The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-08-09

been rebuilt or repaired within few
years, the larger portion are still unsuita-
bic for the purposes of education. They
are too small, badly seated, badly located,
without the means of ventilation, destitute
of playground and out buildings. But
instead of dwelling upon these devects and
deformities, and the multitude of evils at
tending them, ] would present to the
mi n9's eye the outline, and general fea
lures of what appears to me to be the
beau ideal of perfect school house, being
convinced that inattention to this matter
oftener proceeds from the lack of a prop
er knowledge of what constitutes good
school building, and the advantages which
result from it, than from an unwillingness
to contribute the means to provide such
edifces.
Its admirable situation is what first ar
rests our attention, and disposes US to
linger and enjoy the scene. In conform
ity with the principles founded upon the
laws of health and the dictates Of taste, it
is placed upon firm ground, on the south
ern declivity of a gently sloping hill, open
to the southwest, from which quarter
come the pleasant winds in summer, and
protected, on the northeast, by thick
wood. From the road it is remote enough
to be easily accessible by smooth, dry
gravel walk
About it is ample space, a part of which
is opened for play ground, and part is
laid out in plots for flowers and shrubs,
with winding alleys for walks. 4hese
grounds, it will be observed, are partial
/ ly shadded by tall trees, not in stiff rows,
nor in heavy clumps, but scattered in
graceful irregularity as if by the hand of
nature. In the liberal playground, con-
tanning scarcely less than an acre, room
has been found for Specimen of the
kingly, magnificent oak, the stately hick-
ory, the wide-spreading beech, with its
deep mass of shade, the Symmetrical ma
pie, with its rich and abundant foliage,
the majestic elm, the useful ash, and the
soft and graceful birch" In one corner
is cluster of the picturesque locusts,
with their hanging, fragrant flowers; and
the principle eminence is crowned with
the hemlock and laurel, the most beauti-
full of evergreens. The fower-garden
which lies between the building and the
road, throws a charm around the spot,
gives it an air of elegance and TASTE
Here, in this school of nature, where God
himself teaches through his exquisite
handiwork, the children, in hours of re-
Taxation, may be seen among the roses,
the viburnums, the honeysuckles, the
sweet briars, and many garden flowers,
which fill the air with fragrance, uncon-
sciously imbibing the love of the beauti
full, and learning TO find their pleasures
and amusements in what is pure and love-
ly.
The building itself which occupies this
well-chosen spot, is very different from
most of the school-houses as they were
but few years since. From the size of
some which we have seen, we might i'm
agiDe that they were built for the purpose
of packing the children in like picked
herring, instead of affording space for
moving and breathing; while others, hav-
ing been, by the joint action of time and
the vandal hands of the boys, clothed in
dilapidation and ruin, present in their re-
pulsive aspect, the very image of desola
tion and cherries poverty.
1t is quite otherwise with the one be-
fore us. Its generous size, its graceful
proportions, and the good taste displayed
in the finish, produce the most agreeable
impression. Taken together with its
pleasant grounds, it constitutes view
which charms every beholder, and is the
fairest ornament of the village which it
blesses. Within, everything is in keep
ing with theperfection which reigns with
out
The preservation of health, the de-
mands of taste, and the requirements of
convenience, are equally regarded in all
the provisions and arrangements. For
each scholar there is separate desk and
chair, mounted on iron supports, and COM
bining, in high degree, elegance, COM
fort, and durability. The scholars are
seated facing the north, and on that side
of the room which is occupied by the
teacher, the wall is covered with black
! DOaruS anu maps HeIc IOo We AuuJ
ready at hand, all needed apparatus and
library, in a safe and convenient repos-
itory. The light is not admitted in front.
to the great injury of the eyes, as is too
often the case, but is received from the
east and west, thus falling as it should
upon the sides of the pupils, and afford
ing the greatest supply when needed,
namely, in the morning and afternoon
The warming apparatus is so constructed
as to diffuse an equable temperature
throughout the room without subjecting
any part to the extremes of heat and cold;
while the apparatus for ventilation effect
ually removes the air as fast as 1t becomes
unfit for breathing, and supplies its place
with the pure, uDadulterated atmosphere
of heaven. Mats, scrapers, water, clothes
closets, and suitable place for fuel, are
all supplied.
And there it stands, the beautiful
/ structure, with its littlc tasteful park, its
shrubbery, its Aower-pots, aud all other
: needed appurtenances and ornaments,----
) There it stands, the daily blessing of many