TABLES AND CHAIRS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 May 1922, Page 8

TABLES AND CHAIRS

. TO SUPERSEDE SCHOOL DESKS. . The equipment of a school is an im- * portant part and factor of efficiency, and ideas of teachers have changed from time to time as to the most suilaole furniture for the schoolroom. The old long desk and bench of the last century was super- ' seded by the dual, and then by the single, aesk, but teachers to day, as represented at the annual conference of the Aew Zealand Educational Institute are all in favour of further simplicity. The simple table and chair is preferred to the most elaborate form of adjustable desk and seat. During the interval between the last conference and that which sat last week in Wellington a commit tee of Wanganui teachers went thoroughly into the question, and presented a very- valuab.c report to the conference. The ideals of school furniture were set out under three heads - 1. Hygienic.-—School seating accommodation should be easily cleaned and such as to permit of the rooms being readilyand thoroughly cleansed. It should bo such as to eliminate bad posture, and so

minimise the danger of physical defects; further, it should permit of the cultivation of muscular co-ordination and control. 2. Educational. —The ideal school seating should allow freedom of arrangements of the class, and freedom of movement by the child. It should approximate natural home conditions, should induce habits of neatness, and cultivate self-reliance, and so help to develop the resourceful individuality of the pupil. 3. Mechanical.—lt should be simple of structure, light and strong, easily moved, and be suited to the size of the child using it. The folowling recommendations were adopted:— That chairs and tables be provided for all pupils in schools. That chairs and tables be constructed in sizes to provide seating suited to the sizes of the pupils. Th;;t as a general rules easels be banished from school rooms; and that blackboards, preferably slate or other permanent surface, be affixed to the walls. There should bo much more blackboard surface than is usually provided. That teachers’ tables be of the pedestal desk variety. That cupboards in class rooms be sufficiently low to enable pupils to see the tops. That map racks, etc.. b» kept in a wellappointed store-room- That each classroom have suitable dustproof accommodation for the class library; and that there

be also provision made for tho housing . of tho “School Library.” That sand-trays, . mats, low cupboards fitted with drawers, and a piano are absolute essentials in all infant departments. That the necessary eqjupment for preparing hot drinks and ‘ for seating the pupils at lunch be pro- j vided. That a well-equipped medicine j chest is a necessity in every school. That i the school should have installed a liberal t supply of bubble fountains. That the 1 common towel should be banished from schools, and a paper' towel surface installed. That a piano is a necessity in * every 5ch001.... That the office should be

equipped with modern office furniture. That teachers’ rooms be suitably furnished. That adequate provision be made for the storage of sports material. That a standard be set, and all schools be furnished in accordance with that standard.