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7
feature of the programme was the reconditioning of premises and the provision of the
amenities included in the new standard planning by a systematic overhaul of schools
in which rebuilding or remodelling is not contemplated or due.
At the end of the year 1937, the following progress has been made. Ten new
schools or enlargements have been completed, and the schools opened. Preliminary
plans in 5 more cases are in preparation, in 4 are awaiting the approval of the
Board of Education, and in 2 others have been approved and working drawings are
being prepared ; while in a further 9 cases, the accommodation and organisation
are under consideration.
Of the 40 rebuilding or modernising cases, in 8 the work has been completed ;
it is in progress in 6; working drawings have been approved by the Board of Education
in 2; preliminary plans have been approved by the Board of Education and
working drawings are in preparation in 14; preliminary plans are awaiting
the Board's approval in 3, and are in preparation in 6 more. In the remaining case,
the accommodation and organisation are under consideration.
The three years' programme provided for a number of schools to be reconditioned
in 1936-37. In 43 of these, building work has been completed and has been nearly
completed in one more. Heating work has been completed in 39, and minor alterations
remain to be completed in 6 further cases. Electric lighting installations have been
completed in 9 schools, and are practically completed in one more.
The programme provided for about 50 schools to be reconditioned in 1937-38.
In 46 of these work has been commenced, and, indeed, in 31 has already been completed.
A sum of £40,000 is provided in each of the three years of the programme for
the acquisition of playing fields, and there are further sums for the adaptation and
laying-out of the grounds required.
Playing
fields
An area at Friern Barnet has been acquired. Classrooms, etc., have been erected
thereon, and a scheme involving daily visits to the ground of 160 children from schools
in north London has been in operation since May. Kidbrooke playing-field is in
full use. The acquisition of a playing-field at Becontree has been approved and detailed
plans of a classroom scheme on the site have been approved by the Board
of Education. Schemes for the acquisition of a large playing-field in south London,
and two large playing-fields in east London have also received the approval of
the Council. Further large areas are under consideration.
In response to a request from the education officer as to the colour of school
furniture, in relation to school hygiene, the following advice was given:—
There are practically no schoolrooms in which the optimum amount of light is always available,
and there are many in which it is never obtained. It is therefore desirable that the objects
inside a classroom should be light in colour in order to minimise the amount of light lost by
absorntion.
Surface and
colour of
school
furniture
Owing to the loss of light through absorption by blackboards, it was at one time suggested
that all blackboards should be green, and such " greenboards " were in fact experimentally tried
in London. It was found, however, that the contrast between the chalk and the green background
was insufficient and greater eyestrain resulted. It was therefore reluctantly concluded that the
boards must be black. It has recently, however, been suggested that blue and yellow gives even
better contrast than black and white.
With regard to other articles of furniture, it is desirable that they should be as little absorptive
of light as possible. Cream-coloured furniture is apt to get dingy in a short time, and contact
with children's footwear produces unsightly marks on legs and pedestals. In some open-air
classrooms furniture of a light green colour gives a harmonious and restful effect.
In no classroom conditions is it at all likely that the light will need to be toned down by the
introduction of dark objects, as even in " suntrap " schools the number of dull days and the
failing afternoon light, especially through the long English winter, make it desirable that they
should be kept as light as possible.
As a rule, desks and furniture should therefore have light natural staining with a dull surface
to eliminate glare. Woodwork above the level of 3 ft. should tone with the rest of the wall
decorations and should have a reflection value of about 60 per cent. It also should have a dull
finish. Furniture should be of an unobtrusive though light colour with reflection value of 50 per
cent, or more. Furniture with painted surfaces soon becomes shabby and staining is therefore
advised.