CARPETED CLASSROOM

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30389, 13 March 1964, Page 10

CARPETED CLASSROOM

A carpet has been laid in one of the classrooms at the newly - established Anglican secondary school for boys, Rathkeale, near Masterton. Tests are now being carried out at Rathkeale by the Wool Board in conjunction with the manufacturers. A decrease in the level of noise and an improvement in behaviour has already been noticed by the headmaster of Rathkeale (Mr E. J. Norman). ‘‘There is less noise in the

carpeted classroom,” he said. “It is more comfortable and induces a better attitude. It’s the best classroom I have taught in.” His opinion was confirmed by the pupils, who said there was less echo in the carpeted room, they could hear their teacher better, and it helped them concentrate. The 30-pupil classroom, carpeted in a forest green commercial - grade Wilton, was opened at the beginning of this school term.

The Wool Board’s technical manager (Mr M. A. Higgins) will supervise tests to compare maintenance costs of carpeted and uncarpeted floors. Acoustic measurements will be made to see how effectively the sound level is decreased in a carpeted room. Similar studies in the United States show it is cheaper to have carpeted classrooms than uncarpeted, because of the saving in maintenance costs.