The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-01-24
SOLVE PROBLEM
OF CONGESTION
Department Public Instruction
Proposes Building Open
Air Schools.

Open.air schools may yet solve the
problem of overcrowded classes which is
now confronting the department of pub.
lie instruction in the Territory of Ha-
waii. Superintendent w. 4. Pope and
Inspector T, II, Gibson have been Civ.
ing the question considerable attention
in their efforts to reduce the inconven.
fence to pupils and teachers alike,
caused by the present cramped school
facilities.
Open.air schools have been in use in
Germany, France, Italy, Spain and other
European countries for years wherever
conditions permit Recently the sys.
tenn has been tried in different sections
of California and several counties in
that State are now engaged in erecting
buildings intended simply to protect the
inmates from the wind and rain, but
otherwise entirely open. Besides be-
ing economical and simple in construc.
ton the open-air structures are moro
sanitary, far more healthy and it has
been found that pupils studying in the
open air have been less liable TO illness
and far more apt in their studies than
pupils confined in poorly ventilated
school rooms.
1t now develops that twenty.six of
these open-air schools are being used in
Kauai and have been giving complete
satisfaction. Twenty.four of these
structures were built last year. The
buildings are big enough to accommo.
date large classes and are simply con-
structed. In most cases wooden floors
are used. but even this is not necessary.
A wall about three feet in height marks
the boundaries of the room. Uprigbts
are fastened to this, across which a
thatch roof can be placed. Where con-
ditions made it necessary the interven-
ing open space can be covered with
screen, thus keeping out everything but
fresh, health-giving air. Thus the chill
dren are practically in the open during
their entire study periods. The maxi
mum cost of these structures is said to
be about $500 each.
Ideal Conditions Hero.
1t is understood that the budget for
Honolulu plans for the construction of
n number of these buildings. Condi-
tions for open.air school work are said
to be more favorable here than any
where in the Territory.
'We have already started the pla.
toon system in two schools in this coun.
tyr said Inspector Gibson yesterday
1.-THE open-air schoolrooms would OF
course, make this unnecessary, but we
have the problem to meet now and ]
believe our first experiment is going tC
prove a success.
"We found conditions as to over
crowding almost as bad at Waikiki a,
at Manoa. There are fifty.three pupil
| in the primary class there and they hav,
been in one small room. Thanks to tn,
ability of a practised teacher these ar
now being taught in relays, portion o.
the pupils being allowed to play out
side the room while their classmate
are reciting In this way all of then
are being cared for and in such wa,
that they like to go to school. VIVA
Is more, one teacher is doing the work. >
Also at the Kaneohe school, be
You'd the Pail, we have introduced tn
platoon system because of overcrowdet
conditions. At that place they ha,
sixty-fve pupils in the primary grad
and in very small room. They have di
vided this class into two divisions, on
of forty, the other of twenty-five pupils
These divisions are given half Our reel
tations, during which time one division
is allowed to play around the build
ing and in sight of the teacher. A
that place it is not necessary to emplo,
a monitor, but in Honolulu this cOurs
would perhaps be necessary. TIL
teacher in Honolulu would not be abb
to watch the children at play and a
the same time attend to hearing recita
tions.