Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-06-02
HHrs on sULDIss sCaooI .eUs...



Nearly oue-sixth of the population Of an,
0A'e spends about six hours daily during /.
large part of the year in our school.room.
lnis necessary confinement within the school.
.oou Walls, coming as it does during tho
slow'ng period of the body, and while Il ia
.ne most susceptible to harmful influences.
en'ails certain evils which have been too gcn'
ahy regarded as necessary Accompaniment.
VI SCHOOL life. 1t ia well known. hovavsr
70 those who have studied these auest;on.
carefully, that most of the diseases ioc;dsn,
70 scnool life are in quite high degree me-
ventaole, and that one of the irst ard mos,
important requirements in guarding against
these diseases is to have the building ne
scnooi-nouses conform to few rules which
are generally recognized as essential eIe-
menus In school-house construction.
Inc more important of these rules are "a
follows orc as
nuLE !: school houses should be built upon drv
ground; If not dry the lot must be deer y drajna2
furthermore. proximity to swamps and other somrces
saagnant water or Of Doxious exbalations should
Pra avoided. Inc reason for this rule is the we'll
Anown TACT tnat dampness of soil contributes mnch
10 make school-house unhealthy Very fatal school
spidemics OF diphtheria and similsr diseases have
oeSu caused by exhaIations from damn and RIthv
soil around and beneath the school house '
sULE Schoolrooms should be nblopg with
tneir engtn somewhere nearly one third preaf thap
ther 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. The glass surface of the windou. sho,,a
surface. " 'A@ A''i
RULE :. The window stills should be placed never
lower than three and one.half feet above the door
ceiling. " ~~' 'A'
REASON The light which comes from con,,de,.-
Oily ABOVE the level of the dpaka nd hoak Vcb
them much better than the more horizontal rays.
High windows also light the ceiling. whence the
RULE6. Windows should be placed on the sides
Of the room. Windows in the rear Of scholars are
permissible, but In front Of them never.
. REASON. Light from the front Is very trying to
the eyes, Light from behind the scholars is not In.
furious to their eyes, but is dsadvantageous for the
teacher.
NOTE. If the school.room is not more than % or
q feet In width may be lighted wholly from one
side Then the light Is better from the left In sin.
light from two sides with no windows behind the
pupils Then, when II can be done. let the school
house be placed so its windows may be on the north
and south sides Of the building.
RULE Q. Do not place the black boards between
or near the windows.
NOTE This matter of lighting school.rooms has
found that near sightedness and other very serious
eye troubles are caused intensified by faulty
methods Of lighting.
RULE7. In rooms for study, each pupil should
have 20 square feet OF floor space and this with the
height Of twelve feet for the ceiling will give $40
cubic feet of air space for each scholar Ceilings
should never be lower than twelve feet and in ordi
nary rooms never much higher.
REASON. This amount Of floor and of cubic air
space Is required make efficient ventilation posi-.
BILE,
RULES Never think that school-reom is com.
peted 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 pen
nywise and p ,und foolish policy which omits It
The apparatus to obtain 1t need especially In small
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
municipal officers, or other interested per-
sons, may desire.