FRESH AIR FOR CHILDREN

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 14, 16 January 1918, Page 6

FRESH AIR FOR CHILDREN

In the broader conception' of' national education it is admitted that the health of the children cannot be an unconsidered factor. The State, having the children in its charge for a considerable part of the day, must accept responsibility for their health during that time, to the extent of seeing that the conditions of training are hygienic, and calculated to lay firmly the foundations for future good health. Only when this is done can children profit to the greatest extent by instruction and be fitted, bodily as well as mentally, to take their part as citizens ir^later life. As this portion of the work of our educationists is well done, so may there be less need for health inspectors for the adult community. The functions of the Departments of Education and Public Health are thus closely related; and it is gratifying to note that the Minister in charge of the latter Department, the Hqp. G. W. Russell, is supporting the efforts of his colleague, the Minister for Education, in claiming for the children the best, that can be provided. Well-designed, sanitary schools and open-air classrooms are commended by Mr. Russell in his review of public health works which we published yesterday. The Minister makes a further suggestion—that there should be a treeplanting effort associated ■with every one of our schools where land is available, in order that, during the summer season at any rate, the whole of the school work may be done in the pure open air, shaded by trees from the heat of the sun. Such a development, Mr. Russell considers, would tend to the prevention of epidemics and the improvement, of child health and physique. This suggestion has much to commend it as a counsel of perfection, but there is much to be done before it becomes possible of attainment. How much is indicated in a letter from Mr. P. L. Combs, which was also published yesterday. Mr. Combs makes some startling assertions regarding the overcrowded state of classrooms and the lack of fresh air and sunshine. In some Wellington City schools, at any rate, the disability is not confined to the school buildings. In how many would Mr. Russell's tree-planting suggestion be practicable? In very few is there sufficient land even for ordinary purposes of recreation. This mistake of the past—; the inadequate provision for recreationshould be one of the first to' be rectified in re-planning;.and in future planning it should be most carefully avoided. Last session the.Education' Committee of the House of Representatives recommended that the whole question of school-play-ing areas should receive consideration. So far as we are aware, nothing has yet been done in accordance with that recommendation. We do. not suggest that the matter is one easy of solution, but with a policy once laid down much may be done now -which, if left undone till it can no longer be postponed, will be doubly expensive and difficult.