New-York tribune., 1896-12-05
SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN EUROPE.
RESULT OF THE OBSERVATIONS OF SUPER
INTENDENT C. B. j. SNYDER.

SUPERINTENDENT c. Il. J. Snyder. who has me
direction of the public school buildings OF the CITY
Yesterday presented to President Robert MacihE
Of the Board of Education. report of some OF the
sal,en. features OF school construction in England
and France Mr. Snyder has just returned from
short "trip abroad In answer to Ihe tribune MT
SNYDER said that his purpose had heen TO OBTAIN
a general grasp OF the methods employed III those
countries and any suggestions that they dHor"c"'
It would hardly be fair" he added 10 draw
comparisons from cursory n survey Public I'M
provements generally abroad impress the American
| think by their sodiiy and permanent character
If their public schools are an exception. II j.. |
suppose because school building belongs 10 more
recent department OF public work may say that
New-York IS not alone in its cry for additional
school room In London and all the large cities
the school population appears to be greatly IN ex-
cess Of the school accommodations. London. Ike
New-Y ork, has had recourse TO the rental OF All
available places. In Paris the accommodation
seems to be better. The London school buildings
as a rule are plain low structures devoid OF any
DISTINGUISHING features The most attractive build
ings that saw. and which would compare with
public schools scattered throughout this country
were in the suburbs. / obtained drawings OF many
of them. The finest school structure that saw
was IN Southampton. II was called. ! think the
Henry VI School German schools ! did not get 10
see Zurich | understand. has several of the best
school buildings In Europe. and obtained draw
ings OF them. great deal more area - given 10 "A
public school In French and English cities than we
give In New-York. The Paris schools are usually
built of a common bun brick. trimmed sometimes
for ornament with a red brick which is more ex-
penslvc The London buildings a'e usually OF two
or three stories In Paris the director or principal
has living rooms the upper floor In London
there were large manual training rooms attached
to the schools I'm which the children We taught
very much as In our own with the addi':on that
blacksmith work forms also par; OF a. course
In paris there are large kitchens attach o. tho
schools and a generous luncheon H. given to the
pupils"
"How ola YOU find the ventilation aHi sanitary
conditions OF the buildings"
"Wcu that Is not 20 be spoken OF az understand
II. MANY Of the sanitary methods IN Paris or Lon
don would not bc tolerated VITA us they do not
consider school construction In the dense that we
do here Mr. Bailey. the architect Of he London
schools. was astounded that Ncw-York school
buildings should cost 1000
.'Then you did not learn much from their public
school construction"
81 saw nothing 20 Indicate tha, have not in
this country established the standard OF modern
pnbllc-school construction In methods OF lighting
heating ventilation and all the facilities tnat go 10
make the public schools In the United states SAFE
hralthfu ard adapted TO the best interests oi me
pupil We are far in advance OF the Ola World.
cyan did new sugscstlons in'H
Yes | d'd get a great many suggestions from
French and English buildings. our pcsl iushs ~
form and Design come from these old countries
form OF the letter H. style OF construction ln'to
frequent IN Paris buildings They may De nAuu
attractive without attempt at display, ana ,hcy
will give better light, ventilation tnc surfounuHss ;
for the pupils: and being placed In the middle Oh
,he block off from the more noisy thorouBhiarcs,
the cost OF construction is also greatly reduced