SCHOOL COMMITTEES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 249, 15 July 1919, Page 6

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

-j 4 MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The monthly meeting of the Wellington School Committees' Association was held last night, Mr. Wallace (president) being in the chair. On the motion of the president a vote of sympathy was passed to the widow and family of the late Mr. ; J. G. Castle, of Pjtone. Mr. Wallace pointed oiit that the late gentleman had taken a' very keen interest in school committee work, and his lojs was one which it would be hard to replace. New delegates were welcomed from the Taita School Committee.. '•>

Mr.- M'Kenzie,-superintendent of the City Council's reserves, attended and gave an interesting paper. Ho said that the crying need of most playgrounds in and about the city was not 'beautification, but extension. The first need was consideration of the fence." Every school'should have a row of trees around, both for beauty and shade. Children's gardens was another matter dealt with by Mr. M'Kenzie, who urged thnt these should be vegetable gardens, as was becoming the practice in southern towns. After dealing with the preparation of soil, etc., Mr. M'Kenzie concluded his address as follows-.—"l think in the future, when a school site is selected it should bo in closo proximity to a public park. There is constant drift towards congestion in all town life, and the public schools and parks must work hand in hand to give the child that life in the open air which is essential to health." Mr. M'Kenzie was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his interesting address.