SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20104, 6 December 1930, Page 8

SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION. For tho past week the (op storey of (.he new wing at the West Chrisfchurch School has been occupied by classes, but finishing 'work is still in progress on the ground floor. The slates were removed from tho old infants' building some days ago, for use on the new buildings, and the coming of rain compelled its complete abandonment to the wreckers. In the new wing arc six classrooms, two cloakrooms, a students' room and other accommodation. By the attachment of a hose to shutters at various points in tho building, the floors may bo cleaned by suction, ft three, horse-power vacuum pl;uit having been installed in the furnace-room. New lavatories for boys and girls are now almost completed. The old tin-shed used formerly as a classroom and the in Can ts' school, built in ]S74, are now being rapidly demolished; and the school-yard should bear a greatly changed appearance after the holidays. It is proposed L o open the new wing with a fete towards the end of February or early in March. The framework has been erected for three open-air classrooms of the Oxford open-air type at Tai Tnpn, and the new accommodation should be available for use after the holidays. Two new open-air rooms similar to those erected at Kaiapoi are undrr construction at the Addington School. The old school at Fendalton is being painted. SIR JOHN SIMON ON LOCAL INITIATIVE. Sir -J of in Simon, M.l\. who opened a modern council .school 'nt C'lecklieaton recently, said that the lladnw Report recognised that tho life of the child at the elementary school .should be one of growth and not of a single process. Ho was 110 believer in local authorities resting for their sole inspiration on headquarters or the head.s of a Government Department. It would he of enormous advantage to bring into active piny tho enthusiasm <if llio ordinary man and woman.. His recent visit to India, where lie bad the opportunity of considering educational methods, convinced him more than ever of the need of local initiative. Zola habitually wrote with red ink, to "fire liis imagination," as he expressed it. Sardou recognised an aid to genius in a particular kind of paper, verv thick and rough, express! v made for him. About £90,000 gross profit was mad.; on tho recent exhibition of Italian works of art in London, according to a report from iSignor Modigliani, director of tho exhibition.