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opening by folding doors on both sides, while on one side there is a continuous open
verandah or covered way. The conditions found at this school were very nearly ideal
and no complaints were encountered. The classrooms were bright, airy and pleasantly
warm. The school, however, has special advantages. The site is one which
gives a certain amount of protection owing to a slope in the ground on one hand and
belts of trees on the other. The school, moreover, is under the charge of a head
teacher, who is very whole-hearted in open air education. Some of her teachers
are not so enthusiastic about it, but she is endeavouring to educate them to
appreciate the advantages to be obtained from a school of this type. She has
drafted the following rules for the ventilation of the school in winter:—
"Whenever possible the French windows should be open on one side, the
side being determined by the direction of the wind. Open French windows are
to be preferred to open ventilators. Seldom during the winter will it be possible
for ventilators to be opened opposite to open French windows. Children should
be encouraged to wear scarves or coats when French windows are open and
exercises might be taken every 20 to 30 minutes.
"Hoppers may never be closed unless French windows or ventilators are
open.
"The temperature of the room must never be above 60°F. and the usual
temperature should be about 56° to 58°F.
"No child may ever wear a scarf or coat in the classroom unless the French
windows are open but scarves or coats should be kept in the classroom to be
worn whenever going on to the open corridor.
"Should the difference between the inside and outside temperatures be
considerable, exercises for half a minute must be given with at least one French
window open before the children are sent on to the open corridor.
"Classes should not be kept waiting outside the classroom in cold weather."
Generally provision has been made for ventilation when the folding doors cannot
be thrown open, by hopper openings in the doors themselves and revolving fanlights
above the doors. Furthermore, whenever possible, closed corridors are kept low,
so that the classrooms ventilate into the open air above them on the side opposite to
the folding doors, thus ensuring cross ventilation.
The conclusions drawn as a result of visits of inspection to the schools are as
follows:—
1. The schools provided with means of throwing open one side of the
classrooms to the open air are much superior from the hygienic point of view
to those of the old type of planning and the new type of planning should be
persevered with.
2. The covered way, as opposed to a corridor, has not proved entirely
satisfactory at Ealdham-square owing to exposure rendering conditions uncomfortable
in bad weather with the consequent danger that the aim of complete
through ventilation in the classrooms will be defeated and ill-ventilated classrooms
will be reproduced by the closing of all or of nearly all the ventilation
facilities by the occupants during inclement weather.
3. Owing to considerations of space in London it is necessary, at least in
central districts, to plan schools on the three storey model. Consequently the
schools stand out very prominently as landmarks in most areas, where, as
there is no screen, they are very exposed to winds and driving rain. The
suggestion is made, therefore, that schools on the Ealdham-square plan should
not be reproduced generally in London, but that this type of building, which
has most valuable features, should be adopted for such sites as enjoy some
protection from the prevailing winds.