Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-06-02

FACTS ON STATE
Department of Education Bulletin
Says That Oklahoma schools Have
Sufficient Physical Foundation
But il is Nat Equitably Distributed

But it Is Nat Equitably Distributed
An exhaustive bulletin of the
schools of Oklahoma Is being pre-
pared by Assistant State Superin-
tendent E. A. Duke of this city. This
bulletin discusses the physical feat
ures OF the schools, with particular
reference to the site, buildings and
placing like importance with them.
The bulletin proceeds:
1--WE have In Oklahoma, as shown
by the reports of the County Super
intendents for the school year ending
June 80, 1915, a total of $3.50
school buildings, having an estimat-
ed value of s19,S13.4Ss.C6. The es-
timated value of the 4OC buildings
located in the Independent districts
and used by 23 per cent of the pupils,
In our State is S1O,26S, ,663.16, the
49S buildings located i'm villages and
small towns and used by IA per cent
Of our boys and girls who reside in
rural districts are taught in 6,046
school buildings, having an estimat-
ed value of only S5.711,287s4.
These figures show the following
important facts: First, there is al
ready provided a substantial and val
liable physical foundation for our
schools; second, this physical basis is
not equitably distributed, as so per
cent of the value of our physical
equipment. while the 40 per cent OF
the children use and enjoy II per
cent of the value of the body of our
school system; third. the average
value of rural school houses in Okla
foma is 1894. which means that a
great many of our school districts
have school houses valued at much
less than $944. With such a weak
physical basis there is small wonder
that the spirit of the rural school
is so often poor in quality.
Unfortunately, our rural school
buildings were erected several years
before the new and modern ideas OF
school architecture were developed.
and as a result, the buildings are, in
the majority of cases, insufficiently
heated, badly ventilated, improperly
! lighted and poorly planned. These
buildings are too valuable to be torn
down and replaced with other build
ings, however, in many cases, they
may be easily be remodeled at small
cost and made to conform to modern
standards of school architecture and
sanitation. In a number of the pro-
gressive States the legislatures have
according to certain specifications
with respect to heating, ventilation,
| lighting and sanitation. In Oklaho-
ma we should try to secure the beno-
fits of this advanced legislation with
out waiting for the legislative re-
strictions to be thrust upon us. If
school directors will advise with the
State superintendent of Public In
struction before deciding definitely
upon plans for new buildings or foI
remodeling old buildings, many cost
ly mistakes may be avoided in the
future. The following principle.
should be carefully observed when
planning a school house:
I "The site should be near the cen
ter of the district. convenient to ar
abundant supply of pure water
should be adapted to the growth o
trees, shrubs, grass and flowers, and
should be characterized by natura
drainage. 1t should be large enough
to provide ample space for play
grounds, outhouses, lawns, shrub
berry, trees, water supply, school gar
den, school farm and the teacher
home, where home for the teache
is provided by the district. A one
room rural school can utilize to it,
own advantage and financial gaiI
a site containing as much as five
acres of ground, divided as follows
Two acres reserved for the buildings
the lawn, the shade trees and thu
open Fairgrounds, and three acre
set aside for the school garden anC
school farm. Few of the rura
school sites in the State conform Il
the foregoing standards, especiall!
that with respect to size, but this i
matter that can easily be remediet
by acquiring land to adjoining land
Even the disadvantage of poor drain
age and inadequate water supply
characteristic of some of the rura
school grounds of the State, may b
, overcome by the expenditure of SOM
labor, which in most cases will be do
mated by the patrons of the school
and by a small outlay of money. Il
, all cases where new buildings are L
be erected the suggestions containe
herewith with respect to sites, build
I ings and equipment should be care
) fully followed"