The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1911-09-11
Better Country SchooIhouses

The poet calls architecture frozen
music Architecture is, indeed, one
Of the finest OF the industrial arts and
the most useful Of the fine arts. Its
essential qualities have been defined
as utility, stability. and beauty, and
the aim should be to reconcile these
three requirements without sacrificing
one to the other
The educational sentiment Of a com
munity is expressed and in turn in
Huenced by the kind Of school build
lngs erected. Hence the building OF a
school house carries with It an educa-
tional obligation to erect before the
eyes Of the young people a good model
Of beauty, grace, dignity, utility and
stability. The attitude Of the young
people toward learning itself is infiu-
enced greatly BY the building in which
learning is to be acquired.
The country school house, outside
and inside, should be as beautiful. com.
Portable, and convenient as the best
homes in the community. If the child
goes from beautiful and comfort
able home TO an ugly uncomfortable
school house his appreciation for an
education suffers accordingly
Who're school buildings are to be
erected the usual excuse offered in
favor Of cheap buildings is the lack Of
funds On its face this seems valid
excuse, but adequate funds should be
provided by increasing the school levy
Or by voting more bonds for school
buildings. All school taxes in Okla
homa are relatively low In comparison
with the expenditure for schools in
those states tnst make the more lib
eral provisions for education. It is
sthically right TO vote bonds for good
school buildings. Such buildings be.
fitting the fut'~e should be paid for
in the future The trouble is not that
people lack money for good schools
houses. The svifsh adult population
spend money freely for their own
pleasures and ignore the welfare Of
the children They do not lack money;
they lack that which a good school
would help furnish; they lack ideals
of thrift culture. self-control, and re-
gard for childhood.
Weak and shrinking school officials
forget the welfare Of the rising gener-
alton when they hear the neverending
cry for economy in public expendi-
lures, and the wall Of the penurious
taxpayer. However, the average tax
payer is usually willing to contribute
his share if the money is well spent.
Even the citizen who is disgruntled
when the appropriations are first made
will usually laud the enterprise when
It is completed II it has been wisely
executed
The school building should be
planned with reference to future as
well as present needs and should
anticipate the probable growth Of the
community. Either 3 professional ar
ehitect or some school man who Is well |
Informed on such subjects should be
consulted as to size, cost and site OF |
building which must be considered /
with knowledge both Of local 'condi- I
lens and Of school house architecture +
as well as educational ideals The I
school board knows local conditicnz
put it does not usually know the latest
and best things concerning school
aouse architecture. An architect should I
3e consulted on the following subjects
Materials. arrangement Of rooms, san
tary appliances, method Of heating
md Of ventilating. temperature regu-
alton and lighting.
The impression prevails that any 10
al contractor can put up a small
ichool building, but a competent school
rouse architect should plan even the
mall building and supervise its con-
truction-John II. Bowers. Depart
nent Of Pedagogy and History, Okla
IONA A. & N. College, Saltwater