200 SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND SITES. 



GYMNASTIC SPACE. 



Where possible, room should be provided for gymnastic exer- 

 cises. The best shape for such a room is an oblong, the light 

 being admitted on the longer side or both sides. Cross ventila- 

 tion is most desirable in this department. Due provison must be 

 made for hanging and moveable apparatus and for storing it when 

 not in use. The doors must be wide enough for all apparatus to 

 pass through easily. In this country, when the quadrangular type 

 of school plan can be adopted, it is well to use the central space 

 of the quadrangle for physical exercises and training. Under 

 certain circumstances the assembly hall can be fitted and used as 

 a gymnasium, but it is seldom satisfactory. Children under 14 

 years of age should not be permitted to use fixed gymnastic 

 apparatus (sec " Corridors "). 



STAIRCASES. 



Where the buildings are arranged on more than one floor 

 ample provison must be made for the safe and speedy discharge 

 of scholars in case of fire or panic. At least two staircases are 

 necessary in large establishments, and these should be at the extre- 

 mities of the building. They should be of incombustible material 

 throughout, and at least 4 feet wide, without winding steps. No 

 flight should have more than 12 to 15 steps, and the treads should 

 be i2in. wide by bin. high, it being presumed that infants would 

 naturally be located on the ground floor. In all cases solid brick 

 walls should be on both sides of all staircases, and at least one 

 wall for light and ventilation should be an external one. If less 

 than 150 scholars are located on the upper floor, probably one 

 staircase would suffice, if placed in a safe position, and in any 

 case strong handrails should be provided at a suitable height on 

 both sides of the steps to assist crippled or nervous children. The 

 treads of stairs should be of a non-slippery material without nos- 

 ings or projections of any kind. Should there be any screens or 

 doorways to the staircases, the doors should open outwards from 

 the stair flight. 



BLACKBOARDS. 



Blackboards to class rooms and elsewhere should be of such 

 material as to favour the use of dry dusters. Plate glass ground 

 rough on the writing surface and enamelled on the back to a 

 dark olive green is the best and, in the long run, the most econo- 

 mical. If plaster mural boards are used with composition applied 

 as a writing surface, care should be taken that nothing of a 

 poisonous nature is used. No mouldings, grooves or other har- 

 bours for dust or filth should be allowed around the boards. 



CUPBOARDS AND SHELVING. 



Cupboards and shelving should all be easily removable in sec- 

 tions, so that during recess they can be taken away and scrubbed, 

 disinfected and aired before replacement. No permanent lodg- 

 ment for dust against the walls should be possible either inside 



