SCHOOL ARCHITECTURE. 



183 



plained the advantage of proper ventila- 

 tion, but he gives diagrams and details, 

 showing how the Boston mode of ventila- 

 tion (a most excellent one,) is easily applied 

 to all school-houses, so as effectually to pre- 

 vent the possibility of the accumulation of 

 deleterious or impure air. 



The most improved forms of school-house 

 furniture (including seats and desks,) are 

 given, with remarks on the peculiar ad- 

 vantages of each, 



A large and humane spirit has, it is most 

 evident, everywhere governed the author 

 of this volume. We find it continually 

 directing his efforts; and, while improving 

 everything connected with the school-house, 

 with respect to its efficiency and fitness for 

 the end in view, he is ever ready to sym- 

 pathise warmly with the natural instincts 

 and sufferings of youth. Thus, in speaking 

 of the accommodation in primary schools, 

 we find the following, among other valua- 

 ble hints for the teacher's own use : — 



"Little children are made to suffer, and 

 many of them permanently, from being 

 forced to sit long in one position, without 

 any occupation for mind or muscles, on 

 seats without backs, and so high that their 

 feet cannot touch, much less, rest on the 

 floor. Nothing but the fear of punishment, 

 or its frequent application, can keep a live 

 child still, under such circumstances, and 

 even that cannot do it long. Who has not 

 an aching remembrance of the torture of 

 this unnatural confinement, and the burn- 

 ing sense of injustice, for punishment in- 

 flicted for some unavoidable manifestation 

 of uneasiness and pain ? Even though the 

 seats are as comfortable as can be made, 

 young children can not and should not be 

 kept still upon them long at a time, and 

 never without something innocent or useful 

 to do ; and, under no eircumstances, longer 

 than twenty-five or thirty minutes in one 



position, nor so long at one study, and that 

 with frequent and free exercise in the open 

 air. To accomplish this, great and radical 

 changes in the views and practice of teach- 

 ers, parents, and the community at large 

 must take place. Nowhere, in the whole 

 department of practical education, is a gra- 

 dual change more needed, or should sooner 

 be commenced." p, 56. 



Considered in point of taste, there is 

 much to approve of in this volume. The 

 designs given are nearly all from school- 

 houses actually built, in various parts of the 

 country. We suppose Mr, Barnard has 

 selected from the best specimens in New- 

 England, and we are gratified to find, among 

 his well-engraved illustrations of the exte- 

 riors of these buildings, so much to ad- 

 mire. 



There are some half dozen designs by 

 Mr, Teft, an architect of Providence, which 

 are especially worthy of commendation, as 

 uniting rural beauty, and expression of pur- 

 pose, with convenient accommodation in 

 a high degree,* We trust those " select- 

 men" and " district school committees," 

 into whose hands this book may fall, will 

 be guided by the spirit of these examples, 

 rather than by that of such designs as the 

 uncouth and ill proportioned " high school 

 at Lowell," page 112, hitherto the favorite 

 style in all our large towns. 



The late Jas, Wadsworth, Esq., of Gene- 

 seo, who was heartily devoted to the cause 

 of popular education, had 11,000 copies of 

 that valuable work — ''The School and the 

 Schoolmaster," printed at his own cost, and 

 then distributed them to every school dis- 

 trict in the state. We cannot but hope 

 that, in addition to the interest which this 

 work will everywhere awaken of itself, 



* We owe the publishers our thanks for permission to use 

 two of these cuts [see frontispiece,] of schools, afler Mr. 

 Teft's designs. One of tliese is built at North Provideiicej 

 llie other at Westerly, R. I. 



