REAL SERVICE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 104, 15 February 1950, Page 4

REAL SERVICE

KINDERGARTENS IN Ashburton FIRST STEPS IN SOCIAL SWING Kindergarten was the name chosen by the educationist Froebel just over a century ago to describe the “play school” which he believed to be the best means of fostering the all-round development' of the youngest children. Like more reformers he was ahead of his time ,and it was not till the beginning of this century that his ideas and practices, chiefly through their development of Dr Maria Montessori, were widely accepted. To-day the kindergarten has a recognised place in the education system of wellnigh all progressive countries, and bids fair to be a permanent and integral part of all comprehensive schemes of education.

Ashburton has two kindergartens, one in Allenton and the other in Ashburton East, the former housed in its own building, and the latter in the Hampstead Memorial Hall, and hoping for better days. Let it be said at once, both institutions are a credit to the Ashburton Kindergarten Association and the local committees which function at either end of the town. Nobody could visit either institution but would come away glad that they are doing their beneficent work, for there would be seen in being an environment and a regimen which together effect the beginnings of that for which all 1 education strives, increasingly happy and fruitful living together by the development of personalities, fit and happy for community living. Children’s Needs

One of the small child’s needs is the company of those of his own age, another* that of satisfying activity, a third the wise guidance of older folk with resources of understanding and skill that tiny tots in the nature of things do not themselves possess: all these and more the child gets at “kindy.” Play, purposeful activity, opportunity for self expression, first essays in co-operation, all are the day by day experiences of the kindergarten pupil; in short, no better environment, supplemented' as it is by the indispensable home, has yet been devised for little ones before their formal school days begin, and indeed no better tribute is paid to the soundness of kindergarten principles and practice tha nthis—that the practice of the modern infant room follows and develops the same fundamentals. Kindergarten children learn by doing, develop by self-expression, become more human and civilised as they learn to work and play together, —in a word take the first steps in that education which- consists hot of facts learned but of skills developed and attitudes formed.

How is all this accomplished? A bright room and pleasant out-door surroundings are the environment which houses a thousand interesting things to play with and manipulate, and behind all the manifold activities a pattern, that of give and take, consideration, cleanliness, desirable habits. Kindergarten Day Here are some details. Rest periods and toilet, making for regularity and poise; each coat, each towel, each sleeping-bag marked, not with a printed name, but with a picture or design which the child soon learns to recognise as “his”; paints,, blocks, trains, picture's, playthings to satisfy the urge for activity and delight the senses; stories and talks which follow the seasons and the activities of those who serve the community and ensure our daily bread, our clothing and our comfort and happiness generally; puzzles, constructive toys, clay for modelling), paper to cut out; singing and rhythmic games—in some kindergartens, but not in ours yet a dolls’ corner for the girls and a carpenters’ corner for the boys. And how does this all come about? The Education Department now pays the salaries of those in charge; the local community sees to the provision of amenities and equipment. To bring the matter down to the local “set up.” Allenton is well equipped, which is not .to' say for all time; Ashburton East’s great need is for its own building, for only then can there be curtains on the windows, pictures on the walls, storage space for equipment, and all these are necessary for full efficiency. Who does the actual day-by-day work ? At Allenton at present Miss F. Wilson is temporarily in charge, and is assisted by two aides, Misses L. Gunn and J. Miller. At East Miss J. Harris is the director, Miss I. Reid her assistant, and Miss O. Wells the aide. To these people and to the voluntary aid given by a large number of women in Ashburton ,the gratitude not only of parents but of the community at large is due for the efficient discharge of a real community service.