Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-01
SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE

SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE.
The public buildings of any community
may be regarded as the exponents of its
civilization.
AS intelligence increases and public
taste becomes elevated and refil ed, cores.
ponding changes are noticed in public arch.
| tecture.
The log scbool-house gives place to the
tasteful, commo dious structure, with pleas
ing and attractive surroundings; the rude
meeting house is replaced by the decorated
temple, each evincing more intelligent
appreciation of the objects to be accom-
plished, and a nicer adaptation of means to
ends.
Applying this test to our own county, we
conclude that the school, the pulpit and the
press have got an open field and large OF
portunities for usefulness. OF the ll2 pub
lie school buildings in this county, 100 are
wanting in many. some in all the essentials
OF convenince and comfort, while in exter-
nal appearance and surroundings, archi-
tectural rules have been ignored or violated
with genuine Western recklessness.
The following bill of errors from "Bar-
nards School Architecture" will be found
to have sweeping application to our style
of buildings: They are, almost univer-
sally, badly located, exposed to the noise,
dust and danger Of the highway; una,trac-
tive, if not positively repulsive in their ex-
ternal and internal appearance, and butt
at the least possible expense of material
and labor.
They are too small. There is no separ-
ate entry for boys and girls appropriately
fitted up, no sufficient space for the conye-
nient seating and necessary movements Of
the scholars no platform, desk, or reci,a-
ton room for-the teacher.
They are badly lighted. The windows
are inserted on three or four sides OF the
room, without blinds or curtains to prevent
the Inconvenience and danger from coop
liohts. 4 4
They are not properly ventilated. The
purity of the atmosphere is not preserved
by providing for the escape Of such porto s
If the air as have become offensive and
poisonous by the process of breathing, and
by the matter which is constantly escaping
from the lungs in vapor, and evaporating
from the surface of the body in insensible
perspiration.
They are imperfectly warmed. The rush
of cold air through cracks and defects in
the doors, windows, floor and plas,ering, is
not guarded against. The
heat is not equally difused, SO that one
portion of a schoolroom is frequently over
heated, while another portion, especially
the floor, is too cold.
They are not furnished with seats and
desks properly made and adjusted to each
other, and arranged in such manner as to
promote the comfort and convenience OF
the scholars, and the easy supervision on
the part of the teacher.
They are not provided with black boards,
maps, clock, thermometer, and other appar-
atus and fixtures which are indispensable
to well regulated and instructed school.
They are deficient in all those in and
outdoor arrangements which help to pro
mote habits Of order and neatncss, and cul-
,iyatc delicacy of manners and refinement
OF feeling. There are no verdant trees
shrubbery and flowers for the eye, no scrap
ers and mats Cor the feet, no hooks and
shelves for cloaks and hats, no well, no
sink, basin and towels to secure cleanliness,
and no places Of retirement for children of
either SEX"
In the language of Mrs. Sigourney: "Let
the communities, now SO anxious to raise
the standard of education, venture the ex-
pertinent of more liberal adornment of
the dwellings devoted to it. Let them put
more faith in that respect for the beautiful
which really exists in the young heart, and
requires only to be called forth and nur
tured, to become an ally of virtue aud u
handmade Of religion.
knowledge has more imposing elTec,
on young minds, when it STANDS like the
Apostle with the gifts OF healing, at the
beautiful gates of the Temple.
Memory looks back to it more joyous, !,
from the distant or desolaled tracks OF life,
for the bright scenery of its early path.
But when the young children Of this repub-
lie are transferred from the nursery to those
buildings whose structure, imperfect venl-
Luton, and contra cted limits, furnish too
strong an idea of a prison, and the little
spirits, who are in love with freedom an /
the fair face of Nature. learn to connect
the rudimcnts of knowledge with keen as
sociations Of task work, discomfort and
thraldom.
hope the time is coming when every
isolated school-house shall be as an Attic
temple, on whose exterior the occupant
may study the principles Of symmetry and
grace.
Why need the structures where the young
are initiated into those virtues which make
life beautiful, be divorced from taste, or de-
void Of comfort?"
p.
Names Of pupils who have not been tar
dy or missed day or any part Of a day,
for the last month of W. W. Wylie's school,
in district No. 4, of Liberty township, b..
chanan county. Term ended March 10Th:
Lizzie Curley, Ella Moore,
Olive Hathaway, Mary Moore,
Katie Wilson, Sarah Curley,
George Wilson, Sammy Wilson,
Jakey Wilson, Harry Place,
Elv,ra Hathaway.
A GOOD EXAMPLE.
A Hessi,n schoolmaster has set an ex-
ample worthy of imitation. 1t was thegen
eral complaint in his village that the boys
were continually guilty of cruelty to ami
-, do