Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-24
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT Is DOING

Inc next generation of American public
school children will carry on their studies
! i'll the most modern
bulletin on buildings used for edu-
Schoolhoue., cational purposes to
be found anywhere in
the world. according to experts of the
United States bureau of education. The
old-fashioned, poorly lighted, ill-venti-
lated and often insanitary type of build
Ing to which most of the fathers and
mothers OF the present generation at
tended. and which also exist in large
numbers In many cities today. will be q
thing OF the past III a few years. If the
predlctions for the improvements to be
made In school architecture come to pass
the federal educational bureau is just
having printed the fourth edition of the
popular publication which was first issued
less than three years ago on schoolhouses
In large American cities, and at the pres
ent time plans have been begun for a
large new bulletin to be published show
ing modern rural schoolhouses which
nave been erected in various progressive
communities of the United States DR..
FLETCHER b. Dresslar of the University OF
Alabama. who was the author Of the first
bulletin, will also write the one to be
published on country school buildings
and it is expected that the two books
will have greater influence in stimu-
lating communities to put up better build
ings than anything which has been writ
ten In recent years.
The federal government is doing every
thing possible to encourage the construc-
ton of better school buildings throughout
the whole nation. 4 recent advance alons
this line was made when a service was
started to lend to rural communities small
models of the best type of public school
buildings. These will be shipped to all
county school officials who request them,
and will be used in villages and country
communities where 1t is impossible for
members OF the school boards to make
visits over the country and get ideas OF
typical buildings
School authorities in practically all OF
the larger cities are giving more atten-
ton to modern school building ARCHITECT
ture ornaments today than ever before.
The things sought for are not architec-
tural ornaments, but modern designs
which will make for efficiency in every
line of work of the public school. Venti-
laton good light and sanitation today
are considered more important than fancy
cornices or other useless decorations. The
old time school gable or belfry has prac-
ticaIly disappeared in the modern style
of architecture. and architects turn their
attention to features which will make for
the comfort Of pupils and increase their
efficiency, rather than to design features
which in themselves are useless and the
construction Of which entails a waste OF
public money. More than $7OO0O,OO is
being spent for new buildings in the Unit
ed States each year. it Is estimated. and
the government. through it's publications,
hopes to encourage the use of this money
in the very best manner possible. VarL
Gus municipal and state authorities are
making use of the governments service
in furnishing information on standard
schoolhouses, both for the city and coun-
try, and If the children of the future gen.
Grafton do not study in the most modern
and efficient buildings which can be de-
signed it will not be Uncle Sans fault.