Roll Up Sun Shades

No direct sunlight should fall upon the desks of the pupils. Two roll up sun shades should be hung at the middle point of each window, one hung so as to roll down from the middle, and one so as to roll up by means of the cord and wheel made for this purpose.

The shade which unrolls toward the top should be hung below the one which unrolls towards the bottom, so that there will be no crack left between the shades when unrolled. The shade going up unrolls behind the rod of the one unrolling downward, and, of course, the one unrolling downward must unroll in front of and over the rod of the one which unrolls upwards. Notice this in the cut.

If one shade only is used, it should, by all means, be hung at the bottom of the window and roll up. If it is fastened at the top of the window, it is impossible to shut out the light from the lower half of the window without darkening the entire window. It is frequently desirable to darken only the bottom half of the window in order to shut off direct sunlight from the pupils near the window and still leave the upper half open for light. If the windows have been built so as to extend nearly to the ceiling this will still leave a large window surface, giving a strong diffused light, which is best. Furthermore, shades which must be let down from the top will often rattle and become very noisy when the windows are slightly lowered for ventilation.

The obvious objections to double shades hung at the middle of the windows are: 1st, they are not ornamental; and 2nd, they cast a disagreeable shadow in the room, when they are not unrolled. In spite of these objections, they are the best protection yet offered, unless an excellent quality of shade be fastened at the bottom of the window and made to roll up in well made grooves. A moderately cheap fixture will not stand the long roll from the bottom to the top of high windows without frequently getting out of fix. It is poor economy to buy cheap shades or fixtures. Heavy and dark colored opaque shades shut out too much light.

What is needed is something to soften and diffuse the direct sunlight. A light sage (bisque) and other lighter shades of the hand made tint and the Bancroft sun fast Hollands are considered by Eowe the most satisfactory. Morrison recommends highly a white muslin of light weight. The Texas sun is probably too bright and too hot for a white shade.

Unless the shades are fitted to run in grooves they should overlap the window sashes several inches, else annoying streaks of light will creep in on the sides as the wind blows the shade about. Venetian blinds are, perhaps, next best to good double shades fastened at the middle, or one excellent shade fastened at the bottom. The objections to Venetian blinds are that they are costly, harbor much dust, get out of fix and wear out easily. Inside blinds exclude too much light when one attempts to shut out the direct sunlight. They catch and hold dust and germs and are in the way of window gardens or other decorations for the windows.