Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1858-08-05
Thoughts about School Houses-Eo. II.

TO those interested in education, some no.
lions relative TO the external necessities OF
a well constructed dollhouse, and will
now, if these kind friends will allow us The
privilege, present some ideas in relation to
the internal formation and prerequisites Of
desirable school room.
After what has already been noticed,
comes size: this must be regulated by a
reference TO The number Of pupils expected
TO attend The school, and the rooms 10 be &C.
cupied as entry, recitation, apparatus rooms
SC. There should be room for The recep-
ton of pupils before they enter the school
room, that they may divest themselves oil
surplus garments, and make other prepare
tions necessary 10 their proper appearances
when there. At the entrance Of this anti
room, must--I mean should be placed, two
substantial scrapers, while the inside should
be furnished with hooks whereou 10 hang
hats. cloaks, &c.; also, with water, sink,
towel, and so oil.
Such a room as this will be found 10 add
much TO the Convenience and comfort oi all,
besides the greatly desired contribution 1t
will make TO good manners.
The room where all assemble under the
eve of the teacher, should be large enough
TO afford each one comfortable seat; one on
which he can conveniently sit without ill.,
jury 10 happiness or health, and can leave
without being put 10 the un2raceiul, imPo-
lite, and disagreeabe necessity of climbing
over desks, or some ones shoulders, in the
attempt, hanging, perhaps. his foot IL that
individuals collar or hair, and precipiiat-
ing himself, head downward, 10 the floor,
thereby wounding his physical and mental
feelings, at the same time putting the whole
school into uproarus confusion.
Again, the teacher should have room 10
pass quietly 10 each pupil, and to any part
of the room without attracting the attention
Of others. He should also have room 10
pass behind the whole collection Of seats,
as he can, from this position, the better
see what is going on among his scholars.
There is one great and Indispensable ne
cessiy desirable from an arrangement for a
plenty OF room: It is this:-There will be
afforded the requisite quantity of air for the
healthy consumption Of each individual
that, is, one hundred and fifty cubic feet.
We suppose no one will deny that pure
air is indispensable to the health, happiness,
and prosperity of all schools, and, indeed,
of all mankind. OF this, however, we
will speak hereinafter. In the process of
making convenient and comfortable the
schooi-room, it will be well 10 give some
attention 10 the quality and distribution Of
light. School-hOuses of the present day,
especially in the 'backwOods," Of course,
not in Glasgow, are astOnishingly deficient
in all good features, and perhaps, in none
more than that 10 which we now refer.
Many of them have no windows a: all,
but, merely a log sawed out one side Of the
castle for the admission of this necessity
The opening, not being closed by the pres
ence Of glass, is stopped, during cold and
stormy weather, by plank on the outside,
held 10 lis place by external props. such as
rails and logs. Much must not be expected
from teachers and students who labor with
out light. This indispensable has great
influence over mental exertion. While a
northern light has tendency TO make The
mind drowsy, that from other points Of the
compass possesses the power OF arousing II
and invigoratins its energies; therefore, the
light should not be admitted al the northern
end Of the building, nor should it, from 9TH
er directions, be loo powerful or Irregular
ly distributed, as this would be disagreed
bic and apt To injure the eye.
The windows should be on The east and
west sides. They should not be very nu-
merous, but large, and supplied with blinds
and green curtains. They should, also, be
more elevated than those of other buildings,
as it is necessary that the light should pass
obiiquey rather than horizontally through
the schoul-ronm. Another great advantage
arising from high windows Is, they prevent
the attention Of the boys being attracted by
every passing object. For the more per-
feet prevention Of this gazing out at the
window, il would be wellto have the low
er panes of ground glass.
We will now proceed 10 notice seats,
desks, and their proper arrangement, and in
order 10 do this, we shall have TO refer,
again TO the..size of the building in which
they are TO be placed.
A house. 10 accommodate hundred pu-
pills, should be, we think, about fifty by
thirty feet. One of these dimensions
would afford two rooms, ten by twelve feet,