The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-05-23

House; Black BOARDS
The outlines presented above are intended
for house 80 feet by %, These dimensions,
after deducting 6 feet for entry and closet,
will leave school room 81 feet square
This should not be less than 10 or l2 feet in
height Such room is doubtless larger than
is generally considered requisite for school
of 10 scholars; but with the ordinary mode of
ventilation, by lowering windows, II is as
small a space, as can, with safety 10 health, be
prescribed to So large number of children.
All the air within il would be rendered UNIT
for respiration by 30 scholars, in less than for
ty-fvc minutes.
The seats are designed to be- placed upon n
level floor; each desk TO be four feet long
and accommodate two scholars. They should
diminish in size from the rear 10 the frontand
be constructed with especial regard to the
health and comfort of those who are to occupy
them. Very little attention has hitherto been
given to this particular, but it ought not to be
overlooked by those who suPerintend the con-
struc ton of houses, in which children and
youth spend large portion of their time.
There need be little fear that the scholar will
become INDECENT if he be allowed the luxury
of a comfortable seat.
The aisle around the seats should be two
feet and half in width, furnishing the means
of free access To all parts of the room, and al
so a convenient space, for arranging the whole
school in n continuous line, for exercises in
reading, spelling, &c. Two of the remaining
nisles may be twenty two inches each in width,
and the central on', two and half, or three
feet, as space will permit. The Teachers
Desk should be made light, and placed on
caste so to be movcde asily towards the left,
whenever more space may be needed for reci-
tntons. The position of the closet and it's
communication with the school.roon by an
extra door, are designed to avoid the Interrupt
ton, occasioncd by tardy scholars, passing
through the school room before dePositing their
| outdoor clothing. The convenience of such an
arrangement will be obvious 10 every Teach
err, who has had any experience in school hous-
es of the ordinary construction
The position of the house should ifpossible,
be such that the scholars will face the North
II is very desirable that children should form
correct associations while studying Geogra-
ply and they will seldom do so, unless their
own position be such, that the parts of the
Map before them, lie from its centre, towards
the points they represent.
Only four windows are proposed. These
will, it ofproper size, furnish sufficient light.
II is serious fault in most school houses that
80 much light is admitted that il makes the
constant use of the eye painful exercise
To avoid injury from this source, only one
window is proposed in front of the school, so
that the eye when raised from the book may
rest upon the wall.
The common mode of ventilation by lower
ing windows is imperfect. 1t often times fails
to remove the vitiated atmosphere, or gas,
which is constantly accumulating. Some ex-
pedient is requisite, in houses warmed by
stoves, to produce current through an out
let, and answer the same purpose for ventilation
as the old fashioned open chimney. This may
be secured by making opening foot square
in the highest point ofthe room, and forming a
close communication, by means of a stove pipe
or something equivalent, into n point OF the
chimney little below the entrance of the
pipe from the stove. If this means OF
ventilation is resorted TO, better mode OF in
Producing fresh air into the room, than by low
ering the windows, may be secured, by insert
ing tube, three or four inches in diameter in
the floor beneath the body of the stove. This
tube accommodate with a box opening to
the external air through the underpinning of
the house. The heat from the stove will ore,
ate current into the room, and warm tha air
also, in it's passage, whale the heated carrent
from the stove, through the chimney, viii pro-
duce current through the qpepiDs In the up-
per part of the room.
Some other considerations nhich eaght to
receive attention, i'm the construction and posi-
ton of the house, muat es aefeHea' tos the
present,