KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 2

KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

Officers Elected

The kindergarten movement had begun in New Zealand in 1899 for the children of poor and working mothers and was established in Christchurch in 1911. With the development of educational sciences people had come to realise its great benefits for all children, said Mrs A. F. Johnson, when speaking at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association last evening. Mrs Johnson, who was elected president, said that it was the first time in the history of the association that men had been elected to the council.

Thirty-seven students had been training at the Kindergarten Teachers’ Training College during 1956, said the principal (Miss R. Wilkie) in her report. She 1 understood that Christchurch had the largest number of kindergartens in New Zealand and also the largest roll—about 2000. The very large attendance at the annual meeting was an indication of the growth of the movement, said the retiring president (Mrs F. E. Burrell). The persons who worked on the local committees were the foundation of the movement and she congratulated them on their efforts. There was little worry with the staff problem in Christchurch and most of the kindergartens were fully staffed. She congratulated the principal of the teachers’ college and staff. Several speakers paid tribute to the work done by Mrs Burrell while president of the association. The following officers were elected: patron, Mrs A. Keith Hadfield; president, Mrs A. F. Johnson; vice-presidents, Mrs C. O. Mathias and Mrs N. L. Samson: council, Mesdames W. A. Anderson, J. L. T. Dyer. K. B. McCreanor, Betty Mcllroy, Audrey H. King, C. T. B. Pearson, M. D. Piper, J. Robert Pirie, F. M. Suggate. Miss M. Tyndall, Messrs J. S. Allan, V. A. Beaumont, W. R. Bell, A. I. Hancock, D. M. Lawry, S: C. V. Muirson and R. Studholme.