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tion includes the location of each pupil's desk and the teacher's desk in the blue prints of the plans on which it passes, and no seating arrangements may be changed without the board's approval.1 Aisles at the side and rear of the room in South Dakota must be at least 30 inches, all others about 20 inches. According to the Ohio law all classrooms must have aisles on all wall sides. The minima for wall and center aisles are as follows: 2

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For auditoriums additional detailed provision is made. All seats, chairs, and desks for pupils in classrooms or auditoriums shall be fastened to the floor, unless less than 16 pupils are seated in the room. Not a word more about classroom seating, but in assembly rooms (those accommodating over 100 persons) benches or chairs shall not be less than 24 feet from back to back, measuring horizontally, and the width of the seats shall average 20 inches per person, measuring from center to center of seat arms. No such seat shall be less than 19 inches wide, and if benches are used, 15 inches of bench length shall be allotted each person. In assembly halls no seat shall have more than six seats between it and the aisle. Thus it impresses one that, while Ohio has more legislation on seating than any other State, the entire effort has been directed toward the prevention of injury or death in an emergency, rather than toward conserving the health of the child day by day.

Blackboards.-The Montana Board of Health forbids blackboards between windows. The Indiana law requires that they be a dead black.1 The Vermont Board of Health combines the two requirements. There appears to be an utter absence of rules regarding the height of blackboards, though several State departments of education make suggestions. Those of South Dakota may be quoted as typical. "The following are the best heights adapted to the various grades: 26 inches for primary grades, 30 inches for the intermediate grades, and 36 inches for grammar and high-school grades." 5

1 State Building Code,

2 State Building Code, Part 2, title 3, sec. 10. The same figures exactly have been adopted by the Ind. State Bd. of Health. See Bull., 1913, No. 52, U. S. Bu. of Ed., pp. 17-18.

• Regulation 26.

4 School Law, p. 135.

Bien. Rep. of State Supt. (1910-1912), p. 152.

XII. MISCELLANEOUS.

Basements.-The basement has often been regarded as a legitimate place to dispose of the overflow in rapidly growing school systems. The possible dangers of basement schoolrooms are receiving recognition at present, and there seems a well-defined drift toward doing away with such quarters altogether except for temporary uses. Minnesota was the first State to take drastic action. A law of 1909 directs that in any city of 20,000 or more no basement room shall be employed for "grade school purposes," unless it is used exclusively for domestic science, manual training, or physical culture. This statute was not made fully operative till the opening of the school year 1912-13, thus permitting towns to adjust themselves to the new conditions. It is now made applicable to a school in any locality, regardless of population. A basement room was defined as one "the floor of which is below the surface of the surrounding ground on all sides of said room.' The Ohio State building code declares that all rooms used for school purposes, except those devoted to domestic science, manual training, and recreation, must be wholly above grade line. The exceptions noted may be placed partly below grade if properly lighted, heated, and ventilated,' but all basement rooms used by pupils or public must have a waterproof floor.

All two-story school buildings shall have a dry, well-lighted basement under the entire building, the floor of the basement to be cement or concrete, and the ceiling 10 feet high (Indiana).3 In the smaller buildings, where the basements are not finished or not properly heated and ventilated, a swinging door with spring hinges shall be used to prevent basement air from entering rooms or corridors above (Indiana).1

Foundations.-All school buildings shall have a solid foundation of brick, tile, stone, or concrete, and thorough ventilation between ground and floor, the latter to be not less than 3 feet above the earth; and all brick school buildings shall have a foundation of vitrified brick, or of stone, or have above the ground line a layer of slate, vitrified brick, stone, or other impervious material (Indiana). Moreover, no foundation shall be laid on filled ground or soil containing a mixture of organic matter. A rule of the Vermont State Board of Health denies approval of plans unless floors of buildings without cellars are 2 feet above ground and free circulation of air allowed beneath. South Dakota is satisfied with 18 inches."

1 Laws of 1909, ch. 52.
Part 2, title 3.

School Law, p. 134.

4 Bull., 1913, No. 52, U. S. Bu. of Ed., p. 15.

• Regulations issued May 1, 1911.

Bien. Rep. of State Supt. Pub. Instr. (1910-1912), p. 151.

Floors. Provisions affecting floors look mostly toward one end, viz, tightness. All toilet rooms, lavatories, and other rooms where plumbing fixtures are used, shall have a waterproof floor and base of nonabsorbent, indestructible material, such as asphalt, glass, marble, vitrified or glazed tile or terrazzo, or monolithic composition (Ohio).1 All floors of toilet rooms and others in which plumbing is found shall be of nonabsorbent, waterproof material, with nonabsorbent, waterproof base not less than 6 inches high and nonabsorbent, waterproof sanitary cove; wherever possible the floors of laboratories, domestic-science rooms, and corridors shall be subject to a similar rule; floor coverings are prohibited except in the superintendent's or principal's office, rest rooms, or teachers' rooms (Indiana). The new law in Texas reads that "all floors shall have their surfaces made impervious to water and germs by a coat of boiling paraffin oil or other floor dressing having similar effect, applied immediately after the floor is laid."3 Floors should be of hard, well-seasoned wood, closely laid, so as to leave no cracks (South Dakota).

