SCHOOLS AND FRESH AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1921, Page 4

SCHOOLS AND FRESH AIR.

REPLY TO CRITICISM

“PRESENT BUILDINGS HEALTHY”

CHRISTCHURCH, July 16

In a memorandum to the chairman of the Canterbury Education Board, the Minister of Education (the Hon C. J. Parr) answers criticism by Dr G. J. Blackmore to tho effect that school buildings in New Zealand are breeding places of disease. The Minister says:—“Dr Blackmore’s wholesale condemnation of our schools as gaol-like, overcrowded and disease-breeding is not justified. Our now schools are as health lul as any in the world. Lhej aie really fresh-air schools, because every loom has cross-ventilation, with Luge, movable windows permitting a current of air through the room all day long. Moreover, every class-room is designed to ’ get the sun during the day. It 1* true that some of the old schools have indifferent lighting and ventilation. Wo are, however, curing this mischief by remodelling old schools where the timber is sound, so as to give first-rate li.rht and ventilation. "'“Obviously no State system could nfiord to scrap 1000 buildings because they are old-fashioned, when most of them can be greatly improved. It is a fact, notwithstanding Dr Blackmore, that overcrowding occurs in comparatively few schools in New Zealand. Out f 2-100 primary schools 2000 provide over twelve square feet per pupil, 350 average about eleven square feet per pupil. “Two plans of new schools being erected by the London County Counil—the greatest education authority in 1 lie Empire—are now before me. They show that in an infant school they ■ ive 9.2 square feet, and, in a large primary school just being erected, ten square feet per child. Tims compared vitli other countries. New Zealand is ’■ y no means behind.

“To charge the schools with being ihe main disease-breeders amongst children is exaggerated nonsense. If, instead of railing at the schools, doctors would acknowledge that improper feeding, too many sweets and slushy I‘oods, unsuitable clothing, and pool living are the main causes of wretched teeth, adenoids, anaemia, and stunted infant growth, they would get nearer die truth. How many bedrooms wher 0 children sleep get sunlight and fresh air every day? Too often parents aeglect these Doctors sometimes are in this respect sinners in their own homes ’ However, now that we have ee-,-ured the services of Dr Triiby King, •.ve hope to carry the gospel of health and prevention into every Louie in New Zealand.

“Dr Blackmore wants all schools to be open air institutions, educationist of any standing will agree with him. An open-air establishment is ex--.elleiit on a calm, summer day. but in

1 riving sleet and heavy winds it is ini

possible. Most open-air schools 'are really sanatoria for selected children suffering from constitutional defects it ! undergoing special treatment —edu- - n i ion til progress being in a great mea--uire subordinated to improvement in 'dividual condition. In these open-air nlacos, ilie children have special clothing and" h’skimo’ suits. There is no lonbt that such places are excellent for ■iniiemic, tubercular children. But for

die normal, average child tho poliiv ■ ■vci vwhere is ill the direction

■>f adopting these open-air school to ordinary school buildings, finis combining the advantages of the usual modern class-room and the openair 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 verv fine days.”