horizontally so as to form a horizontal stratum of foliage, constituting a perfect shade in the summer months, but, since the trees are bare in winter, allowing also the full play of sunlight when it is really needed, viz., in the winter months. Such recreation grounds stand in startling contrast to some of our own; but, here and there, this State has plots connected with its schools that could easily be made excellent. In the Commissioners' opinion, an insufficient use is made of shade trees in our recreation grounds. If small gardens were made a feature of every school ground, opportunities for object-lesson teaching, for nature study, and for the study of natural history are afforded. This, however, is treated elsewhere. 22. (c.) Provision for Physical Exercise, and wet weather, etc.-In appropriating land in the future for schools, it will be well to remember that large areas give far better opportunity for physical exercise, gymnastic and military drill, and free games; and to realise also that in order to secure the greatest advantage, provision must be made for wet weather. In this climate, the latter need be but moderate, since we have so large an amount of fine weather; still, it should exist, and, therefore, a part of every play ground should be covered in. It is well also, in school grounds of anything like normal size, that part should form lawn, part should be asphalted, and part may be of such earth as will form a good surface, and not become hard, so that a sufficient variety of play may be possible, and the pupils regard the conditions of school life as among the most agreeable in their existence. This is a state of things which, though too little realised here, is realised in many parts of Europe and America, and, perhaps especially, in Switzerland. For kindergarten plots, the only asphalted parts should be the walks or paths; lawn and garden should be the chief features, and the little ones may then play with much more safety. All these things help to reinforce the rural power of the school, and when it is agreeably situated, properly orientated, and has suitable recreation grounds, child-life will stand in a better way of profiting by what the school has to bestow. 1 One is reminded of the Groves of Academus. 23. 23. Illustrations of School Buildings.-Swiss schools, and, in general, modern European and American schools, are so incomparably superior even to the most recently-constructed schools here, that to get any real idea of them photographs are necessary. For that reason, representations of several schools, with some descriptions underwritten, are bere added. Drawings of their ground plans are also essential to illustrate the proper methods of schoolbuilding. It is impossible to visit even one of our most modern schools without feeling how much we have to learn, and how deplorable it is that the school-building is not in accord with the results of systematic study of the question, in the light of modern pædiatry. A drawing of a suitable warming-stove has previously been given. Complete drawings of a school, and of proper heating and ventilating apparatus, are, perhaps, a little outside the scope of the report. A systematic statement of the Commissioners' conclusions will be set out at the end of Chapter XLIX, hereinafter. 24. Girls' School at Monbijou, Berne, Switzerland.-The fine building in the illustration hereunder is the finest Girls' School in Berne. Its site was chosen with regard to quiet, and it is agreeably situated with regard to general surroundings. The length of the building is north and south, so that for most of the rooms light is received from the east side. The two rooms for drawing are lighted by windows on the north. The principal aim in designing the building was to realise a simple, bright, and convenient disposition of the class-rooms, access to which is had by a fine corridor running longitudinally along the building. In general appearance the schoolhouse was intended to express a noble simplicity, such as would make it serve as a means of aesthetic education (doch als ästhetisches Erziehungsmittel wirken). The ventilating and heating arrangements are very perfect, and the whole place is kept scrupulously clean. The dimensions of the rooms in metres1 are: Each room is designed for thirty-six pupils, and is lighted by three windows (160 x 2.70 4:32) x3=1296 square metres-the ratio to floor space being therefore 1 : 5. 1 Add about 10% to the measurement in metres and the result will be yards. The The rooms for drawing are, in dimensions, 11.58 x 8.63 = 99·93 square metres, and have four rooms on the north side (1·90 x 2.70 = 5·13) x 4 = 20.52 square metres-the ratio to floor space being about the same as before (1: 4.87). The furniture in the rooms for drawing consisted of eighteen double drawing-tables with movable seats, three model-tables, large presses, two large glazed presses for plaster models, etc. The laboratory for practical instruction in Physics and Chemistry is very finely equipped both as regards convenience for laboratory practice and in respect of apparatus. The natural history room is equally well developed, and has a fine and well-supplied museum. In the school-kitchen are gas, and wood and coal stoves, so that the pupils may learn both methods of cooking. The equipment is very complete. There is also a laundry, and close thereto an ironing room, with gas-heaters for the flat-irons. The bathroom has ten closed cabinets of 2.20 metres high; by pulling a chain one gets a showerbath-the temperature of which can be adjusted as required. The dressing, toilet-rooms, vestiaries (cloak-rooms), etc., are all excellently arranged. The school has a large asphalted play-room (Spielhalle), the dimensions of which are in metres :10 x 30 x 5 = 300 square metres = 1,500 cubic metres, and a gymnastic-hall (Turnhalle)--14 x 28 x 8:50 392 00 square metres = 3,332 cubic metres. In the basement there is a boiler and heating-room, and the fuel-room belonging thereto, and under half of the gymnastic-hall, a store-room. 25. The Girls' School at the Hirschengraben, Zurich.-The finest school-house in Zurich is the Girls' School at the Hirschengraben. It was erected in 1893 at a cost of about £32,800; the ground plan being shewn in the illustration hereunder. In selecting the site the conditions previously outlined, viz., in section 8, were attended to. The building contains twenty-three class-rooms, three work-rooms, a room for drawing, a large and beautifully designed conference hall, a chemical laboratory, a museum, a THE GIRLS' SCHOOL AT THE HIRSCHENGRABEN, ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. Ground Plan, etc. library, two children's rooms, two teachers' rooms, a large bathroom, a large play-room, two very fine gymnastic halls, and the caretaker's residence. The cost of the gymnastic hall was about 178. 6d. per cubic metre, or, say, 6d. per cubic foot. The entrances are very handsome-the chief entrance being from the Hirschengraben, and the other from the north-west playground. |