Interior finish. Recent years have witnessed the introduction of much greater simplicity into the architecture of the interior of all classes of buildings, to the end that the collection of dust may be decreased. This is just beginning to influence schoolhouse construction. Ohio has done most in this direction, requiring (1) that all base shall be 6 inches high and have a sanitary cove at floor level, (2) that all interior wood finish shall be small as possible and free from unnecessary dust catchers, (3) that door and window jambs be rounded. and plastered, except in museums, libraries, and art galleries. Indiana has practically an identical regulation. The Texas law referred to in the preceding paragraph also provides that all interior woodwork shall be without "such unnecessary fluting, turning, or carving as catch dust and microbes." "Wainscoting should never be used in a school building, as it is insanitary" (South Dakota).1

Wardrobes and vestibules.-The Indiana law reads that separate and well-lighted, warmed, and ventilated cloakrooms, or sanitary lockers, shall be provided for each study schoolroom. If separated from classrooms, the wardrobes shall be separately heated and ventilated the same as the former (Ohio, Indiana ). A cloakroom shall be at least 6 feet wide and have an outside window (Minnesota)." New schools of one and two rooms must have a vestibule of reason

1 State Building Code, part 2, title 3.

2 Bull., 1913, No. 52, U. S. Bu. of Ed., p. 11.

3 Law effective July 1, 1913.

Bien. Rep. State Supt. Pub. Instr. (1910-12), p. 154.

School Law, p. 135.

Bull., 1913, No. 52, U. S. Bu. of Ed., p. 15. 7 State Health Laws and Reg., p.

54.

able size (Montana).1 Corridors when used as coatrooms shall be well lighted and ventilated (Vermont).

Protection from boiler explosion.-Insurance against the horrors attendant upon a boiler explosion have been in the minds of legislators of several States when passing school laws. They have gone about the business in as many different ways. Maine looks to the engineer. It has enacted that a school, church, or other public building heated by a steam plant under or near such building, must employ to care for the same a person whose capacity shall be tested by the local municipal authorities. Massachusetts tests the boiler instead of the engineer. Steam boilers in public buildings are to be inspected as often as once a year, both externally and internally, as to general condition, safety valve, appliances for indicating pressure, etc.; and all boilers shall have a fusible safety plug of lead or something equally fusible. Ohio has decided to change the location of the boiler if necessary. "No cast-iron boiler carrying more than 10 pounds pressure or steel boiler carrying more than 35 pounds pressure shall be located within the main walls of any school building." These three laws regarding steam boilers are no doubt only representatives of their classes, since similar enactments are to be found in a large number of the States.

Rest rooms.-Ohio has spoken on one very interesting feature. In all schools of four to eight class rooms there must be one rest room; in all schools of over eight classrooms, two rest rooms. The equipment of such a room shall consist of a couch, supplies for first aid to the injured, water supply, and toilet accommodations.

The school hack. Since Indiana has led the country in the movement for consolidation and transportation, it is not surprising that it has regulated somewhat the hygiene of the school hack. This vehicle must be well lighted, heated, and ventilated. Twice a year, once at the opening of school and again at Christmas, it shall be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected according to the rules of the State board of health. There is to be no overcrowding, but each child shall have a comfortable seat. Foot rests shall be provided for smaller pupils if their feet do not rest comfortably on the floor. Ohio has yet another provision that must be classed as miscellaneous, because it may have a variety of bearings. No school building shall occupy over 75 per cent of a corner lot, or 70 per cent of any other site.

1 Laws of 1913.

2 Laws relating to public schools, p. 49.

Acts of 1907, ch. 465.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

The following is a list of sources used in the preliminary investigation for this bulletin. For later revisions see tables in the text of the bulletin.

Alabama.-General Public School Laws of Alabama. Brown Printing Co. Montgomery, 1911. 224 pp.

Arkansas.-Digest of Statutes (1905); Acts of 1905; Acts of 1911; Acts of 1913.
California.-School Law of California. Sacramento, 1911. 355 pp.

Rules and Regulations of State Board of Education.

Colorado.-The School Laws of the State of Colorado, as Amended to January 1, 1912. The Smith-Brooks Co., State Printers. Denver. 467 pp.

Revised Statutes of 1908.

Connecticut.-Revised Statutes of 1888.

General Statutes.

Laws of 1907; Laws of 1909; Acts of 1911; Acts of 1913.

81 Conn. 276.

Delaware.-School Laws, 1898-1909. Smyrna Times Print. Smyrna, 1909. 92+22

pp.

Laws of Delaware.

16th Biennial Report of the Board of Health of the State of Delaware

(1908-1910).

Florida.-Digest of the School Laws of the State of Florida. T. J. Appleyard. Talla

hassee, 1911. 207 pp.

General Statutes.

Acts of 1909.

Fire Code of Public Schools, based on Laws of Florida, Ch. 5937, sec. 6. Georgia.-Georgia School Laws and Decisions. 1911. 112 pp.

Idaho.-School Laws of Idaho. Lewiston Evening Teller. Lewiston, 1911. 114 pp. Laws of 1909.

Revised Codes.

Handbook of Information for Trustees, containing rules of State Board of
Education.

Rules of State Board of Health.

Illinois. Revised Statutes (1911).

Indiana. School Law of Indiana. Indianapolis, 1911. 537 pp. Acts of 1913.
Burns' Annotated Statutes, Revision of 1908.

Blue v. Beach, 155 Ind. 121.

Reports of State Board of Health, various years.

Book of Instructions to Health Authorities, issued by State Board of
Health.

Iowa.-School Laws of Iowa. Edition of 1911. Emory H. English. Des Moines, 1912. 326 pp. Acts of 1913, ch. 193.

Supplement, Code of 1907.

Laws of 1909.

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