The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-04
HINTS ON BUILDING SCHOOL
HOUSES
Circular Issued by the Board of Health
of Maine.

AssuCO ny tnC nO6Eu Ol khbaktM
of Maine.
Nearly one-sixth of the population Of our
State spends about six hours daily during
large part of the year in oar school rooms.
This necessary confinement within the school
room walls, coming as it does during the grow
ing period of the body, and while it is the most
susceptible to harmful influences entails GER
tain evils which have been too generally
regarded as necessary accomplishments OF
school life. 1t is we'll known, however, to
those who have studied these questions care
fully, that most of the diseases incident to
school life are in quite high degree preyenta-
BILE, and that one of the first and most i'm
portant requirements in guarding against
these diseases is to have the building of school
houses conform to few rules which are gen.
orally recognized as essential elements in
schoolhouse construction.
The more important OF these rules are as
follows:
RULE 1. Schoolhouses should be built on dry
ground; if not dry, the lot must be deeply drained
Furthermore, proximity to swamps and other sour
ces Of stagnant water or OF noxious exhalations
should be avoided The reason for this rule is the
well known fact that dampness Of soil contributes
much to make schoolhouse unhealthy. Very
fatal school epidemics of diphtheria and similar
diseases have been caused by exhalations from
damp and filthy soil around and beneath the school
house.
RULE 2. Schoorooms should be oblong with
Their length somewhat nearly one-third greater
than their width, and with the teachers desk in
one end.
Reason. In rooms of this shape the scholars are
more easily observed and controlled, and such
rooms are more easily lighted
RULE 3. Inc glass surface of the windows should
surface.
RULE A. The window,sils should be placed new
or nearer than = and one-hah feet above the floor
ceiling.
Reason. The light which comes from considera-
Dly above the level of the desks and books lights
them much better than the more horizontal rays.
High windows also light the ceiling, whence the
light is reflected downward upon the desks
RULE b. Windows should be placed on the sides
OF the room. Windows in the rear of scholars are
permissible but In front of them never.
a, reason. Light from the front is very trying to
furious to their eyes, but it is disadvantageous for
the teacher.
"a feet in width it may be lighted wholly from one
side. Then the light is better from the left In
single room schoolhouses it is better upon the
whole to light from two sides with no windows be-
hind the pupils. Then, when it can be DONE let the
ecnooinouse be placed 80 its windows may be on the
north and south sides OF the building
RULE .. Do not place the blackboards between
or near the windows.
Note. This matter of lighting school-rooms has
found that nearsightedness and other very serious
eye troubles are caused or intensified by faulty
methods of lighting.
RULE z. In rooms for study. each pupil should
nave 20 square feet of floor space, and this, with
the height of twelve feet for the ceiling, will give
24O cubic feet of air space for each scholar. Cell
ings should never be lower than twelve Ieet and in
ordinary rooms never much higher.
Reason. This amount of hoor and of cubic air
space is required to make efficient ventilation
possible.
RULE g.. Never think that school room is COM
pleted until there is some way of getting fresh,
warmed air into it and the FOUL breathed air out.
, Ventilation costs something in fuel, but it is
penny wise and pound foolish policy which omits it.
schools, cost but few dollars.
A valuable plan for heating and ventilating
school room is appended.
In the meantime it would be pleasure to
the board to answer any questions or make
any farther suggestions, which school or mu-
nicipal officers or other interested persons may
desire.