The Washington herald., 1921-12-02
W. Washington's Schools.


fees, they would quite certainly find a map
q the District of Columbia on which was marked
Ippulation density, the population growth in the
Tast and careful estimates as to population gains
AID losses in each section for the next two de-
esdes Telephone companies have such surveys so
hey may know the size OF cables it is economy
ts lay or string in anticipation of future business
expansion and to determine the location of new
exchange centers.
We have known telephone companies to give
a, school board the advantage of such a survey
tpr the location OF school buildings. But it
Indicates what is needed as a basis for a complete
sshool program for Washington. 1t could be
mapped now and estimates made which would
pssmit the purchase OF school sites in anticpa-
ton OF twenty years growth The children of at
least such new districts might then have ample
fairgrounds, and ii it is economy for telephone
asa electric companies to have such surveys it
sqsely would be economy for a school district.
:, There is exceptionally complete, carefully
nsdc survey in existence OF the physical condi-
tihh OF the present buildings This was made in
1920 by the Parent-Teachers associations 1t has
az the data and detail needed as to alterations
additions Improvements and betterments needed
oa which to fix all expenditures for the present
s+hool plant. 1t is available to the District COM
n1ttCc What is needed in addition is a survey
idt entirely new buildings new sites to deter
HIHe future growth OF the plant and prepare for it
8 This information should be before the CON-
nIee not in cryptic form, not as Chinese puzzle
brs listed by school divisions and buildings with
nothing omitted and preliminary estimate of
costs. The items of REPAIRS alterations and
improvements would to large figures, as Wash
ington won the national health prize in a School
plant which Is a sanitary abomination If the
uloAcy used in this health campaign had been
paid to a sanitary engineer, it would have had
gehuinc result in good health through permanent
improvements in health conditions sanitary
engineer is official agency the schools sadly
need rather than increase of agents to watch
results which directly caused by dsgraceful
conditions.
=. his complete marshalling OF facts as to build
ings present and for the future is an essential
preliminary Of construction economy. The second
essgntial is plant Standardization. The building
bFqtgram Of this year required the employment of
Humber OF architects outside the District Office.
I'D the building standard system been adopted
h1d this city not been far behind in modern
school construction, not a single OF these
private architects would have been needed.
~ 1t IS just common that eight, or a
siS-een or any other size of school building used
foE the usual grades must be practically identical
with every other Of the size, designed
for the same use if all rightly planned. Did
yqr ever happen think in this connection, that
children going from good schools in any part of
ar& State to good schools in any part OF any
other State do not change their grades? They
ind themselves in the educational plane, the
sane sized rooms, with seats for the same number
OF. pupils, with the facilities and equipment
that they Left
This means that school buildings all over this
country havve been standardized and are being
increasingly standardized. As as example 10
Ill L l..
rooms located exactly the same with identical
lighting 1t has just so many cloak rooms. of
cettan sizes located in exact relation to class
roSms. 1t has many lavatorics toilets drinking
fountains and other etceteras placed where ex-
perience has shown they should be- The heating
plsnt has its place, ditto coal and ash bins. There
are fixed number of Offices. storerooms play-
rooms, a library, and every one as is all else de-
terinined in location, size and all details by the
ruiz of convenience, saving OF time, greatest use
and least motion. There is similarly a stand
ard auditorium, and well build a 16-room build
ms with outside closets without an auditorium
1t As essential and without the platoon system
can be made agency of material expansion
The gymlasium is similarly standard type as are
the Fairgrounds
This sounds reasonable to you? 1t is more
than reasonable. 1t is basic. There is lust one
type of interior arrangement of any schoolhouse
of ANY designated size in number OF rooms for
grades, for junior high for platoon system
There is just one interior arrangement that is
right The rest wrong. When a half-dozen
architects employed to plan half-dozen 16-
room grade schoolhouses those that do not con-
form to the one approved type will all be wrong
An, architect may have national fame and not know
hoN to plan schoolhouse, which is the one public
building brought to such state of economical
perfection that there is inch of space wasted
Enlr frances, exits, Railways, stairs-everything is
niaihematioaly exact for its use and under all
conditions.
Plainly then what Washington needs for
economy in its building program and celeritv in