Submitted by Eric Carhart, Jr. and Joy Woods

THE MARLIN DEMOCRAT 
January 3rd 1917 A.D.

COMPLETES  NEGRO SCHOOL

MARLIN INSTITUTION IS MODEL OF PERFECTION AND ATTRACTIVENESS

      "Complete," is the one word that will propley describe the negro school building, just completedat a cost of $6,000, to be furnished at an expenditure of $2,500.   The structure was occupied by the pupils for the first time on Monday.

  In company with Superindentent A.C. Ferguson, a representative of The Democrat was shown through the building Friday afternoon.  Entering,

one finds the lower floors devoted entirely to industrial work. In the center and front is the drawing and sewing room, where hands of both boys and girls will be skilled in these particular arts.

  To the left and in the rear is the manual training room, a model of perfection, equipped with four lathes and two work benches, four more to be added in the next few days. The room is well lighted from two sides, providing cross ventilation.

  To the right and in the rear is the domestic science room, where the girls will be trained in culinary accomplishments. Though the furnishings are not yet placed, Mr. Ferguson states that they will be practically a duplicate of the morden fixtures now in use in Marlin High school.

  An expert teacher arrives Monday to handle the work in the industrial arts, hence it is certain that the negro children of Marlin will recive great benefits form their school work in the future.  Supertintendent Ferguson also expresses the belief that the establishament of these new branches of school pursuits will be conducive to an increase in attendince, the lack of which, is one of the discouraging features of the negro schools.

   Proceeding to the second floor, one finds the class rooms, all of which by an ingenuous arrangement can be thrown into one large auditorium by the simple operation of hoisting the partitions.  This can be done in a moment's time.

    Electric lights are run throughout the structure, but only for use at night, as excellent provision has been made for ample natural daylight.  Much time was devoted to the arrangement of the lighting facilities on the second floor.  The uni-lateral plan was finally agreed upon, hence there are windows in only one side of the building.  This would apparently destroy cross ventilation, but by raising the partitions between the rooms perfect circulation of the air is gained.  The theory of the uni-lateral lighting system is that windows on one side of the room, if constructed properly, will give more light than windows on two sides, where conflicting shadows would meet.

  Blending of color effects was sought with much care in the interior of the building, resulting in greyish finish that soothes the eyes.  The blackboards are made of Olmstad plate, the inside walls are sand finished and the building is considered fireproof.

  The Marlin negro school is organized on the plan of the plan of a junior high school.  Pupils from the fifth grade through the ninth grade, the highest, will be allowed to take up the industrial arts work, giving them a four years course.  The fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth grades will occupy the new sturcture, the lower classes remaining in the old buildings for time being.

  There are 450 negro school childern in Marlin, with eight instructors.  However, with the installation of new features for the institution, the attendance may increase largely, probably making it necessary to enlarge the staff of teachers.

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Permission granted to Theresa Carhart and her volunteers for printing by
The Democrat, Marlin, Falls Co., Texas.