OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1015, 4 July 1930, Page 7

OPEN-AIR SCHOOLS

EXPERIMENTAL FEATURES AT AVONDALE SOUTH LEAGUE REVIEWS ACTIVITIES Deprecating the action of the Auckland Education Board in departing from its original intention to build a Fendalton type of open-air class-room at Avondale South School, the Auckland branch of the Open-Air Schools' League, in its annual report, states that the- design embodies features which must be regarded as experimental. The branch expresses satisfaction that the principle of open-air classrooms has been conceded, and while it believes that in some respects this type of classroom will prove defective, it considers it is a distinct forward movement. The branch hopes that the board will build additional open-air classrooms, modified by the experience of Avondale South. least**’* annual report *»*t*a

there are now about 30 classrooms of the Fendalton open-air type in New Zealand. It was undoubtedly due to the excellence of the first open-air classroom, erected at the Fendalton School, that a spread of interest had resulted. Tho Canterbury Education Board was trying experiments with modifications of the Fendalton design, but they appeared to be more expensive than the original plan. The report continues:—“New Zealand has an ideal climate for open-air schools and the success of the schools and the amount of public interest aroused warrant a modification in the still sceptical mind of the education authorities. The league is in a very happy position for continuing its activities with renewed vigour and its work should be of the greatest service to tho cause of education. No Government can afford to neglect a popular movement, especially one which appeals so strongly to the common sense of the people.” In addition to the school medical service, an increasing number of doctors were showing a practical interest in the schools and a section of the profession was actively aged in the i work un linm» '