El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-01

IF a school house may be accepted as
an index to the educational status
of the community in which it is
found, certainly education throughout
. America. must be in a most creditable
state Each year adds to the thou
sands of well equipped, sanitary school
buildings SO literally scattered over the
country. In point of architectural
| beauty and convenience, the modern
school building of every town rivals
the very best structures devoted to
i other purposes. Every new device in
ventilating, heating and safety which
architect and builder can devise is
| quickly adapted to the needs of the
public school.
Best Results Obtained.
School architecture is an art in it
self, and no detail is considered trivial
, that will add TO the utility, beauty and
convenience of the school building. The
same requirements of space, light, VEN
tilation and heating are now demanded
| for the small school of one or two
rooms as for the immense city struc-
ture which, provides accommodations
for 1000 or 5000 pupils In both build
ings the maximum of skill and inge-
nuity has been taxed to secure the best
results at minimum cost
room has been found to bear SO di-
rectly upon the health of the child,
matters are now being brought for
ward that were never thought of by
the school builder of a generation ago.
Even IN the one-room rural school
building, careful consideration is given
to the newest ideas of school architec-s
ture. Since the majority of American
citizens receive their education in
on ,fx-r- >.1
construction Of these buildings should
receive as much care as the larger
city schools. For as small sum as
$500 a properly constructed school
building, providing accommodations
for 40 or so children, can be erected
in a rural community. In this build
ing the problems of lighting, heating
and ventilation receive due considera-
ton. Wherever possible the rural
school has modern plumbing and heat
Ing arrangements, even in localities
where such things are lacking in most
Of the homes
New Model Plan.
model one-room school plan issued
within the year. contains a play base
ment and an upstairs attic. In the
attic are provided carpenters benches
for the boys woodwork, a modern
range for the girls domestic science
chair for disinfecting child who has
been exposed to contagious disease.
This school house is supplied with
modern toilet appliances including a
bathroom, which last adjunct has been
found as desirable in a country school
as In a city building.
To Light One Side.
According to the latest authorities a
school room should be lighted on one
side only The hygienic value of pro-
tecting the eyes of the pupils by admit
ting the light at the left or the back
is being generally understood. If the
room be lighted on two adjacent sides,
either the teacher or the pupil must
face the light By common consent the
teacher has been made the victim It
is said that this. more than any other
cause, is responsible for the premature
weak eyes of public school teachers.
has four large. full length windows.
opening south
In the matter of ventilation, there
are simple systems effective for the
smaller schools and the most eIabor-
ate air tanning apparatus for the large
city schools In many Of the states the
number of cubic feet of air furnished
each child is regulated by the state law
so that high ceilings are prime re-
bic feet of air per hour for each child
The school architect has provided this
supply in properly constructed build |
ing at a cost of less than one cent per
capita for the entire school year, even |
when elaborate mechanical power is |
required for ventilation.
Gaging Temperature.
The gaging Of the temperature of |
the room is also reaching a scientific |
A
has arranged a heating plant in a large |
city school building upon so careful a |
basis as to demonstrate that an aver |
age size school room may be amply |
heated for the few hours required for /
the daily school session with only one |
pound of coal With coal at 81 a ton,
this would be equivalent to less rnan |
one-half cent per day. The economic |
advantage Of heating plant capable |
of so fine a regulation more than
makes up for its first cost, and must /
commend itself to every community
The helplessness of q multitude of
children in time of fire has called for
the most stringent regulations Of
school architecture in this direction
Narrow halls. which can easily be
blocked. are being debarred by law.
Most of the large city buildings are now
with wide outside covered |
stairs. generally on at least two sides i
of the building. These are reached by
wide, easily opened doors, so that the
possibility of blockade is reduced
to a minimum
Manual Training Demands.
The introduction of manual training
and physical culture into the schools
OF the large city requires special con-
siderationi n the plans OF the architect.
model city grammar school has
rooms in the basement in which are
located the manual training work for
the boys, including carpentry, iron
work and elementary electrical work.
and the domestic science room for the
girls, while on the top floor are ar
ranged class rooms for the sewing
work of the girls and for the drawing |
and art work of the entire school.
The need for an auditorium In the
school building differs in various To-
calities. With the growing tendency
70 use the school building as social
center for the neighborhood, comes |
he need of room large enough to ac- |
sommodate more people than can be |
assembled in one school room. Sliding
toors generally solve the difficulty.
There are few school buildings, even |