Gainesville High School - Hurricane Yearbook (Gainesville, FL)

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GAINESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, 1915 come awakened to the fact that the school question is one of no little im- portance, and now science is playing a great part in this problem. Many architects are making special studies of the school requirements and when a school building is now constructed poorly and not modernly arranged, it reflects greatly on both the architect and the board who hires him. Of course some architects are crooks, there being several bad ones in our own state, and they should be guarded against. They, in their promising and inviting way, walk in on a school board, promise them a beautiful, elaborate building, sometimes twice as much for the money as some other honest and upright architect, who is building to his reputation, and in this way they get the job: but when it is completed a miserable mis- take has been revealed. The building is poorly constructed, made of cheap materials and cannot begin to compare with the pictures and promises of this crooked tramp who poses as an architect, and who has already been paid for the plans and skipped, ready to pounce on some other in- nocent school board, ignorant of his cunning accomplishments. Before an architect is employed he should have plenty of good recommendations, thus assuring without a doubt complete satisfaction. The modern school should be as near fire proof as possible, well lighted, properly ventilated and heated. The majority of states in the Union require in their building laws that fire escapes shall be erected at each end of school buildings which are two or more stories high. Of course the money allowed for a building has con- siderable to do with how fire proof it may be. If the price permits, as much wood work as possible should be done away with, using metal and concrete or brick in its place. Corridors should run the whole length of the building and at each end exits be built either to the ground or to fire escapes, also two flights of stairs, one near each end of the corridor instead of near the center of the building'. No closets should be built under stairs on account of ure starting in the rubbish which collects there. Stairs should not be over six or less than four and a half feet wide, which allows plenty of room for students marching two abreast. Doors should always open out of the school rooms or the building so that in time of panic they can be easily forced open. A room should be lighted from only one side and the desks should be arranged so that the light comes from the left side of the pupilg in this way neither the teacher nor pupils are facing a glaring window light. There is nothing more disagreeable to a teacher or pupils than a cold room to study or recite ing therefore some good heating system should be installed. There are several methods used, one of the best and most com- 13

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GAINESYILLE HIGH SCHOOL, 1915 lege graduates and those with more experince. Many good and useful books have been added to the lilrrary until now we have a fairly good library. By the eltorts of Professors Buchholz and Grimm an up-to-date laboratory has lveen placed in the school both for physics and chemistry. lloth chemistry and solid geometry are taught in the High School for the tirst time. Other great changes a1'e also noted. For the first time the buildings are absolutely clean and free from dust, under the supervision of our etlicient custodian and his corps of janitors. Ilut one of the greatest things, which occurred this term, is that tl. H. S. was placed on the list of the accredited high schools. This is especially of advantage to all that are graduated from it, as most of the colleges will allow them to enter without entrance examinations. One thing we regret is that the Senior class is not able to publish an annual this term, as times are so hard. But nevertheless we are going to do something that is really more beneficial to the school and that is, to have a publication which will advertise the school and let the people of Gainesville, Alachua County, Florida, and the colleges of the South know what the Gainesville High School has done and is able to do. The Music Art, and Expression Departments under the management ot' Miss Merchant, Mrs. Pierce. and Mrs. Roux, respectively, have made much progress and have a larger enrollment than ever before. Judging from what the school has done in the past tive years, we can imagine what it will be when another period of five years has passed. We fully realize there is still plenty of room for improvement, that it is not on an equal basis with the foremost schools of the State, but we believe in a year or two it will be. It may be possible that by next term home eco- nomics, manual training. and gymnastics will be placed in the school. Each year the grounds are made more beautiful. As we see that improve- ments are being made in every line, we have a right to think that the Gainesville T-Iiofh Sr-hool will be eoual to any high school in the State, and that the people of Gainesville will become more interested in it and even he prouder of it than of the L'niversity. MAYBELLE BELLAH. THE MODERN SCHOOL BUILDING AND ITS GROUNDS The school building and its play grounds are becoming more modern every day. It was not long ago that less thought was put into the require- ments of such buildings than most any other kind of structure, but since many disasters have occurred, causing much loss of life, people have be- 12

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