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Buena Vista School Exponent of Latest System of Public Instruction
From the Colorado Springs Gazette: Thursday, December 7, 1911
The latest and most up-to-date addition to the already large school system of Colorado Springs is the Buena Vista school, built on the cottage or unit plan at an approximate cost of $36,000. The plant, consisting of six buildings, occupies the entire 1600 block on Park Avenue, West Colorado Springs, the site upon which formerly stood the old Buena Vista school building.
All of the buildings are constructed of buff glazed brick, trimmed with white polished stone. The style of
architecture is simple, there being only enough fancy work to break the monotonous straight line effect. The grounds have been put into the best possible condition, and cement sidewalks and curbs have been placed around the entire block, a feature which the people generally neglect.
The main building, which is the central one of the five shown in the group, contains the auditorium, which may be thrown into three recitation rooms by lowering the two partitions; the office of the principal, the library and rooms in the basement, which will eventually be used for manual training classes for the boys and cooking classes for the girls. Storerooms and closets are plentiful throughout the building. The interior finishings are pleasing to the eye and do not have the tiring effect on the pupil of the ordinary schoolroom. The walls are kalsomined in a light color, aiding much in the lighting system. The woodwork is all of hardwood, finished in the mission style, while the floors are polished hardwood. The building is wired for electric lights, and the brass fixtures, which follow the decoration scheme of mission style, have not been used sparingly. The decoration scheme in the cottages is practically the same as the main building.
The Auditorium
The auditorium is to be used for educational lectures, parents' meetings, entertainments and social events. The seating capacity is estimated at 500, although more could be accommodated if necessary. The stage is large, and a play containing a fairly large cast could easily be put on. Auditoriums are practically unheard of in grammar schools and this is one of the finest of its kind in the country. Nothing has been spared to make it as attractive as possible, and the board expects and urges the people of this school district to make use of it.
The offices of the principal and the library, in the front of the building, are finished in the same style as the auditorium. The library serves as a sort of rest room for both pupils and teachers. Although the number of books in the library is small, several hundred perhaps, it serves all present needs. The office of the principal commands a view of the entire front playgrounds, while remaining rooms are so situated that the teachers can see the rest, making it easier to watch the children at intermissions.
One feature of this building, which is rarely heard of in schools, is the bathroom and shower in the basement. This room has been fitted up in the most modern fashion and is for the use, not only of the pupils, but the parents in the district.
The cottages, four in number, are all alike and are on each side of the main building. They have a seating capacity of 48 each, and the interior is about the same as that of the auditorium. In the front vestibule of each is a sanitary drinking fountain and a cloak rack. A small rest room fitted with a couch and a washbasin is provided, making the school seem more homelike than the ordinary 10 or 12 room building.
Lighting System
The lighting system is different from that in other school buildings, in that the light enters from near the ceiling and is reflected from the ceiling onto the desks. Formerly it was thought that the only way to light a schoolroom was to admit the light so that it would fall over the left shoulder of the pupil. However, the newer plan is proving more than satisfactory and probably will be used extensively hereafter.
The furnace room and toilets are in a small building immediately behind the main building. On the first floor are the toilets, all modern and sanitary. In the basement is the large, up-to-date, heating plant, which furnishes heat for the five buildings.
Every modern convenience has been provided for the comfort of the pupils. A sanitary towel system is in use and liquid soap is placed at all the washbasins in the rest room. The system of ventilation is extensive and as near perfect as possible.
The system is so constructed that, whenever necessary, more cottages can be added. It is the present plan to build two additional ones to finish out the eight grades and then build more whenever the increasing population of the district makes it necessary. The school owns the entire square, and the buildings can be built completely around it. Now the rear half of the square is used as an athletic field.
Taken as a whole, the school, although small, is one of the finest in Colorado Springs, and hereafter the board will undoubtedly build on this unit plan.
The unit system is a new factor in the problem of school building, and is not used extensively throughout the United States. However, it is rapidly gaining the place that it should occupy, and school boards all over the country are putting it into use more and more. But like all other new ideas, it must wait a number of years until it has been tried, proved to be the ideal plan for school building, before it takes the lead.
Adapted to West
The system is better adapted to the west than the east, on account of the climate. The winters in this country are mild, and more out-of-door exercise is taken than in the middle west and east. However, the plan is suitable for all climates and will eventually be used everywhere in the opinion of educators.
R. W. Corwin, M.A., M.D., LL.D connected with the Minnequa hospital at Pueblo, has made a deep and thorough study of this plan and it was through his pamphlet "The Modern Model School House", that the school board here came to consider this as a factor in school building. After some discussion it decided to build the present Buena Vista school as an experiment, and the experiment proved practical beyond all expectations.
Everybody understands the plan upon which the modern 10 or 12 room school is built. Those who have mad a study of school questions know that the greatest one is that of health. They also, can see how easy it is for sickness to spread in large buildings where many pupils are confined; by contagion, from the large amount of dirt and filth brought into the halls by many children, by the crowded conditions making complete ventilation impossible, and in many other ways.
The unit system does away with all of this, but it is little understood by the people. Probably the best way to explain it is to give the list of advantages it has over the old system, and which have been compiled by Dr. Corwin. They are as follows:
List of Advantages
The number of school rooms may be made always to meet the demand, which is not the case of a building with many rooms. The many-roomed building is usually ahead or behind the needs of the district. There are vacant rooms intended for future requirement, or crowded rooms waiting for the school board to build. The unit plan admits of erecting a building or room when there is need for it, hence there is not room unused and none overcrowded.
When several districts are crying for more room and the school treasury is low, the school board can accommodate each district at least cost.
It is cheaper than any other plan. There is less waste room (no halls or stairs). There is less chance of fire. In case of fire there is less chance for loss of life or property or damage by water.
There is no particular need of fire drill with its nervous strain on certain children. The danger to pupils in case of a fire is reduced to a minimum.
Light may be obtained from any direction. Ventilation may be had from all directions.
No large hallways to receive dirt from all pupils: less work for the
janitor. No sweeping of dust from one floor down onto another. No steps or banisters to clean.
No Stairs to Climb
No stairs to climb up or fall down. This is a relief to the
small child and of vital importance to the young girl.
No noise from passing classes.
It is easier for the principal to supervise the grounds and rooms on this plan.
The teacher finds the discipline of her class easier, both in the room and on the playground.
There is greater field for individuality both on the part of teacher and pupil. A recess may be taken outdoors any time without disturbing other classes.
The homelike atmosphere of the one-room building is not possible in the large structure.
View from ground floor windows is more attractive to children, being nearer to nature.
Dr. Corwin has reached these decisions after a deep study of the subject where it was being tried, and all of his statements have been proved beyond a doubt. It is for this reason that the school board here made the experiment, which is so successful. Although cottages are being used for the first and second grades at many of the schools in this city, this is the only real cottage school thus far in Colorado Springs. However, it is probable that hereafter when schools are needed this unit plan will be the model.
Dedication of Buena Vista School October 11
Dedication services for the new Buena Vista school will be held at 3:30 o'clock October 11. The program will be given in the auditorium of the new building. Dr. Corwin of Pueblo will deliver the dedicatory address. Mrs. H. M. Wixson, state superintendent, will also talk, and Mrs. E. C. Goddard will present the school with its first American flag.
1915
BV 1920 Harry Standley Image
1911
Gazette article on BUENA VISTA
Photos Courtesy of PPLD
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