The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-11-15
4 Report

On situcton, Pan, finishing and furnishing
Of schoo2rooms-Read Jefore tie Wayne
County Teachers Association at Richmond
Oct 27h., 1856.
No one will doubt for moment, the great
necessity Of having every Institution Of learn
ing, located on beautiful elevated and attrac-
tive site. First, the health Of the pupils. and
teacher, or teachers will be benefited Cd, If
the location Is such, with all the surrounding
associations fascinating. it will have a tendency
20 inspire within the youthful breast, burn
ing love for the pleasant school.room, and at
tie same time q love for learning, which ex-
ceeds 10 importance, almost all others. Indeed
| believe | might say with safety, all others
For If we can implant in the young mind
love for learning an Unsuitable appetite to in
vestgate the beautiful laws which govern all
created things, and the relation existing between
them. we need not be much uneasy in reference
to their integrity and morality They will be
saving Of their golden moments; eager to take
time by the forelock, and appropriate every
fleeing moment to some useful purpose. II
is said that
Satan finds employment stil
For idle hands to do"
But we have placed this great barrier. be-
tween them, and all the vain delusive fascina.
tons that sin and folly may present, which
will cause them to look upon vice in all its
hideous forms, as unpleasant to Him who rules
the Universe.
1t would be difficult for me, inexperienced
as / am in this matter TO hit upon the best
plan for constructing the district school-ho
1t cannot be expected that every convenience
that would be conducive to tie greatest pro-
gress and pleasure Of the students in their
scholastic exercises can be afforded at present.
in this State at least. But the object is to have
III 81 he
sible manner with the means we have to ap-
propriate for that purpose.
In District where there will generally be
from 30 to 90 in attendance, the room should
be large enough to avoid what was termed
"scrouging" when | attended District school
The dimensions, as regards length and breadth
should be at least 90 by 80; aud in hight from
floor 10 ceiling, from Il 10 II feet. 1t may
to be a mere notion. but if were going
TO school, and required to study in the school
room, | should prefer that the door was in the
South side. In the North side / would have
no windows at all, but large black board cx-
tending clear across this might be from 3 to
feet in width \ rostrum from TO 10
inches high should also extend the whole
width Of tho room. This should extend out
into the room from the North end about
feet. If il were convenient, | would recon-
mend that there be one or two sky-iights
situated in the roof. since il is admitted that
sky light Is better To study by. This would
diminish the demand for side windows to some
extent. The side windows should have shut
ers attached to them. The windows should
be made SO, that they may be either lowered
raised at pleasure. BY this arrangement
if there s no other provision made the room
may be kept toerably well ventilated.
But since it would add but little TO the ex
md 10 Of no,
pupils and teacher, there should be at least
two ventilating fiews. If it could be SO arran- /
ged that there could be assistant monitor /
To watch over the order Of the school | would |
think that great benefit would be derived from
having the room divided into three apartments
at least. The LIST, which is in close proximity |
with the door, (which is nearest the south
east corner) might an anti room. in
which nj ght be placed, bonnets. shawls, hats
caps, dinners. &c. This might be an 9
by 10. Immediately West OF this, and joining,
should be the recitation room which is s in
length by in breadth. this room might also
serve tie purpose of Library and Apparatus
room, If the District is So fortunate as 10 be
in possession of any, which but few are
Having taken off feet across the south end,
according TO the z ven dimensions there will
then be left for the large study room. room
20 in length by % in breadth. In this room
40 pupils can be very comfortably seated. and
to each one, providing the hight of the room
be 2 feet, there will be an average Of 1874 2-5
cubic feet Of air l believe it is said by
Psychologists that person Of medium size
viuates &c cubic feet of air every minute, then
40 medium sized persons. in 1872 . minutes.
would render this apparently vast amount of
air 1892 cubic feet unit to be breathed again.
But must hasten on.
ell ha slaj
fcien. number of benche. and desks, of various
nights, adapted to the size of the pupils
There should not be bench in the room
which is not fu. nished with back. Con
siderable diversity Of opinion exists in refer
ence 10 the structure of the desk. But l
should prefer that the desk be adapted for two
pupils with separate drawers in front Of the
desk, a seat attached TO it, then have them
arranged one before another. or one behind
another. rs YOU like best, then the front of the
first will be a sea, for the next, and so on so
far As they extend. If there is no provision
made for a separate recitation room with its
black board, and other necessary arrange
ments, the most appropriate place for the
recitation bench. would be in front Of the
black board, at the extremity of the rostrum.
The advantages of this arrangement arc, first.
they. the class, all in front of. and facing
the Black board. SO that they can conveniently
see and hear any explanation. or demon,tra-
ton. sdlv; they will not be facing any Of the
pupils, who frequently have tendency TO
attract the attention of members Of the class
Sdly. they are TO one side Of the room. by
which means they are. 10 some extent, rid of
the noise and confusion which it seems neces-
sarily attends the common school room. 4thly
the teachers desk being upon the rostrum. he
will sit or stand As the case may be. in front
of his class. and in front of the school, so that
he can observe the order and decorum of the
pupils. The stove had better be situated.
ra-h oh, ,apfs- Of the room, or IL