Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-12-28

iillualiy pay through the room, anu VINO
sits in the backless benches for one ses-
sion = will express no wonder that so
many of the youth Of New England are
carried of by consumption or other pull
monary diseases 1t will be no mystery
to him that diseased constitutions are al
most universal, and that spinal curvature
/ had become common among the pupils of
our schools, while seldom or never found
elsewhere. In such buiIding-without
maps, without globes, without even black
boards-the New England teacher toiled
on, unthanked, unpaid, and if not dis
pised, yet but little respected.
But. fellow-teachers, this is bat reel
tai OF things that have been, not of things
| that are. Education, there as elsewhere,
has taken start forward-already COM
paratively few Of these district sheds dis
grace the country. and in their place a
very different style Of buildings have
sprung up Always great improve
ment upon those in whose stead they
stand but still, in few instances, perfect.
Often costly, spacious and supplied with
many conveniences, but commonly lacking
those essentials which can be provided by
the practical teacher alone.
Few, indeed, who are not. or have not
for some considerable time been practical
instructors, are fitted to plan and arrange
the rooms of large school house. More
thai This, especial reference should be
had in every plan to the wants of the
particular community for which i is in
tended.
a plan exactly suited to one place, may
be exactly the opposite of the one Te-
quired by another, though both may be
designed TO accommodate the same num-
Der Of pupils Still the ESSENTIALS of a
good school building are The same, wheth-
er the house IS large or small - intended
for a smal country school or for city use.
They are these = a size proportionate TO
the number 10 be accommodated, freedom
from moisture. ventilation, good arrange
ments for heating all the rooms and keep
ing them at the same temperature, con-
veuient recitation rooms, and tasteful
architecture.
Having decided to build a school house,
the choice Of a site is the first thing which
demands attention for several reasons.
1st. The form, height, and indeed the
whole external appearance Of the struct-
ure, should be in measure determined
Jy The nature Of tie surrounding country.
2nd. Estimates, ETC., of the probable
growth Of the place should be made if pos
sibie, and before the first building is
erected, some SYSTEM for supplying the
village with school buildings should be
formed this would clearly affect both the
size and location Of the buildings.
This seems of much importance when
even an approximate estimate can be made
otherwise, as in several cases which
have fallen under my immediate obser-
vatiou, the village, before it is aware, has
small and inconvenient buildings stuck up
here and there, without order or method,
one and al both insufficient and ill-suited
to the wants of the place, and only to be
supplied zyith instruction, warmed and
kept in order at an expense greatly ex-
ceeding the sum at which the same thing
might have been done under different
arrangement. At last, finding the school
buildings almost useless, il is obliged 10
cas-, them aside and supply itself with new
ones a second time. and this while the
frsl are still in repair. If locations had
al first been selected and set apart, to te
supplied with houses as the wants of the
community demanded and plans had been
adopted suited 10 primary departments,
under the graded system, all that would
al ast have been necessary would be to
build High School. which might rec ,rc
advanced scholars from all of the prin.4-
ries.
If the building. however, intended
for country school. is TO be built in a
place which has already attained It's full
size, it IS important that the location be
such that il Will accommodate equally all
those entitled to lis use. To often, he
site, IS chosen as before in,imated, be-
cause the land will be given for it, or ii
can be obtained cheap. and a damp. cold,
cAeerless location i decided upon, simply
because lis owner having no use for It,
and willing thus cheaply to secure the
good will Of his neighborss agrees TO DO
nate i to the public.
Seldom, very seldom, have ideas Of
taste and beauty been allowed to out
weigh this mistaken notion OF economy.