OPEN-AIR SCHOOL

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 263, 6 November 1929, Page 8

OPEN-AIR SCHOOL

EXPERIMENT AT AVONDALE. SUGGESTED TYPES OF BUILDING. DEFINITE LINE OF ACTION ADOPTED. An experimental open-air school is to be erected at the Avondale South School in accordance with a plan to be devolved by the architect to the Education Board (Mr. A. B. Miller), and which will conform as nearly as possible to suggestions made by the school committee. • This decision was made at this morning's meeting of the Auckland Education Board, when suggestions in connection with the new building, which is to be ready for occupancy after the Christmas holidays, were received from the Openair Schools League and the committee. The former favoured the Fendalton type of school, and the committee a modified design, embracing the erection of a verandah. "Wonderful and Fearful." "The open-air people want one thing, and the committee something else," said the chairman (Mr. A. Burns). "I am afraid by the time the building is erected it will be a wonderful and fearful building." The board was anxious to give the open-air school a fair trial, and was willing to receive any suggestions. The time had now arrived, however, when a, decision had to be made if the building was to be ready by the New Year. He thought the architect should be given immediate instructions to go on with the matter. There must be finality at some time. "I have come to the conclusion that the advocates of open-air schools don't know what they do want," said Mr. F. A. Snell. "If they go on as at present for the next five years they will not have arrived at what we are actually putting into practice to-day. If we are going to build an open-air school, let it be the Fendalton type right out."

Mr. Miller said that the modifications to the Fendalton type put forward by | the committee did not meet with the approval of the league. A definite line of policy was advocated by Mr. S. B. Sims. The board should be guided by the .architect and not by any particular body. A 'decision should be reached. Mr. T. U. Wells urged that it should be left to the architect to devote the best type of school based on his investigations, which included a recent visit to the Taranaki district. Architect's Attitude. Mr. Miller said his greatest concern so far as the execution of his own plans went was in regard to the Brixton Road school. So far as he could see, the suggestions made for Avondale South were against the accepted principles of openair schools. "If the single unit open-air school is to be put up there, I do not want to take any responsibility for it, as I don't agree with the principle," he added. Mr. Burns said the question to decide was what form the experiment would take. i Mr. H. S. W. King said the board had pledged itself to the Avondale School Committee to build an open-air school. He therefore suggested that the architect should prepare plans for the building, and fall in with their suggestions as far as possible. This course was eventually adopted.