OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18416, 24 June 1925, Page 6

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

' 10 TOT IDITOB or" "THE pbess." Sir, —In raising objections to tho Fendalton type of open-air school, tho chairman of the Canterbury Education Board —Mr Bignell —made the surprising statement that when the sliding doors of the school are open, there is no protection from the wind, and if they are closed there is no cross-ven-tilation. I hare simply to say that if was the case, which it cejrtainjb: is not, the Fendalton School Committee would not have sent in a request for another room of exactly similar type to be built at> tho Fendalton school. — Yours, etc., G. E. ROYDS, Chairman, Fendalton (School Committee. Christchurch, June 23rd.

TO .THX XDITOa OJ- "THE MUSS." Sir, —For some little time my con-"' science has been troubling me, becauso I have not given testimony in support of the open-air schools, I should nave done so,, for we hare been the happy possessors of one at Opawa since trie beginning of tho year. • When the school was offered to us —for it was tno generous gift of the Association of the Love of God—l confess that my concern was more to have a satisfactory schoolroom, than to have one on the open-air principle. We have, got used to certain stuffiness in our lives, which we associate with comfort: — Shut tho door after you, When there's'a draught ,or you May catch a cold, young man. We are perhaps a little bit like the two Londoners who had bfen for a day's trip into the country. Tne court in wliich they lived greeted them with its pleasant odours of toasted bloater, ouions, humanity, and ancient clothing, and as they took a deep, soul-sat-istying sniff, each felt what one said, "After all, old man, ifc do smell liko 'ome!"

At Opawa wo have had rain, fog, frost, sunshine, since wo began, and I havo never lieard one complaint, or seen ono blue-nosed, shivering little mortal. We were all like that in the. good old days. The rain cannot beat m unless it decides to come from quite a new quarter. The only wind that can trouble us is the N. W. If we have to have nor'-westers, I would rather have them with a little air movement along with the air pressure. If it is too boisterous, we can shut it out and open all the windows. That would be rather tiresome, for there are windows many.

Personally, I nni on open-air school advocate now. There arc many fears on one side, but I tliink tlio facts are on the other. Tho open-air school in our midst has taught me something. After all, that, is what schools are for. —Yours, etc., HENRY WILLIAMS. Chairman St. Mark's Opeu-Air School Committee. St. Mark's Vicarage, Opawa. June 23rd, 1925.