OPEN AIR SCHOOLS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 9 June 1924, Page 9

OPEN AIR SCHOOLS.

A MUCH DISCUSSED EXPERIMENT. PROJECT FAVOURED LOCALLY; The question of experimenting with “open-iur ' scnoois m rVew z^aiunii Jiao Act-LViY UCOAA U UioOUOOCU. Jtw *o unaersLood tnat, _ur r rumps, ot Cnnstcxiurcn, is sauruy to ueuver a lecture on tne suujoct in ximu.ru, ana ins projected visit is arousing consiuerauie lutmoaL among loom LuuL-muuiai.!i. A “lie raid” reporter interviewed a number of teachers m xiinaru for tne purpose of odturning some uuormation about open-air schools. A first-assistant teacher who has taken consiuerauie interest in tne soneme, said that in modern times education tended to develop itself along aesthetic lines, and tne child's environment should, therefore, be of the best. In many parts of the Dominion there were buddings vvlucn had served the purpose of educational establishments tor over 50 years. One of tne principles governing the architecture of these buildings had been the necessity of placing the windows as high up as possible, so as to prevent the child from looking out, and thereby distracting its attention from its work. The windows, too, had been generally “frosted,” so as to exclude the sun-light as far as possible. But with the advance of educational thought there had come a resolution m the type of school. This new type bad been termed the “open air” 1 school. Educationists in America were unanimous as to its practicability even in a country where the extremes of winter and summer temperature were exceedingly great. The introduction of the open air school into New Zealand, therefore, would not be an experiment. The Canterbury branch of the British Medical Association was so heartily in agreement with the new principle, that it. bad made a substantial donation towards the campaign in Christchuhreli for tho furtherance of the scheme. The speaker went on to explain that tho open air school was based on what was commonly termed the “village” system. Round the playing area were placed the class rooms, each entirely separate front ita neighbour, so that the room was open on all sides to the sun and air. Largo sliding doors, the upper halves of which were glassed in, were placed at regular intervals round the walls. When these doors were open, the sunlight and fresh air had full piny : n the room. A system of hot water ok steam heating from a central furnace was provided for the “village.” each room having its own radiator. The advantages of the system were that tbc’-f: were no corridors to occupy useless space; the children could work without being distracted by the noise of adiar-ent classes; the ventilation and lighting were perfect. and draughts could be eliminated by closing the doors on the windward side. The cost of construction of these open-air schools was lower than Hint of the present buildings. Tho system, however, necessitated tho acquirement o' large areas of land, and in many of our more congested centres, where the space was already restricted it won id be a difficult matter. In conclusion he said that at tho Waiinataitai Scool, one class-room containing 80 pupils, had been constructed on tho open air system. A later addition to the accommodation at tho same school was a corrugated iron building which had been sent out in sections and bolted together on the site. The cost of the latter, however, had been considerably in excess of the former, 'the open air room had proved a great success. and its many advantages had been appreciated by both teachers and pupils. The headmaster of a large primary school in Timaru agreed that tho idea was oxeoodimrlv good, its chief drawback being tho large area of land required 'or tho detached class rooms. In England many open air schools had hoc-n used for sub-normal and weakly aid'd and in rn.st eases they had been so much benefited that tliov had been aide to go back to the ordinary schools. The genera! consensus of opinion amongst looni leaebors is strongly in favur oi' the scheme, and all arc agreed that Tiinarn would lie an excellent place to trv i r out owing to tho mild climatic conditions. V-.e-r.' .TT-a-c-TOT-,w There is no need to endure the discomforts of Nasal Cat and; an other dor. \.s ;• Mtro relief for cold- in the head nn.d w- an ante optic of ifir* bio-best yrhie in the hou-e Xa-alinc stands alone Re on vonr guard this winter ;nd !:• '■!) a. bei lie handy. Plon.s.-infc to Price. T- dd pr r hot lie at Bax;c;'. Prescription Pharmacy, Stafford direct, Timaru. ...