The Glenwood post., 1919-02-01
SQUARE SCHOOL HOUSE
is PASSING FROM STATE

Passing in Colorado, and in many
parts of the state altogether past, are
the old square school houses which Were
merely substantial shell for desks
and blackboards, with an entrance hall
to accommodate hats and coats and
lunch pals; one roomed in the rural
communities, and in the towns with
multiplication of rooms built with no
additional equipment. The completer
education offered and the ever lifting
ideal of school men, with its reaction
upon the community, have changed all
that.
How far Colorado has travelled may
be inferred from the fact that an east
ern school publication-th American
School Board Journal-devotes eight
pages of profusely illustrated descrip-
tion to some of the recently built
schools in Colorado, none of which il
situated in one of the larger towns.
An interesting phase of these newer
buildings is that most are designed TO
meet community needs as well as those
of the school children. Nearly all have
auditoriums which may be entered
without interference with school, that
they may serve as meeting place for
parents. 1t is the old idea of the coun
try school house which opened its doors
to all gatherings from the Saturdai
night "Literary" to those who came
to hear the lecture of the travelling
phrenologist, brought down to the needs
of the minute. Acoustics are given
careful attention; the stages have, usu
ally, electrical equipment, and even a
kitchen is provided in some that the
cheer which comes with food and drink
may not be lacking in these community
gatherings.
But more interesting still and reveal
ing the lifting ideal of what must be
given to the young mind and body to
fit it for life is the equipment especial
ly designed for the children. Except
ing in the district and rural schools.
gymnasiums with showers and lockers
for boys and girls are the rule; so, too,
are manual training rooms and domes
tic science kitchens. Lunch rooms are
also a feature of the newer buildiug,.
ca tbnt ho Oh !,
clogging cold lunch may be done away
with. Some of the buildings, partic-
ularly those in the small towns which
have no library building, have room
designed for library uses.
Parke NJ. French, architect, says that
the awakening of school boards to the
realization of the necessity for we'll
designed and well-equipped buildings is
recent, but that astonishing progress is
being made.
can this is partly due to the cam
paign of education being carried on by
state and county superintendents of
schools, who are tireless in their efforts
and partly due to the changed chnrac-
ter of school boards. At any rate
definite idea Of what a school should
be is taking form, with the result that
some schools, built no more than fif-
teen or twenty years ago, are being
torn down or remodeled. Many things
are considered now which were given
scant thonght and attention few years
ago. For example, light. The school
which meets the standard requirements
should have light from the east or
west North light, necessary for ar
fists because of its unchanging, is per
ilous for schoolroom, for 1t is chill
and depressing and has an injurious ef
feet on the children who must work by
it several hours each day.
"Another interesting development IN
the rural districts is the buss system.
A buss gathers up the students who
live at q distance which makes walk
ing undesirable, or which would pre-
vent them from attending the school.