Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-02-26
Location Of School Houses.
COLUMBIA FURNACE.
IchIuary. ~. Let. \

IrhiuarN -, l--h.
Epuop or llraNp:
It appears 10 me That two tiird' of the
pnbhc school houses in the connty-yc',
in the State-eNcepting those iu tho cities
are located without duc regard TO health
or morals. This j.. q pretty broad a--er-
ton know. or rather 900 expression Of
opinion. bur, nevertheless ! think the
facts will bear me ont in said opinion
They are located IL seems just for conye-
uieuce. convenient to- majority Of the
pupils the trustees say) who ARE to attend
hem. Admitting this TO he valid roa-
son for location. but isit an all sufficient
reason This dcponent saycth no. viii
first. therefore. mention three OF more
school building, which have IN mind.
in this County, and call attention TO their
location and surroundings rs both dclri-
mental to health and .ubvcrsive Of morals,
and then proceed 70 give my IDEAS in ref
erence 10 the location Of cho0l-hOuses, be
they worth hule or HoihUg. Aud do this
aware that may bring upon my head un-
told anathemas. or severe criticisms from
the trustees or locaiois Of said buildings;
bnt court no such uoloricty, | assure YOU.
For instance. the school-house have
charge Of at this place is situated right at
the foot Of mountain, in 4 low, rock bot
tom which catchc, all the drainage from
the mountain and les, elevations around
Il. and is consequently damp the winter
through. II also fronts directly on the
main road and is llankcd on each side by
garden, with no play ground for the
children save tho main road and small,
/ damn rocky rayine between said road and
creek fifty yards distant, which overllows
said ravino b., the least rise. And, again,
/ the surroundings are such-the necessary
aduncM to school-housc that all the
/ efforts Of q teacher to train the children
morally (Which is as much hs duty as III
tellectually. and which all will admit, }
are rendered futile or aboItiyo to greater
or less degree. And, moreover, teacher
is expected (and it il bis dnty) to have
dine regard for the health Of his pupils
bnt how can he whes % tho location Of a
scbool.houso all tho laws Of health and
morality are ignored larkin.' school
bouse. on the road between this place and
Tdinburg. is another ! will mention. Is
that located in a suitable place. think
not. There is ground enough for the house
to stand unon. and that is all. The chill
dren's playground is the main road and
tho crcsk-like at this place. The one al
Mount Calvary. whose exterior n quite
imposing, / will also mention. The play
ground there is the counterpart of those a
the aforementioned schoo-houses, will
the exception Of the creek Is an eight
Of an acre Of ground enough 10 erect
school-hOusc upon, aud the necessary ap
, pnrteuancos aud cOncOmitants OF all
school buildings located in a village or I
field remote from q body Of woods Chill
dren are not pigs or fowls, to be penne'
} up to fatten, five or six months during tn
= year. They should have playground
where they can rsmp, wrcstlo and exercise
: in gymnastics at will, both boys and girl
= boys in gymnastics, girls in calisihenic'
{ hold that a school-house should bo 10
Gated in a. dry q place as possible, IN o.
near grove or woods on n knoll or hill
have good water convenient, and a larg
playground, not less than acre 10y an,
= means. Land is not 50 valuable rs to b'
A paramount to the health and morals 0
? children. Chidren's bodies must be de
: yeloped as well as their minds The oil
q maxim is a true one "Mens sand in corpo'
sans
So hope to see in the near future
Great Improvement in the location
schools for the laws of health, morals an
common deconcy demand it, and paren
D should see that these demands are full
met. = %