PLEASANT STUDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 11

PLEASANT STUDY

SCHOOL IN THE OPEN HOT-WEATHER PROJECTS INTERESTING EXCURSIONS If one may judge from the interesting programme which has been arranged by Mr. li. W. Hayson, headmaster of the \Vellesley Street School, for his young pupils during the hot "father this month, and if this programme is characteristic of ether schoc's in Auckland, February of 1938 will be remembered for its period of study w.thout tears. It s»oms to have caught both the letter and spirit of a recent circular letter sent out by the Director of Education, Mr. N. T. Lambourne, urging teachers to foster openair activities. Since the primary schools did not reopen until Tuesday of this week, it might seem early to look for signs of a changed syllabus, yet already in several city schools there lias been observed a tendency to conduct as much school work as possible" in the outdoors, mainly in the shelter of trees. Physical exercises of the more strenuous kind have been displabed by nature rambles, land drill for life-saving classes, and similar alternatives which presumably aro enjoyed as much by the teachers as their young charges. Visit to Sailing Ship Perhaps the AY ellesley Street. School programme will serve as an illustration of what is being done. Yesterday, ior instance, two classes in charge of their teachers visited the Finnish barque Pamir. The officers of the ship took great interest in the children, de- ; scribed the Pamir and told them | something of the ports at which the ! ship called, what cargoes were carried, and the people who produced the cargoes picked up from port to port. As they talked the children took notes —some of them made sketches as they stood or sat on the decks of the Pamir —and later compared the various steamships lying in port. Standards V. and VI. are to visit the top of Mount Eden to-day. Whilo they are there the teachers will give them a bird's-eye view of Auckland as a geographical study. In such circumstances the children should discover a great deal more about their city that they otherwise might, and under pleasant conditions. Several classes have visited the Art Gallery and viewed the display of poster work. As some of the pupils are studying poster work at school, they should, gain much in inspiration and understanding from the line examples on exhibition. Production«of Newspaper Standard V. children were conducted through the New ZealatA 'Herai/o building yesterday, and had explained to them the complicated processes which go toward the production of a newspaper. If any further proof of the comprehensive scope of the hotweather schedule were needed, three other courses should be mentioned — J classes at the Auckland Zoo, where the | children will take notes on the peculiarities. and habits of animals and j birds; visits to the Museum, to hear ! topical talks by Mr. K. S. Scobie; life- j saving drill and swimming lessons at the Tepid Baths. -• These and other varied subjects are projected for the coming month.