The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-07
FOR BETTER SCHOOLS
AGITATION FOR SCHOOL BUILDING
LEGISLATION Is
RIFE
LEGAL SANITARY STANDARD
State superintendent FavOrs Mild
COnditiOns-Renew of Finan-
ciaI Limitations-N.E Z. a
Will Act on 1t.

The relation of state legislation to
modern school building is one Of the
questions which educational circles are
practically agitating at the present time,
and in no state more than in minnesota.
Each state should pass laws requiring
that every school house should measure
up to a certain sanitary Standard was
the proposition advanced at the last con-
vention of the National Educational as
ISOLATION, and it has been receiving con-
siderable attention ever since.
While there is a practical unanimity OF
opinion concerning the necessity Of some
legislation governing the construction OF
school houses, especially in the rural dis
tricts where school architecture has not
always been what it should be, there is,
however, some difference of opinion as
to the form which. this should take. In
several Of the states it has been proposed
to pass a law providing for a building
commission, consisting of architects and
school men, to institute an official
standard of school buildings which must
be followed by district officials. In
Illinois and other Eastern states laws are
in effect which provide that school officers
shall submit the proposed plans of new
buildings to the county superintendent
for approval before building.
State Superintendent Olsen is rather In
favor of the latter plan. He says 1.-The
necessity Of some sort of supervision, or
rather of some systematic assistance to
districts in the matter of school buildings
whereby rural districts may have the adj
vantage Of the best architectural advice
is undoubtedly desirable. No blame can
attach to cur rural school districts for
the shortcomings apparent in so many OF
our school houses. They undoubtedly
desire to do the best they can for the
district, but they have not the means at
hand necessary to put the best ideas into
practical effect. There might be some
objection to a general law specifying GER
tain standards of school buildings for
school districts. But I do not believe
there could be any objection to a law re-
curing the district officers to submit their
plans to the county superintendent for
approval. He in turn would consult the
state department which could be en-
powered to employ architectural advice.
In this way a great Improvement In our
school houses would be possible
Former State superintendent Lewis is
sued a special bulletin on this subject two
years ago which was widely circulated
and which proved very beneficial. Supt.
Olsen will also devote considerable space
in his biennial report to this important
subject.
c. H Parsons, of Des Moines, an
authority on the subject, gave the Ma
at their request, saying, among other'
things:
mo permanent, satisfactory solution or
the modern school building can ever be
attained, even in the most enlightened OF
our communities, that does not compre-
bend the remodeling of state laws. so as
both to enable and require school boards
to produce certain definite and SPECIFIC
results IN the school buildings under
their control. The school population Is
increasing all over the West faster than
the taxable valuation of municipal prop
erty. In most of our Western states the
laws limit the amount Of money that can
be voted for the purpose of building
school house to a certain percentage Of
the taxable valuation of the property OF
the district In some of these states the
limit is as low as per cent, while the
assessed valuation is from 20 to % per
cent of the actual valuation. The result
is that the board is handicapped and even
if they desire cannot build the right klnd
Of a school house because Of the limit
Of the amount they have at their dis
nosaI. and the architect is not to blame
because he can do no better With the
money at his disposal. We need more lib
eral legislation for the purpose of en-
abling boards to supply the necessary ia
cilities for the proper conduct Of the
schools. Then, secondly, we want laws
protecting the health of the pupils in the
schools; framed in such way as COM
mand the respect and obedience of school
officials
The coming convention Of the assoc1a-
ton in Minneapolis will appoint COM
mittee to formulate a comprehensive re-
mort on the subject and draft suitable
laws Of this character