The schools should be provided with double windows to prevent the waste of heat. All the rooms and halls are wainscoted to the bottom of the windows. There are also many little points and conveniences skillfully arranged by the architect which need not be described here. Very respectfully, CHAS. L. SHELDON, Chairman Building Committee. School buildings of Elmira.- The school buildings of Elmira consist of five structures upon the same general plan. [Outlines of these plans have been submitted to the State Board of Health, but are too elaborate for reproduction in these pages. They illustrate the practical value of simplicity in school-house structures and the importance of making a more studied provision for lighting of some of the school-rooms.] Superintendent Tompkins concludes his report with the following remarks. "A general answer in regard to our treatment of contagious diseases, questions 63 to 68, is as follows: "In accordance with the State law for vaccination, a sanitary superintendent has been employed by the Board for several years whose duty it is to examine the pupils in the schools frequently with reference to vaccination. No pupil is admitted into the schools unless provided with a vaccination certificate from a regular practicing physician. This is the duty of the teachers and has been rigorously adhered to for several years. In regard to other diseases, scarlet fever and diphtheria, every precaution is taken against exposure. The cases are immediately removed from the school, as are also the pupils from the same family. It is the practice of the physicians of the city to give notice of such cases to the sanitary superintendent and to the school. The care that has been exercised in the sanitary regulations in our schools has gained the full confidence of the people. Physicians of good standing assert that our escape from small-pox is due largely to the continued practice of vaccination in the schools." Under a recent date Superintendent Tompkins has favored this Board with the following statements based upon the conclusions published in the second annual report of the State Board of Health, and issued in the Board's series of papers [No. 43 a.] "I give the result of my observations upon points named in the State Board's circular [43 a.] In regard to school structures, our authorities are giving more attention to the construction of school buildings, with reference to the health of the inmates, and have recently made alterations in buildings that had stood unaltered for several years. Referring to diagram of school building, (primary) recently finished, which was sent with my report, and to which Dr. Lincoln's attention was called at the time of his visit, you will observe that especial pains were taken to secure the best ventilation, light, closet accomodations, etc., to which has lately been added two finished rooms in the basement, easy of access, for playrooms; having also roomy play-grounds around the building. We have introduced in all of our buildings a system of ventilation from |