PROBLEM 79

PLANNING THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES

Problem: The city of Gravesend, N. K., has a population of 8,000. Its present high school building is inadequate. The architect engaged by the Board of Education has presented plans for a new building. At a Board meeting, vital questions are raised concerning the nature, amount, and location of the facilities provided for physical education.

The plans which the architect has brought to the conference include the plot plan, the basement, ground floor, second, and third floor plans reproduced in Diagrams 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The arrangement of the plans was determined in part by the natural contours of the site.

One board member who had interested himself in interscholastic basketball and football games wanted a larger gymnasium so that more space might be provided for spectators for the school games. A second member desired to secure greater economy by combining the stage of the auditorium and the gymnasium. A third member expressed opposition to the expenditure for locker spaces, gymnasium, shower rooms, and other accessory spaces, urging that the use of the Y.M.C.A. facilities be continued for school athletics. The superintendent expressed the opinion that with the physical education facilities as shown by the architect, there would be congestion during the first year of use of the building.

Assignment

1. Why is it undesirable to build a gymnasium-stage? Are there any advantages to this duplicate use of space?

2. What would be a desirable physical education program for such a school? Assume the enrollment and sex-division figures which might be expected in this community.

DIAGRAM 1
PLAN SHOWING LOCATION OF NEW GRAVESEND HIGH SCHOOL

On the basement floor will be found: one recitation room, the cafeteria, kitchen, and supply room for the same, the janitor's room, the gymnasium with boys' and girls' locker rooms and shower baths and storage room. The boiler room is also located on this floor and has a daylight exposure.

On the ground floor will be found: woodworking room, bench room, machine shop, drawing room, boys' and girls' locker rooms, suite of rooms for health work, including waiting room, dental clinic, nurse's clinic, office of Superintendent and Board of Education, book room, general science laboratory, and auditorium.

On the second floor will be found: one recitation room, offices of high school principal, rest room for women teachers, library, two small study halls, domestic art room, domestic science room, and domestic appliance room.