Principles for determining the need of a school building

Needs of the school building depend upon a number of considerations of principles. Some important principles are given as follows:

1. Nature of Curriculum

The nature of the school building depends upon the nature of the curriculum. The requirement of rooms will depend upon the number of subjects to be taught, the number of activities to be performed, the learning experiences to be provided. The high school system will involve the addition of subjects and teaching of certain trades or skills. This will necessitate more rooms and equipment.

2. Needs of Children

It is an important principle. We should know what types of pupils are to study in the school. Their needs vary according to their development stage. Also, the health needs of pupils must be borne in mind.

3. Proper Design

The building should be designed properly so that it provides maximum use of various aspects of building. For example, the headmaster's room should be near the staff room and the office. Class rooms should be away from the work-shop or playground. The building should be so designed that an efficient school organisation and administration is possible.

4. Soundness

The building must be sound. It should have foundations, thick walls, cemented floors and strong roofs. After all, school building is a permanent structure.

5. Possibility of Expansion

The school building should be so designed that it is capable of extension, into various directions according to the new requirements.

6. Surroundings

The school building should be located in neat and clean-surrounding. Unhealthy surroundings affect the pupils and teachers. The whole campus should be neat and clean.

7. Economy

While deciding the design and shape of the school building, we should have utmost economy. It should have simple architectural design. At least this is the need of our country.

The American Association of School Administration has suggested the following principles of a school building:

1. Adequacy

The building should be adequate enough to organise all curricular and co-curricular activities.

2. Safety

It should be safe from health point of view. It should be well built.

3. Co-ordination

It should be so designed that there is co-ordination among various wings of the school.

4. Efficiency and Unity

The whole campus should be planned in such a way that an efficient organisation and administration are possible.

5. Beauty

The campus must be beautifully designed to give a good look.

6. Adaptability

There should be no rigidity about the design and use of the school plant. It should provide scope for modifications and extensions.

7. Economy

The building should be designed to affect economy. It should not involve high expenditure.

So we see that while determining the needs of a school building, we have to take into account various educational requirements and the needs of pupils.