A text-book on hygiene and pediatrics from a chiropractic standpoint

by J. H. Craven

Stairways should be of ample width, allowing pupils to pass up and down without danger of crowding. The risers should be no more than six inches and the treads not more than twelve inches. Where the pupils are compelled to go from one floor to another several times a day it is much better to have inclines instead of stairs.

Corridors

The corridors should be wide enough so that the children in passing and repassing will not have to crowd. They should be at least ten feet in width and should be supplied with plenty of doors for exits, ventilation and light and also windows for ventilation and light. When practicable the corridors should be along the north side. This insures sufficient lighting and at the same time does not interfere with the lighting and ventilating of the schoolroom. It is more important that the direct rays of the sun be admitted to the schoolroom than to the corridors.

Basement

The basement should be well protected from dampness; therefore it should be well ventilated and properly heated, as well as arranged so that the direct rays of the sun may reach at least a part of it.

The basement should not be used for classrooms unless it is for machine shops, or workrooms. It should not be used for playgrounds or gymnasium, but may be used for bathrooms and toilets. It should occupy the entire space under the building.

The Schoolroom

In planning the building it must be remembered that the schoolroom is the unit of the building and therefore must receive primary consideration. The entire building should be a collection of schoolrooms properly arranged.

The schoolroom should be about twenty-five feet by thirty feet with not less than a thirteen foot ceiling; this size room will be large enough for thirty pupils and no teacher should be required to take care of more than this number in a class. There should be plenty of entrance and exit doors for each room.

The interior of the classroom should be attractive but plain, the surfaces smooth, the junctions of ceiling and floor with walls should be concave. All mouldings, projections, ledges where dust and dirt could lodge should be eliminated. The walls should be of such a color as to absorb as little light as possible and prove least taxing to the eyes. A light green-gray is favored. The walls must be so treated with paint or some other method employed so as to be readily washed or otherwise cleaned. White ceilings which reflect the light are best. Floors are made of hard wood in narrow planks with matched joints, or they are dovetailed. This may be laid over false floors of boards or reinforced concrete. The walls, floors, ceilings and partitions must be proof against sound, dampness, fire, vermin, and dust.