending our Government schools, but cold water has been thrown by the Government on the suggestion. It. seems to ns clear that the real duty of the Govenment would ho to back up the Health Officer to the utmost, of its power. The pamphlet wo have alluded to contains much good advice, but that is about all. The parents and teachers that would take snch -advice are not the people whom it is above everything desirable to reach. It is tho careless and prejudiced who should be got at. The pamphlet is all very well in its way, bat, possibly, if tho Health Officer were consulted, be would recommend moro vigorous action and less parental advice. WANTED A DUMPY LEVEL. At yesterday’s meeting of tho Edncation Board a very modest request was made by the architect of the Board that the Board should purchase for him a dumpy level, as recently, while at North Loburn, he had to resort to a spirit level, &e., to determine the level of the school site. We must say that we fail to sea the grounds on which the application was made. The present architect to the Board was appointed ont of a number of candidates, and it is no secret that a good deal of ill-feeling was evoked by the Board’s choice. With this wo have nothing to do. We presume he is altogether a competent man, notwithstanding that some have imagined that his relationship to a member of the Board is a proof that ho was not the best candidate on the list. But why should tho Board be expected to supply him with tools ?- If a dumpy level should be part of his stock-in-trade, surely the Board should not bo called upon to buy him one. If be cannot get along without one, it would seem that ho should purchase one. If ho were working for private individuals, surely ho would not expect them to furnish him with the implement. The manufacture of dumpy levels would be inordinately swelled if such a rule were to obtain. Private persons would be overwhelmed with a stock of goods far from useful if aay idea of the sort were to be entertained. A man building a house might find himself at its completion burdened with set-squares, compasses, draw-ing-boards, mortar-hods, trowels, planes, diamonds to cut glass with, varnishing brushes, paint pots, and Heaven only knows what besides. We would commend this consideration to the architect of the Board. He has been in luck in the way of getting the appointment, and has jumped into a place which many another would have been glad to occupy. But ho should certainly furnish his own dumpy level. Snch an article would be dead stock to the Board if anything were to happen to their architect. Even the moat aatnte educational magnate would not like to squeeze the dampy level into the syllabus. The modem child is up to pretty nearly everything, but a dumpy level is just one out above him.