OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18127, 17 July 1924, Page 12

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

BECKBNHAM MEETING. The Beckenham Burgesses' Association a public meeting in the' Beckenham School last night, to allow Dr. 11. B Phillipps, Schools Medical Officer, to deliver an addxeea on openair schools.

Mr B. C, Maxwell presided over a fair attendance.

"I wait you to think iiret of a 1! of the welfare of the children, and, then to think of the 33,000 children in. Chratchuroh, who are shut up in schools for the best part of the?© beautiful sunny days," said Dr. Phillipps. Ho stated that the introducers of the open-air system ©till had eoroe prejudice to overcome, but the attitude of the general pilblic had become more favourable of recent years. He quoted the [opinions of. the noted surgeon, Sir Anthony Bowlby, Bart., and of an eminent scientist, Prof. Leonard Hill, both of whom were very much in fa- ; vour of the open-air life. The demand for open-air schools in New Zealand was of not the same importance as it was in Europe and Amenea, but if the Education Department was persuaded to make the open-air school the standard one for the country, the Dominion would, in one bound, get ahead of all other countries, and once again set a good example. The physique of the present-day children was not what it should be, and the people should not be satisfied with anything but the very beat. In winter, children were shut up in the schools for the very best hours of the sunlight, when they should be getting the benefit of the ppen-air. One would not think of shutting a colt up in a stable all day, and yet that was what was done with the child. The ideal of the open-air treatment was maximum instruction with maximum aid to health. The doctor described the new school-room at Fendalton, and aHo garo details of a scheme by which 660 children could be taught in eleven open-air school-rooms, placed in an area of 8 acres 2 rood# 34 perches. However, no echool-rccm was equal to the open-air itaeU. and the children should be instructed as much as possible outside. The deetor was accorded a. heart? vote of thanks. In reply to a request that he should i conduct the official opening ceremony of the now Fendalton Often Air Classroom, the Minister of Education, the Hon, C. J. Parr, has intimated that ho will be pleased to do >6. Hie cere* for Satarda 7«