Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-02
i. S. GOVERNMENT
FIRST INTRODUCED
MODEL BUILDINGS
Used at Craddock and
TruXtOn During War by
Housing Corporation.
NO CORRIDORS PROVIDED
BY NOVEL CONSTRUCTION
Natural Light Over Left Shout
der Of Every Pupil Is One
Improvement.

Harris Hart. Superintendent; Of pub
lie Instruction In Wig MIA, has rec
commended To comfy boards the cree
ton OF an entirely dincrcnt typ. Of
schoolhoGse from any ever built in
the rural districts 81 this state. Mr..
Hart already has drawn plans FOR
the ncw structures and placed the
matter before several counties
The type oc school recommended
first Was brought 10 the attention OF
the Superintendent by citizens OF
Tidcwatcr whcr. Two OF the schools
were built by the United States IIoUs-
ing Corporation. The buildings were
erected az Craddock. "A white settle
mcnt ot the corporation. and TruN;on.
a colorcd settlement Bota Of these
st!il arc the property Of the United
States government.
Modern In every respect and being
the only schools OF th,!r type In
virginia Ia" buildings attracted at
t"nt!on and Ny Hart MAS prevailed
upon 10 visit both places auh lnspcc,
The buildings The superintendent.
accompanied by an architect thor
oughly Inspected the buildings and
had plans drawn az them,
tsc y" Heavy Iimbcrs.
Elimination % TIA" use OF heavy
tmh"rs in the erection o! rural
schoolhouses viii he don. away with
II the counties adopt the now tyrc
of building The schools may be
built OF brick, a,ucco or frame, Ju;
specifications call for only one story.
This latter fac; will reduce tho cost
OF building. II is pointed out by Sir
Hart.
The building. AK outlined In the
plans. contains eight rooms. and Is
known as a convertible type OF s,ruc-
turc. IN tha. additional rooms NAV ne
added 10 II without altering the main
structure THIS point long has been
detrimental 10 public school educ.
ton in Virginia. according 20 MIR.
Hart. Ia some instances 4, has been
difficult for thc SCHOOL WORK TO be
kcp; NJ while rcmodeiing OF the
buildings has been taking place.
Model Lighting system.
Modern in every particular. tho
lighting system Of the buildings is
considered an Improvement over tina;
% present structures In the state
Lish; for each o; the rooms Is ob-
tanned through q series OF skyl!ahts
in the roof Of the structure This
method enables the ligh. to he
each pupil.
Both elementary and high school
grades are included in the building
Three Of the eight class rooms vii!
he ior pupils in the high school four
for those in the elementary school.
and one for laboratory purposes Each
room has an exit to the outside. and
the danger OF fire hazard practically
is eliminated.
C"rridors Arc Eliminated.
Elimination of all corridors is an
other feature OF the buildings. In
stead OF the corridors. which have
nccn regarded as space i!llcrs" in
other types Of schools. this space Is
utilized into central auditorium
with q seating capacity OF nearly 100.
The mai purpose of this auditorium
is that II can he used as study
hall. thus arording supervised study
periods COR the pupils.
Adequate facilities for heating the
building arc provided in the plans.
Specifications already drawn call for
a heating plant. but IN" building
may be heated by stoves simply
through building additional chin
neyS. Several communities have
favored stoves in preference TO It cen
trial heating plant.
Six Counties Apply.
Six counties already have made APP
p!ication 10 Mr.. Hart for plans. and
appear interested in the new build
ings Believing that the new struc-
lures are adapted TO smaller com
munities. Mr.. Hart strongly recon-
merdS them to the counties. County
boards Of; Surry, King and Queen.
washington. Dickinson, Pittsylvania
and sussex have requested that they
he sent Il set of the plans.