The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-25

ing changed Communities that 10 years ago were satisfied with an old, tunhled-] down wooden academy (so-called) of itwo| rooms, and home made desks and no fur | ther equipment. are now talking of sio0e0l | to s25,000 bond issues. with which to buildl | fine brick buildings and equip them with adjustable desks and adorn them with 1 other substantial furniture and apparatus. .It should be remembered that these new structures are to stand for hun- | dred years. They will hear the tramp. l tramp, tramp of generation after gen. eration: mark the merry laughter and the | signs of weariness as the immature minds of children cope with the-to them-great l problems of life.
 | "It should be remembered that even the walls of these buildings the material | they possess, the placing of the windows. l the opening of the doors. and the styls of the furnishing will forever play their parts in producing merriment or misery, l sunshine or shadow. happiness or sorrow, | in the lives of the pupils.
 Seven Hundred Thousand Involved
 How important it is that the buildings and equipment preserve the eyes, the 1 lungs and the spinal columns of the 700, l GOO school children. The state could with- stand a bonded indebtedness for school buildings and equipment of s17.0 000. This would be an average of but S250.000 to eaclA | county. I am not advocating such al movement. It might not be wise or eTen polite. But for such purpose 1t could l be done with safety. It is the businees9 of the state or of the taxable communi4 1 ty to provide school buildings. It is sd, 1 done in most states. Our children deserve | as much as the children of any other 1 state
 "Why should not Alabama stand first not only in the aphabetic list of tho states. not only in material resources, in l the charm of it's women. the honor ofifs men, and the hospitality of it's citizens. I but first in educational sentiment and l first in educational facilities? Why shoul1 | we not be first of all southern states to follow fully the philosophy and teach ings of Thomas Jefferson? iIa
 ."ro construct ill-ventilated, improperly | lighted or otherwise insanitary and un- hygienic school buildings now is noth- ing short of criminal negligence. s~d "What then can be done? Who can do ito Not every teacher or principal or superintendent or school board or school trustee is capable of planning scientific school building or of recognizing the
 few really possess the knowledge and sx- perience necessary for such important and far-reaching services. l eo Laws should Be Passed astal
 .It is self-evident that laws should bs passed by the state regulating to cer- tain extent and in general way the construction of buildings. especially with regard to lighting. heating and ventilat- ling and all important hygienic and san I itary features Then some method of enforcement must be determined upon ana some unit of administration established. Tn my opinion the larger cities should be entrusted with the selection of an archil tect or other official competent to super-
 wise this important work. It might he
 suggested here that with respect to the distribution Of funds the selection of
 text books and other matters. as well the
 large. cities are able to stand alone. \
 Then by congressional districts or
 oth erwise let experts not so much in
 architecture as in school hygiene pass
 upon the plans of all buildings small or
 great. in the construction of which sp,,h-
 He moneys are to be expended for school
 purposes.
 ''Thls official should cooperate with
 the educational department of the ,,ri-
 versity and the state educational denart-
 ment and thus the plans furnished hv
 the state or other approved plans sousy
 should be used. This man must be 1i1oro than an architect He should know Schrui : room hygience from beginning to end.S lt is moi necessary even that he acquafrt himself with or be able to construct tfe
 details of set of plans. But lie sholis { know the underlying principles oAhsdtinF
 lighting. ventilating and seatings And faiI
 not to advise their proper use ir8<Yn n
 new building constructed. Thus cOr8 state care for it's hopeful future(x W l ls>~~~-~~~-~-~----~~- fh
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