The Pre-School Environment: Why Are Some NZ Kindergartens So Noisy?/Is Open Space Just Empty Space?/Stand-Off And Watch

Noise is, or can be, a source of constant difficulty in a pre-school institution, affecting the health and behaviour of both teachers and children, and making it difficult if not impossible to carry on specialized or individual programmes of one kind or another. Dr David Barney, Associate Professor, Department of Education, University of Auckland, directed, 3 years ago, a preliminary investigation designed to reveal the noise producing factors in a group of eight relatively new kindergarten buildings in the Auckland district. The report of this survey, prepared for the Kindergarten Teachers' Association and summarized below, will be of great interest to those concerned with the planning and design of pre-school facilities in New Zealand.