New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-12-27
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


| ADVANTAGES or THE ISOLATED scHooL-RooM
| To the Edftor Of Ths TRIBUNE
| SIR "Of all the architectural problems OF the
day. there greater Importance than that OF
building a house which shall fulfil the various needs
aud conditions OF a modern dwelling"
Ths Is an extract from the transafor's note 10 u
| Violet le Dues Historic dune Maison."
In the hight OF past experience. may be safely sad
that the probem applied 20 school arcnitectnre >
no less difficult OF solution. With some knoWledge o.
the needs ~ scboobndDgs. venture TO suggest that
the one which will beat meet the required condlt ons
and comb greatest number Of advantages. must
have for basis OF its design aud plan the isolated
classroom with the separate classroom. built FOR
itself alone and having reference 10 the present
largely prevailing custom % grouping number or clns
together Isolated only in name, provision can he
made under the most favorable conjunction Of dfen
stances, FOR heating. Tor ventilation for lighting ior
seating. and for teaching.
The heating of our schools as rnlc II very defective
contractor agrees to furnish apparatus capable Of
supplying heat AZ given temperature. HIS Interest
Is 10 reduce the SIZE Of the and the general supply
OF material The minimum, SO long as. on cold day
be- can furnish heat Mt temperature oil 7O'
Fahrenheit to given CLASSROOM. The conse-
qucnce H. that In cold weather the forcng
process Is resJrted to To order TO supply heat
enough for the upper floors. while the lower door the
heat almost direct rom tho boilers 0ffen At temper
of from 500 10 1909 forced INTO the casrooms.
mixing their grcDi almost tOl'rable and neccs'i
tatng the opening OF doors and windows This often
pgccpiates blasts OF cold upon The perprne bodies
Of yonng children. what effect II u unnecessary TO
describe The Undcry ing principle of proper system
% heating u seems me- should contemplate IN ample
volume II warmed cir 80 moderate temperature ana
boiler capacity s.zc OF SIMPLY pipes, air duets, etc.
should be determined for the contractor ana not oy
him.
windows They convenient enough In tue ordinary
dweng-house. but the coDd u0us entitey chauged
~ srooms occupied Dy from 90 to 100 pupils III hHed
positions.
selfing and lighting together Tney are by no
rnear- trivial or subordinate question: all medical
nuihpilies will H. fact. good seats ANA desss,
both able 10 tho body aud adapted 10 tr age pao
.,e OF he manufactu cd by several establish
take the trouble 10 fluid tnem The proper position
windows and other ans Of prcyldipg lgh on6ht TO
be carefully STUDIED. Imperfect cyrsi1bt crooked shou
ders other dcfor perhaps easily traced
30 improperly arranged schooi rooms.
Much ght he said, did space permit, a. 10 the lnpo
tauce of Uucry selected sites for school buding al-o
To necessity OF departing from tho too preyalen
PTOcrusteAn theory or planning building FOR genera
use when tho conditions 10 the one case are sntey on
those OF another. To briefly up this letter,
believe as the result OF my own OOcrVn.eh an' VI
Inquiry among many eachera during the past ave ye rs
that with properly selected teachers tho enect 90 INC
final result o. no work OF tho school on the children IN the
il lated classroom, against the cess-rOODs ~ ar
ged In Of buildings, would bp perfectly as
founding 10 the thoughtful readers or THE TRIBUNE
The assembly ROOM for morning exercises aud recep
mons very rable bur essential to school work
indeed much u made subordinate To the uncou-
scols dress parade udtnt upon their that 10 be-
not be made IN this respect IN the syste WIN adVap
civ wish that editors physicians and last but not
least parents would visit schools Ortensr and see
for themselves the conditions under winch IN many
formative years OF their lives. The taxes ON knOwedg"
payaoc b. chem the shape OF WEAKNESS and iatigae
ErooEl,Ta, Dec. 81 1870 JSo. Y. CULVER.