The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-10-01

{ r. : N a q
q Answer to last weeks Enigma: I'm
prove time as it passes. @.s
/ Answer to question, 80 90. @
Mr.. EDITOR As several Of the districta
Of our County are now contemplating the
| erection of school houses, perhaps, few
Suggestions upon this sery important feat
ure in our system Of education, would not
be inappropriate. E
| In the first place, We would urge upon
those who have the control of locating and
building these houses, to abandon, by all
means, the idea, which some of them have,
Of erecting "cheap temporary buildings.
We do not wish to be understood that cost
ly edi6ce. should be built, but neat one,
sufficiently large to accommodate each pu-
pills with comfortable seat and desk, with
ample room for Rotations, blackboards,
etc. ga thing which is worth doing at all,
is worth doing WE'LL" There is no economy
in ''puttins up small, cheap concern,"
that will at first, but lily answer present
purposes, and then in few years, be COM
PEELED to pull down and build larger one
A neat and commodious school house can
often be made to answer the purpose Of q
church for preaching and Sabbath schools,
to say nothing of the advantages accruing
in the enhancement of property, or the in
ducement to the intelligent emigrant, espe-
cially if he has family, to settle where he
can have the means of educating his children.
The construction of school houses is of more
Importance than many imagine. TO compel
a number of children to sit crowded to-
gether, seven or eight hours in ten by twelve
log schoo! house, unequaly warmed, upon
bench with no place forest thir backs, and
too high for their feet to touch the floor,
breathing an atmosphere which has been
poisoned by continued respiration, and fore
ed under such circumstances to do certain
amount of study, is cruel in the extreme
Yet such is the manner in which most of our
schools in the county are conducted at pres
ent. Is it strange then, that under such circum,
stances parents end in their children an early
and invinciblc repugnance to the acquisition
of knowledge? thai the school house is re-
garded with uneoncealed nv ersion and dis
gust? 1t should be an object Of attraction
to the pupil. d" 1t ought to be-" says one,
noble asylum to which children will come,
and in which they will remain with pleasure,
and to which their parents will send them
with good will" The school room should be
PLEASANTLY located, comfortably constructed,
well warmed, and inviting in its general ap-
pearance. Special pains should be taken in
regard to reniilation. 1t is now generally
conceded by the most eminent practical ed
ucators, who have thoroughly tested the
subject, that the cause Of so much i'll health
among teachers and pupils, is the want of
proper ventilation of school rooms. Says
celebrated physician of England, g We're l
to select two circumstances which influence
the health, especially during the growth of
the body, more than others, and concerning
which the public ought to be informed, they
would be the proper adoption of food to diff
ference of age and constitution, and the
constant supply of pure air for rcspira-
ton"
1t is not only important that the school
room be we'll ventilated, but, we repeat that
it should be we'll furnished with comfortable
seats and desks, and everything necessaryto
aid the teacher IN instructing his pupils.