OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS LEAGUE

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21119, 21 March 1934, Page 6

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS LEAGUE

♦ ANNUAL MEETING ADVICE TO TEACHERS A bright outlcok for the future of the Open-Air Schools' League was given by Professor Shelley when he presented the annual report to the meeting of the league last night in the Little Theatre. There were about 80 members present. The report showed '.hat the league finished the year with a debit balance of £l2. The principal activity had been the publication of a booklet called Open Air Schools, and a special effort had been made to make it of value to school teachers. Sir Leonard Hill, one of the world's greatest physiologists, had done the league great honour by applying the term 'excellent" to the publication. Sir Leonard also wrote that he was using illustrations of the Fendalton open-air class-rooms and gardens in his lectures in London. Many other tributes from all parts of the world had been paid to the publication. Miss Dawc, said Professor Shelley, had served faithfully as secretary lor many years, and the whole open-air movement owed her a deep d*. bt of gratitude. A good deal of the secretarial work had been shared by Mr Rountree. The branches had been quiet, but the Auckland branch was showing signs of renewed life under the presidency of Dr. Gunson. ably seconded by the secretary. Dr. Garfield Stewart. All schools should be permanent health camps, but in the meantime why should there not be a remedial open-air school for delicate children held daily, say. in the Addington showground? At the present time the taxpayer could hardly be expected to welcome much in the way of expenditure on new school buildings. A policy of using such funds as might from tune to time become available f<>r improving old schools rather tlvm building* new im.es had much to commend it.

In that n-".i''";!"ii the league praised the introduction of large folding doors on the northern sides of schools, as had in some oases been done by the C;mic:-burv Kducatien Hoard. P.y that means many old schools could TV converted mto semi-open-air schools at a

verv small cost. Teaches had a verv definite- responsibility to their pupils in the matter of ventilation of the classroom. Teachers who had easily ventilated classrooms, and even open-air classrooms, and did not end-givo-ar t" give their pupits Hv very best that such classrooms afforded in the \va>- of fre; h air and movemo-.t, should read ani non- <]..,- (ho words in the new syllabus: "Nothing can excuse neglect bv tne f'-ach'T of Ihe proper ventiltfici of •lie c'us-reop-; ;| S nvoch of the teaching as no.--ib!.- -he.u'd b- <-arried out m th.' ii"en go'" '-> ; -,-,fr-ssor Shi-lley moved the adoption of th-.' report am: "ie motion was carried. Oilicers Klcctetl Tlie following of.'.ci rs we-e declared ci'-cted for the ensuing voar: -P'.-esi-(i. Nt Professor James Shvlloy: trea-s-ircr Mi-'s A. Peiclilcv; joint secretaries \!c- J. S. Dawe and Mr W. W Romitreo- executive. Dr. F. V. P.evanBro'.vn Dr. A. B. O'P.rieu. Pr. J. Restoll Thomas. Mr A. C. Cottr.'ll. M-s T. F. Tavlor. Mrs Wesfall. aiid Miss K. A. Chaplin.