NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 251, 18 July 1921, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS

A REPLY TO ADVERSE CRITICISM SWEEPING CONDEMNATION NOT JUSTIFIED THE CULT OF FRESH AIR In an address on child-welfare to the Workers’ Educational Association in Christchurch, Dr. G. J. Blackmore, Director of Tuberculosis Institutions under the North Canterbury Hospital Board, made a plea for open-air schools, and condemned the present New Zealand school buildings in very strong terms as breeding-places for disease. Dr. Blackmore’s remarks have drawn a reply from the Minister of Education (the Hon. C J. Farr), who defends the present buildings as healthy and suitable for their purpose.

Dr. Blackmore’s wholesale condemnation of our schools as gaol-like, overcrowded and disease-breeding, is not justified,” states the Minister. "Our new schools aro as healthful as any in the world. They aro really fresh-air schools, because every room has cross-ventilation, with large, movable windows permitting n current of fresh air through the room all day long. Moreover, every classroom is designed, to get the sun during the day. It is true that some of the old schools have_ indifferent lighting and ventilation. We are, however, curing this mischief by remodelling old schools where the timber is sound, bo as to give first-rate light and ventilation. "Obviously no State system could afford to scrap 1000 buildings because they aro old-fashioned, when most of thorn can be greatly improved. It is a fact notwithstanding Dt. Blackmore, that overcrowding occurs in comparatively few schools in New Zealand. Out of 2400 primary schools 2000 provide over 12 square feet per pupil, 350 average over 11 square feet per pupil, and there are only 72 in the Dominion with less than 10 square feet per pupil, there being eight in Canterbury, five in Otago, and 50 in Auckland. In many Australian States the schools average only about 10 square feet per pupil. "Two plans of new schools being erected by the London County Council—the greatest education authority in tho Empire—are now before me. They ehow that in an infant school they give 9.2 square feet, and, in a large primary school just being erected, 10 square feet per child. Thue, compared with other countries, New Zealand is by no means behind.

“To charge the schools with being the main disease-breeders amongst children is exaggerated nonsense. If, instead of railing at tho schools, doctors would acknowledge that improper feeding, too many sweets and slushy foods, unsuitable clothing, and psor living are the main causes of wretched teeth, adenoids, anaemia, and stunted infant growth, they would get nearer the truth. How many bedrooms where children sleep got sunlight and fresh air every day ? Too cften parents neglect these things. Doctors sometimes are in this respect sinners in their own homes! However, now that we have secured tho services of Dr. Truby King, we hope to carry tne gospel of health and prevention into every home in Now Zealand. “Dr. Blackmore wants all schools to be open-air institutions, but no educationist of any standing will agres with him. An open-air establishment is excellent on a calm, summer day, but iu driving sleet and heavy winds it is impossible. Most open-air schools are really sanatoria for selected children suffering from constitutional defects and undergoing .special treatment—educational progress being in a great. measure subordinated to improvement in physical condition. In these open-air places the children have special clothing and "eskiino” suits. There is no doubt that such places are excellent for anaemic, tubercular children. But for the normal, average child the policy everywhere is in the direction of adapting structural features of open-air schools to ordinary school- buildings, thus combining the advantages of the usual modern class-room and the open-air school. We are building this sort of class-room in the Dominion to-day. Further, in nearly _ every school, many classes are taught in the open air on very fine days.”