OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18346, 1 April 1925, Page 11

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

PROGRESS IN ENGLAND. Evidence that the open-air school idea is making considerable progress in England is contained in a number of recently published references to tho subject. During December last an interesting report on the working of open-air classes during 1924 was considered by the Education Committeo of the London County Council. In spite of unfavourable weather tho school records show that upon the whole tho pupils have distinctly improved in health, both bodily and mental. / Tho Elementary Education Snb-Committee find that, given a teacher with an aptitude for open-air work, the success of these classes may be. taken for granted. The number of open-air classes in. 1924 was 95; of these 62 were' held in school playgrounds, and the remainder in parks; open ■ spaces, squares, or gardens placed at the disposal of the County Council. The number of classes to be held in the present year will'bo 117. That advantage is taken of what in New Zealand would be 'considered very inadequate open spaces, and places in which it would be very, difficult to teach, is shown by the fact that, one class was held in the Lincoln Inns Fields, a,few seconds' walk from the swelling traffic of Holborn. The 1 children were drawn from the Holborn area, and in the ease of inclement weather, shelter,was provided; otherwise the, classes were held right out in tlie park, the children being provided ' with - portable * tables and chairs. ,

That interest in London is growing in the matter of open-air classes is shown by the fact that the Municipal Beform and Labour Parties on the London County Council, in their manifestoes to the electors, include, as one of their planks, "The provision of more open-air schools." In the "Recommendations, for Plan l ning and Fitting-up of Schools," recently issued by the Education Department in England, the following appears:— '' Tho present phase is the- result of varied experience, more particularly in regard to health. ■ The school--is to b© made for the pupil, and not the pupil required to adapt himself to the school. School buildings of all kinds tend, more or less, to become obsolete through the development of educational organisation, and an argument always exists for a semi-permanent, as against a permanent type of structure. The uncertainty of the future distribution of population is another factor making in the same direction." [lt is interesting to note that this is exactly what "The Press" has been advocating.] The same publication express the opinion that "the School Medical Officer should bo consulted in the preparation of plans."