NOTES ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION. 677 



locked. To prevent it closing at the top the sides could be blocked 

 for the last four inches. This would ensure the free entrance and 

 exit of air where windows faced each other. It is doubtful whether 

 the box window is not the best of all. 



Other systems have the disadvantage that they cannot be 

 properly shaded, a great necessity here where we have so much 

 bright sunshine ; they are also more liable to get out of order. 

 The sill should be protected by a wood, metal, or glass hopper, 

 which would direct air currents upwards and well off the children's 

 heads. Such a hopper is a great improvement on the " Hinckes- 

 Bird " system. 



The lighting of the room in this part of the world should never 

 be artificial during the day time. It has been estimated that the 

 illuminating surface should be at least one-fifth of the floor space. 

 In an ideal classroom for 30 children this would equal 96 square 

 feet. The panes should be as large as possible and should never 

 be frosted or coloured ; both these conditions interfere with the 

 light. In most schools the walls are decorated with pretty 

 pictures, which have a pleasant effect on the children. Physiological 

 diagrams with the awful coloured pictures of the effects of alcohol 

 on the stomach and liver, illustrations of our Australian snakes, 

 wall cards on temperance, etc., can never be of any benefit except 

 to give wrong impressions. A window with a pleasant outlook is 

 always a pleasing distraction to the eyes. For this reason 

 windows should not be too high up ; a window with the sill only 

 four feet from the ground would be most beneficial. Wire guards 

 are generally fixed outside to protect the windows. One head- 

 master assured me that the only windows that were damaged were 

 those with wire guards. Because there is a guard most children 

 are anxious to know whether they are effective, just as one likes to 

 assure one's self that the notice " wet paint " is correct. The 

 school child can be taught that it is no more necessary to protect 

 the school windows than it is to protect the windows of a private 

 house. The wire guards also tend to affect the sight. The lighting 

 of the classroom should be equal from left to right, and no shadows 

 will ensue. Next best is from the left, then from the right, but 

 never from the front or back. Blinds regulate the amount of light 

 to enter the classroom. If there is much light and the blind is 

 lowered it cuts off the source of most light, which is from the 

 upper part of the window. If lowered to its full extent too much 

 light is cut off ; if lowered to within a foot or so of the window 

 ledge, horizontal rays enter, which are very irritating to the eyes 

 of the teachers and pupils. To remedy this I have suggested 

 spring roller-blinds reversed. Glazed holland of a dark green or 

 blue is a most suitable material for blinds. Venetians are very 

 dusty, soon get out of order, and fatigue all astigmatic eyes. Blinds 

 interfere with the full entrance of air. If the air does enter, the 

 blind is blown out of position and does not act as a shade. I 

 would do away with all blinds and substitute light screens of some 



