The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-05-22
SCHOOL BUILDING TYPES

SCHOOL BUILDING TYPES
West Palm Beach is about to erect some new
school buildings Taking time by the forelock, the
Palm Beach Post discusses at length types of
school structures suited to this Florida climate and
mentions the fact that the great majority of the
school buildings in Florida are not unlike those to
be found in Maine or Minnesota The point is
that no attention has been paid to climatic condi-
tons. Perhaps Dade county has some notable ex-
amples of departure from old methods, there be-
ing country schools in Dade designed TO provide
what are almost out of doors conditions. But as
general rule, this is not the case. The Post says:
Since in all likelihood the voters of this school
district will approve the bend issue next week which
will provide funds for new school buildings, among
them new high school for West Palm Beach, it
is not altogether amiss to consider the type of
building that $4,000 should give us. Is Palm
Beach county going ahead to erect a high school
On the best Ohio or Massachusetts, models? So
far as the construction goes the Post hopes that
such will not be the case.
South Florida has some very good school
buildings, but the ideal structure for this section
has yet to be built. For some reason or ether
when architects sit down to design school house.
Inspiration and imagination seems to fly out Of the
window, with the result that if the high schools of
any thousand cities of about the same population
were shifted over night the populations of those
L. l., e a. A.
matter of fact the best school building for Ohio
is probably the best for Massachusetts or Hi
nos, but that Is nc recommendation at all for South
Florida.
This is warm climate, an out of doors coun-
try. We are learning gradually TO adapt our
houses to these conditions to our greater comfort
and well being The time is about past when
South Florida homes are modelled after New Eng
land cottages We have learned the advantage of
high ceilings and living quarters that allow us to
spend part of our time in The fresh air even when
at home. It seems to this paper about time
that we gave ever constructing our schools
northern designs and set about developing the best
type of building for South Florida. By that it is
not meant that Spanish or Moorish type should
be used, but rather the creation OF new type. And
the first consideration should be to move the classes
more nearly cut of doors.
There are very few days here when classes
could not be held in the open air with comfort
Floors and roof are needed Of course as are in
ner walls and partitions but certainly every class
room could have ore side completely open with
screening and awnings for ordinary weather and
glass which could be dropped into place to keep out
rain or occasional chilly winds.
Several private schools have been developed
in this direction with excellent results ard the only
conceivable reason for not building public schools
in more or less the same way is that it has never
been DONE which is no reason at all. In short it
seems downright silly that our boys and girls should
be obliged to spend FIVE or six hours day FIVE days
a week cooped up in stufy school rooms when they
might just as we'll be getting their lessons and the
benefits Of the fresh air at the same time.
THE innovation probably at first would be the
occasion for wandering minds en- the part of some
pupils but they would soon become accustomed to
the new freedom and sky and landscape would
cease to be distractions. The school grounds are
large enough so that the noise of traffic and passers-
by should not interfere with classes. Indeed, the
habit of concentration should be strengthened just
as general health and mental alertness should be