OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18420, 29 June 1925, Page 9

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS.

TO THS EDITOR OF "TUB TBSSS." Parte Father." and others who have -written on the subject of open-air schools, seem to confuse temperature, aiul ventilation. Air to be fresh need not necessarily bo cold, a? they would imply, and warm air is not necessarily impure, but may be. and frequently- i-«. perfectly fresh. Surely it is quite wrong to imagine thsr it i< impossible to have proper ventilation and the necessary supply of frch air unless a draught of cold air is howling through the rooms. In tho case of tho Council Chambers referred to. "Ex Parte FatlieT" is wrong in stating that because it is possible to work there all ilnv with one's coat off, there can be little if any fresh air in tho building. The citv otlicials are expected to work all day'with their coats off, and in that respect things are just as they should be. It is not correct to say. however, that there is no fresh air in the building. In the ease of the City Council Chambers, as in all modern systems of central heating, fresh air from the outside is admitted to the building, and is heated to tho proper temperature by passing over ventilating radiators. The temperature of the building may be kept between 00 and 70 degrees F.. too high for some, perhaps, an. 5 , not liigh enough for others; but thnt is a matter of opinion, and has nothing to do with the supply of fresh air. With all due respect to the advocates of the open fire, central heating is, in the opinion of many of us, the most scientific, and satisfactory way of warming buildings, schools included. A wore liberal supply of fresh air can bo provided, warmed, and controlled in a properly designed system than by anv other'method of heating.

Those who ndvocato that conditions inside schoolrooms should approximate as closely as possible to outside weather conditions surely loso eight of the fact that when outside during waiter dnvs children aro walking, running, or plaving about, and aro dressed accordingly. It is a very different matter sitting still insido a'building reading or writing. In Canada and most parts of U.S.A. all buildings havo to be heated. Central heating is always adopted, and tho necessary supply of warmed fresh air, to which this system particularly lends itself, is always supplied. I have vet to learn that tho children or people of Canada nro less healthy than those of this country. I can state from experience that tho temperature conditions in which they are educated and live aro much moro comfortable- than in New Zealand.—Yours, etc., A SHIVERING DAUGHTER.