Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/65

 THE FIRST GERMAN MUNICIPAL EXPOSITION 53

Frankfurt a. M., Hannover, Mainz, Miinchen, Niirnberg, Schone- berg, Stuttgart, and Worms which has baths in every one of her school buildings. The Turnhalle is an important building in the school group, and gymnastics forms an integral part of the school curriculum. The playgrounds and the school gardens, the free river baths in Breslau, the free swimming lessons in Dresden, the free tickets to the skating-ponds in both Dresden and Breslau, all have their effect in promoting the health of the children. Besides, there are the school excursions to the woods and fields, and the summer outings and camps for the poorer children, though these are usually planned by associations rather than by the munici- palities, sometimes, however, with very material assistance from the latter.

School buildings. In the larger cities the buildings are either for boys, or for girls, or else double buildings. The gymnasium and the playground, and very often the school garden, form a regular part of the school plan. The double building, with the gymnasium between the two parts, as found in Mainz, Elberfeld, Berlin, Cassel, and Konigsberg, seems to be the best arrange- ment. Cheap i temporary school buildings to relieve overcrowd- ing were exhibited by Elberfeld and Niirnberg. Bamberg attempts such artistic decoration of the school buildings as the child's mind will readily grasp and appreciate, finding models in the plant and animal kingdoms. She also makes use of allegori- cal subjects, as does Elberfeld. Berlin has made use of scenes from the school life of the children themselves for decorating one of her new school buildings. Halle exhibited drawings show- ing the color scheme for interior decorations, including .walls, doors and windows, and furniture, in her new school buildings.

Libraries and reading-rooms. The exhibits in this section were not at all representative, but, from what could be gathered, the public library does not play nearly so important a part as it does in most American cities. Plans, photographs, or statistical tables were presented by Breslau, Danzig, Darmstadt, Dresden, Elberfeld, Hildesheim, Stuttgart, and Worms. The comparative statistics show an improvement in the supply, due to a growing sentiment in favor of them as a supplement to school education.