HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 14 June 1927, Page 5

HAWERA MAIN SCHOOL.

* OPEN-AIR CLASS-ROOMS.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEET

The proposals in commotion with the erection of open-air classrooms at Hawera Main School were under discussion at ia meeting held at Hawera yesterday .afternoon, when three representatives of the Taranaki Education

Board, Messrs S. G. Smith (chairman), H. Dempsey and O. H. Moore (architect), conferred with the school committee. The committee members present were: Dr. W. M. Thomson, and Alessrts J. W. J. Harding, G. H. West-, wood, L. Ciarrel, W. Entwisttle, C. M. Haggett, land F. F'oden. Air. F. A. Bates (schoolmaster) wa® also present. Air. Smith presided and explained that the meeting was being held in accordance with a promise given to the Minister of Education (the Hon. R. A. Wright) last week that the board would confer with the committee concerning the application for new buildings, From the press reports of the Minister’® remarks at New Plymouth, he appeared to think that the committee and the* board were not working in harmony, though the chairman had always considered that the best of relations; prevailed between the two bodies. It was possible, however, that the Minister’s impression had been gained as the result of the interview when the committee had asked that open-air classrooms be erected in place of the infant classroom contemplated. Mr. Harding explained that the committee favoured the principle of the open-air school and, when the Minister was passing through Hawera, en route to New Plymouth, had taken the opportunity of placing the opinion, before him. It was understood that the Department favoured the type which had been adopted at Fendaitoii and the committee had, therefore, decided to apply for open-air classrooms of that kind thought it had not received plans of the buildings. The committee’s wishes in the matter had been set out in a .letter, to (the board* He wished .to emphasise, however, that there had b§gn no flic-, tion,‘ a® suggested, between the committee and the board, .their relations having- always been harmonious.

PRINCIPLE ENDORSED. The remarks passed by Air. Harding . were endorsed >by Dr. Thomson, who, during a general discussion relating to the Fendaiton type of ,open-air classroom,, (pointed out that the original pavilion had been so much approved that at present there were eleven in the district. He -also mentioned the fact that the attendance at the Haweria. School in its present condition was 4' per cent, below the average for the province, whereas the average at the open-air schools was ten per cent, above the average for the district and was five per cent* better than the most modern of the ordinary type of schools thoro. - • The chairman said the board was whole-heartedly in accord with the aim of the committee'to secure better, conditions at the school. Any building planned on modern lines would be beneficial as compared with the existing conditions. The board was anxious to secure the best conditions possible in the shortest, possible time for the schools ’of the province. Tfie board was not opposed to the Fendaiton type of school, though a room on the. openair principle was being erected at the New Plymouth Central school which differed from the plan of the former,.. . and it would be inadvisable to have the Fendaiton type erected at Hawera if there was a likelihood of a. better type being available. . t - " The architect said he would prefer the committee to accept the Fendaiton type if it was offered by the department, as .he thought that, by the erection of screens, it should .prove. successful under local conditions. Referring to the room being erected at the New Plymouth. Central school,, he explained the aspects in which it differed from the Fendaiton type, the principal features being permanent walls four feet :in height-, above which, on three sides of the building, windows could .be raised or lowered as required, while the upper portions of the walls would be of’glass and slanting at .an angle of GO degrees to afford lighting. The room was expected to he completed in about eight weeks. It would ' ac'ommodate 50 pupils, the estimated cost being £SOO. ~ Alessrs Haggett and Harding said that the committee did not desire to have the Fendaiton type in particular, « but endorsed the principle of the openair classrooms. The committee would be willing to leave the decision as to the actual design to the department to make the best arrangements possible. . After further discussion it was decided to leave the matter with tne board, on the 'understanding that the best arrangement possible were effected.