The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1925-07-30
SCHOOL LIGHTING
SERIOUS PROBLEM
Improved Standards Need
ed in Both Cities and
Rural Districts.

tives, Guy A. Henry general director
Of the Eyeslght Conservation Council
Of America, said recently. Poor IL
Elimination is general in the school
buildings of this country, according to
Mr.. Henry, disclosing faults common
both In the large centers Of popula-
ton and In the rural regions. Sur
prising defects, he said, were re-
vealed In the cities.
SIT is conceded" he declared, "that
unfavorable school lighting is con-
tributory source of defective vision
While the measure of damage thus
inflicted cannot be determined with ac-
curacy, still it is possible to say that
In itself 1t is sufficiently large to war
rant remedial action"
For the guidance Of school and home,
the council has just completed pop
ular Interpretation of the American
Standard Code of Lighting School
Buildings prepared under the joint
sponsorship of the Illuminating Engi-
neering society and the American In
stitute Of Architects and approved by
the American Engineering Standards
committee
Facilities Need Improving.
Surveys of the physical equipment
Of school systems made in different
parts of the country show almost In
variably that the natural lighting ia
cilities need improving and that ade-
quate artificial illumination is almost
entirely lacking" Mr.. Henry continued
'The principal reason for this condi-
ton is that many school buildings were
built years ago when the Importance
and value of proper lighting were not
appreciated, and the science and art
of lighting were very imperfect This
Is particularly true in rural school dis
triets, but exists to a surprising ex-
tent in many cities. Even some Of our
more modern school buildings have
been planned without giving proper
consideration to the arrangement of
windows, the amount of window area
or the installation of adequate arti-
hcial lighting"
Advantages to children of good light
ing, experts assert, are reduction of
eyestrain, greater capacity for work
and for concentration, greater accuracy
and neatness, and greater comfort and
contentment, as result Of more cheer
full surroundings
''Eyesight conservation Of school
children" Mr.. Henry said, us prob
lem Of great national Importance. I'm
proper lighting is one of the direct
causes of eyestrain which in turn pro-
duces harmful results. Every effort
should be made so to improve the light
ing facilities of our schools that all
children will enjoy equal advantages
of normal physical and mental devel-
opment 1t is highly essential that the
lighting, both natural and artificial, of
school buildings be in accordance with
approved standards.
Recently there have been greater
demands In schools not only for inn
proved daylight facilities, but for mod
ern systems of artificial lighting
Schoolhouse construction has not kept
pace with the increase in the school
population and the extension of the
curriculum.
Two Sessions Day.
"As a result many schools have been
forced to conduct two sessions q day
In order to take care of classes. In
the winter months especially this
means that artificial light will be used
several hours each day. Also school
buildings are being utilized more and
more extensively for public gatherings,
entertainments and night-school pur-
poses.
ION cloudy days and in classrooms
where it Is not possible to secure suf-
fcient window area, artificial illumina-
ton should be available to supplement
the daylight. This is necessary as a
safety measure In dark corridors, cloak
rooms and stairways.
''The improved standards of lighting
established as result Of the rapid
development in the art OF lighting in
recent years must be considered. Sys-
TENS and facilities that were consid-
cred adequate a few years ago are
now regarded as obsolete, even though
the equipment may be Ia good con-
dition
Business interests have found it
worth while to provide lighting install
lations according to the latest APP
proved standard for Industrial work
ers; 1t is certainly even more impor-
tant to give consideration to the work
rooms Of children"
The lighting of school buildings, 1t
was said, is far below the standard
prevailing in industrial establishments.
In Cleveland, Ohio, the school board
made a survey of 1913 school buildings
and found that "a buildings were In
adequately lighted.
Correct school lighting is said to be
accomplished by controlling daylight,
by proper artificial light, and by avoid
ance of glaring reflection. Diffusion
Of light is called the most difficult