Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-06-28

| cOnuucbeu Dy MISS Margaret fallOH.
: Some Important Considerations o'
School Construction.
The Importance and necessity o
properly constructed school building
are no longer questioned. The follow
Ing information which l have gather
ed from the standard authors on schOo
hygiene NAV be suggestive to thos
city and county schools:
| LOCATION the construction O.
school buildings, the first point fol
consi derati0n is suitable and health
fuI location. This is of vital import
ance because children are affected by
| their environment, and of necessity
much of their time is spent in the
! schoolhouse. The nature of the soil
determines the healthfulnes5 of the
site. In cities it is not always prac.
| ticable to take into account the nature
of the soil upon which the school build.
| log is to be erected. Moreover, the
consideration is not so Imperative in
the country districts, because in the
cities care Is exercised to secure arti-
fetal drainage and sanitary protection.
In general it may be said that the
ground chosen should be we'll drained.
Ii should be impervious to water. The
soil should not be damp, as dampness
cOuduces to catarrh and other ailments.
A clayey soil produces damp build
ing. Gravel or sand forms the best soil.
M Arshy ground should be avoided, as
also made" soil. because IL is likely to
contain street sweepings, house refuse,
aud grabage. If it becomes necessary
to use ''made soil'' or filled" land.
precautions must be taken to shut out
the odors that arise from the puttre-
faction of all organic matter by care
fully paving or cementing the whole
schoOlyard. In cities it is not adyisa
bic to locate the building y main
street. Noise is distract, 10 both
teachers and pupils. 1t should not be
on narrow street amid high surround
ing buildings which shut out the light
and prevent the free circulation of air.
When it is possible ample space should
be allowed for playground. The rule
has been laid down that a line drawn
from the foot of the wall of che school
building to the top of the nearest build
ing should not make an angie greater
than thirty degrees with the horizon.
BUILDING PLAN The plan of the
school building should receive the
closest attention Oh the part of the
architect. Tue scho0lroom should be
the unit of the whole pian-iu other
words, a properly designed school
should consist of mum Der OF we'll de.
signed schoolrooms arranged % give |
the best result as to seating, lighting, |
hygenic and sanitary arrangements, |
with the necessary halls, cloakro0ms,
etc. 1t should not be large building |
divided into claSsrOoms whose size and |
are dependent upon the |
size and shape of the building. 1t is !
desirable, when possible, to limit the |
height of the building of two stories.
CoNsTRUCTIoN.-T school build |
ag should be built in su bstantlal |
with the best materials and |
with the best workmanship. By build |
ing thoroughly and substantially, the |
days of repairing are put off, and the |
difference in first cost is saved in few |
years by reduced cost of repairs. The |
building should be built of either stone |
DR. brick. with as many interior brick |
wallis as possible; where the additional |
expense would be justifable. the floor
should be made freprOof. |
The recent advent into this country of |
reinforced concrete for freproOf floors,
etc., makes it possible to erect a thor
)ughly tireproof building at an increase
Of from 20 to 80 per cent. above build ]
ing not having fireproOf floors. When |
the additional safety Of the children,
as we'll as the increased permanency |
Of the building, is considered, this ad- |
1itlOnal expense is trivial. Where joist |
floors are used they should be sound |
proOfed with mortar deafsning be- |
tween the jOists. The inferior finish |
should be hardwood reduced to a min
imum in size with plain mouldings.
The window jambs should have round
Ell corners and should be plasterea up
to the inside of the window frame.
Hard plaster should be nsed; but the
ceiling should be of pressed sheet
metal, and not plaster, as in few
years the plaster is in danger of falling
off. Wood wainscoJipg on the walls
should be omitted The washboard
about the walls should be as low as
possible and finished against the floor
with u cove, making what is called a
sanitary base" The means of exit
an entral. ce should be properly local
ed and be OF ample width; the corrl-
dorS should be ten or twelve feet wide
1Ao OO "CAl llS ACt SuOulG UC
separate entrances for boys and girls
IL mixed schools. The stairway should
be surrounded with brick walls where
practicable, and If the building is three
g ,orles or more in height there should
De brick enclosed, hreproof stairway
so located as to be of easy access in
case of fire. This stairway should be
in de lily use. and fire drills should be
maintained for the orderly dismissal
OF tt children in Case of necessity.
Doors leading from the claserooms to
corridors should be three feet six
inches in width. Stairs will SIX and a
nalf lncn riserS and eleven treads
are the most suitable tor schools.
Continued next week
Remarkable Rescue.