The Washington times., 1906-10-14
SIZE Of SCHOOLS
OPEN QUESTION
Question of Change Agitat-
ing the Committee on
Consolidation.
SOME FOR 16 CLASSRoOMS
Disagreement Between Dr.. Chancellor
and Inspector Ashford Regarding
Unilaueral Lighting.

Whether any radical chgnges should
be made in the construction or future
public buildings is the most important
question 10 be decided by the commits
sion appointed under the new school
reorganization act 10 take up the prob
lem OF school consolidation. This COM
mission of three, composed OF Col John
Bidle. the Engineer Commissioner; DR..
William Z. Chancellor superintendent
of public schools; and John Knox ray
lor. Supervising Architect OF the TreaA-
UTy, finds at the outset Of its work the
question of the advisabiliry of enlarging
the school buildings 10 contain sixteen
class rooms instead Of eight, as at
present The eight-CIass room building Is
now IN universal use in the District
and the adoption OF the plan OF en-
iargement would involve many other
important constructive changes, not
only in new buildings, out probably in
those already~in use.
DIT. Chancellor already has expressed
warm advocacy of the larger school
building. the plan favored by him belns
a structure twice the size cf the present
ones iu point of rooms. He has not adj
vanced his views 10 the commission.
Neither Colonel BiddIe nor Mr.. Knox
have given their views on this question.
Ashford Favors Present Size.
In the meantime Building Inspector
Snowden Ashford, who has planned
many Of the present school buildings,
Expresses his firm belief that the pres
ent eight-rOOm school structure has
many advantages over the larger one.
Another advantage iu connection with
the eight-room building pointed out by
Alr. Ashford IS that better lighting facil-
flies are obtaiuabie ia such structures,
The plans from which they are designed
at present calling Tor a square effect
with windows on four sides. Objection
is made by him 10 the lOng OblOnE
structure, such as would be the case
I'm the construction of q siXteen-rOOm
school with a long central hall and
with light from only one side. This
long hau feature of the school built
after the oblong plan, he thinks, pre-
sents a serious objection. In the case
Of the school planned 10 conform to
the square. he shows that the pupils
are unable TO secure a roomy assembly
hall. with opportunity 10 conduct their
meetings and class exercises separate
from the regular class recitauons.
MANY u LAA0 pAECE4A~ 7tAAAkA AAA&a&EAEl7
have these assembly halls so arranged
that the steps can be used to provide
seats. and several OF the more recent
structures have balconies built after the
manner OF an amphitheater.
In buildings not having this important
feature, nIr. Ashford shows, provision
for an assembly han is made by sacrI-
fclnE one OF the class rooms.
Ground Question Superhuous.
Dr. Chancellor has declared his pref
srence for ''uuilateraI" lighting, that is,
lighting from only one side OF the
school building; but Building Inspector
Ashford disagrees as to the desirabili-
" OF this. While Mr.. Ashford thinks
that a building so constructed might be
desirable Is cities where economy Of space
was of vital Importance, he contends
that there is no reason for its appHca-
rion to the school structures OF the
District. The question of ground he
states. has no such relation 70 the con-
structive scheme Of the District school.
and the authorities. therefore. are sell
dom hampered by the problem Of pro-
viding lighting space at the cost OF
the ground.
While this important question is still
TO be settled. the Building Inspector
makes reference 10 the proposed school
TO be located at Adams and Harrison
streets, Anacostia. The plan Of this
building. he says. will conform in its
essentials to what he understands as
'being Or. Chancellor's idea Of a prop
erIy conceived school structure. These
plans. however are stil IN an incom-
plete state, and until the building is
finished some time next fan. the Build
ing Inspector can make no definite pre-
dIction as to the effect of this building
on those os the future.