HEALTHIER SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 738, 10 August 1929, Page 15

HEALTHIER SCHOOLS

VALUE OF OPEN-AIR SYSTEM ADDRESS BY DR. GUNSON Naked, except for loin cloths, children sat at their lessons in the open air. In one scene it was summer, but in another the winter snow lay thick on the ground. Although it was not suggested that these practices be entirely adopted, they were used to emphasise the extremes of school life in the old world and New Zealand, and the value of open air schools.

In a lecture illustrated with a number of lantern slides, Dr. E. B. Gunson, president of the Auckland branch of the Open-Air Schools League, last evening addressed members of the league on various aspects of the campaign to bring New Zealand schools up to the standard where they will provide health as well as education. The slides showing almost naked children at their studies in the epen air were scenes taken at Dr. Rollier’s famous “School in the Sun,” where such marvellous cures have been made with cases of surgical tuberculosis. These were used to emphasise the beneficial effects of open air and sunlight. An unpleasant contrast was provided with slides showing typical New Zealand schools, described by the lecturer as "wooden boxes with windows so high that it is impossible to see through them. The first thing to be done with such schools would be to knock one side out of them for a start, said Dr. Gunson.

How they could be converted into healthy buildings was shown by slides. The walls had been removed on one side, and in their places were folding doors that opened the rooms completely. These, although not perfect, were considered a move in the right direction. The open-air classrooms at Fendalton were favourably commented upon, with the exception that the open sides were filled in with doors and windows. This w r as done ostensibly to prevent the non-existent draughts around the children’s feet. NEW ZEALAND BEHIND Small apertures and doors create draughts, stated the speaker, and that w r as why in open-air schools there were no draughts. At FendaLton each class had its separate classroom, and this was stated to be a big advantage in that there was no interruption from other classes. In winter time it was the practice to send the children around the playground for a quick run at intervals during the day, this keeping the circulation moving and the mentality bright and alert. New Zealand was 22 years behind in adopting the open-air school system, said Dr. Gunson. A year ago there were 100 open-air schools in England, and now there are 380. The system had been fully tried out, and it met with the approval of medical men and educational experts. Even in London it was found that the children quickly accustomed themselves to the change, and that the traffic continually passing in front of them proved no distraction.

The speaker considered that the type of school now being conducted in Derbyshire, in which the rooms opened out on to a garden courtyard, was the most suitable for the cities, where lack of space was a consideration.

Dr. Gunson concluded a very interesting address by commenting' upon the large percentage of minor defects in the bodily condition of New Zealand school children. There was a very high incidence of rickets among young children, which led to weak chests and general poor condition. These, however, could be remedied by physical exercise and open-air treatment.