PROBLEM 52

A SUPERINTENDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR

NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS

Problem: Superintendent Ames of Rock Centre, N. K., has developed a series of recommendations for new elementary schools, the construction of which the Board of Education has authorized.

These recommendations have been sent in the following form to the various architects to whom the schools have been assigned:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BUILDINGS

1. New elementary schools shall be designed to accommodate either the present type of school organization or the platoon type. 2. Elementary school buildings shall be two stories in height. 3. All elementary school buildings shall be of the open type so as to insure the best possible light and ventilation.

4. So far as practical, all new elementary school classrooms shall be above or at grade. No classroom window sills shall be less than six inches above grade.

5. So far as practical, additions shall conform to the building already erected.

6. The size of the standard classroom shall be 22 feet in width and 30 feet in length.

7. The kindergarten shall occupy a space equal to about two classrooms.

8. The size of special rooms, such as manual training, home economics, science, etc., shall vary according to the needs of the school.

9. As a rule, the elementary auditorium shall be built primarily for instructional purposes and as such shall not have a capacity in excess of 300.

10. In the larger elementary schools, the standard gymnasium shall be 40 feet in width, 60 feet in length, and 16 feet in height

below the trusses. In smaller schools, where play room and auditorium may be combined, the size shall be 22 feet in width and not over 60 feet in length, leaving a space which can be changed to make two classrooms as needed.

11. In the larger schools, where 40 feet x 60 feet gymnasiums are built, there shall be provided two small locker and shower rooms, one for boys and one for girls. These shall be large enough to accommodate forty 12 inch x 12 inch x 30 inch lockers. About five showers should be provided in each.

12. Quarters for physical training teachers shall be provided in connection with the gymnasium.

13. Each of the large elementary schools shall be provided with the following facilities:

(a) Small medical clinic.

(b) Library about classroom size.

(c) Built-in corridor lockers sufficient in number to take care of the school.

(d) Teachers' rest room.

Assignment

1. Are there any insurmountable difficulties against planning a building both as a traditional and a platoon type?

2. Practice varies with respect to the size of auditoriums in elementary schools. What are the advantages of the small over the large auditorium? The disadvantages?

3. Would it be more desirable in the traditional school to combine the auditorium and gymnasium? Explain.

4. What administrative problems are involved in the use of lockers and showers in elementary schools? Are the facilities provided sufficient?

5. To what use are libraries put in elementary schools? Are the space requirements adequate?

6. Should special rooms vary in size with the size of building? If so, why?

7. Why should the kindergarten exceed a first-grade room in size? Explain.

8. Would you make changes in these recommendations? If so, why?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

DONOVAN, J. J. ET AL. School Architecture-Principles and Practices. Mac

millan, 1921.

DRESSLAR, F. B. American School Buildings. U. S. Bureau of Education, Bulletin, 1924, No. 17, Washington, D. C.

NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION. Report of Committee on School House Planning. National Education Association, Washington, D. C., 1925.

PERKINS, D. H., FELLOWS, W. K. AND HAMILTON, J. L. Educational Buildings. Blakely Printing Co., Chicago, 1925.

STRAYER, G. D. AND ENGELHARDT, N. L. Standards for Elementary School Buildings. Bureau of Publications, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1923.

PROBLEM 53

THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OF A SMALL

COMMUNITY

Problem: Rock City, N. K., is a town of 2,300 population. The superintendent of schools has recommended that a single centrally located elementary school building be constructed to house Grades 1 to 8 and replace two ward buildings now in use. Two members of the Board of Education favor the erection of two new ward buildings to replace those now in use. One member of the Board and many people in the community favor the continued use of the present buildings.

The present situation may be briefly described as follows: The school census in 1925 was 764. The school population has been practically static during the past five years. The district valuation is $3,500,000, and the bonded indebtedness, $30,000. The levy for general purposes is 9.6 mills, while the levy for bonds and interest is 1.4 mills. The dimensions of the district are 12 x 2 miles. A railroad divides the town into practically equal parts and serves as the district division for the present elementary school arrangement through fifth grade.

A parochial school located in the north part of the town enrolls 110 pupils. The present school plant consists of three buildings: the central building of "Type C" was erected in 1917 to care for 400 senior high school pupils. At present, this building houses the senior high school of 260 pupils and Grades 6, 7, and 8, enrolling 125 pupils. This building is well planned and adequate to care for the high school needs for an extended period. The north ward building was erected in 1887. It is a two-story, three-teacher building housing 75 pupils in the first five grades. The south ward building erected in 1887 is a duplicate of the north ward building. It has four teachers and houses 125 pupils in the first five grades.