Lack Of Staff For Kindergartens

Press, Volume C, Issue 29499, 28 April 1961, Page 2

Lack Of Staff For Kindergartens

“It is our duty to press for better salaries, greater recognition ana more opportunities for promotion for our teaching staff,” said the president of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association (Mrs A. F. Johnson) at the association’s annual meeting.

Mrs Johnson said the steady decline in numbers of trained staff was causing deep concern throughout the country. There were at least 10 untrained kindergarten teachers working in Christchurch kindergartens at present. “We need greater quantities. better qualities in our teachers and better remuneration foe them to bring this branch into lipe with other brandies of the-ieachmg profession,” rite said. “It is ho use jour building these .lovely kindergartens unless we have the staff to run them. Through your committees you have done a wonderful job, but members of the staff need your support to further their cause in the interests of the children in their care. “We should go forward determined that we want the best trained, best equipped and qualified people for our teachers. If we have that, we cannot fail.”

Mrs Johnson said the association had reason to be proud of its achievements. Now entering its fiftieth year, the association had been a leader of thought in the movement since it made the first move towards obtaining certificates from the government for kindergarten teachers in 1912.

The last year had been an exceptionally busy one with two kindergartens opened and seven more being made ready for opening. Fundraising to meet increasing costs had also been successful and in addition to the efforts of the committees and

the money they had brought in, the association had received a bequest of £2OO and had also raised £705 through presenting the play “Charley’s Aunt” in conjunction with the Canterbury Repertory Theatre Society. Plans for the coming year include celebration of the golden jubilee and acting as host to delegates attending the national cohyention of Kmdergarteq AssojiaOf&cers elected at*the feting incl udeoMhe (-following: Patron, Mrs “A. Keith Hadfield: council members, Mesdames G. Adams, W. A. Anderson, N. M. Beardsley, L. Collingwood, S. C.Cropp, J. H. A. J.D. Dearsley, J. L. T. Dyer, A. F. Johnson, C. O. Mathias, J. R. Pirie, A. Steven, F. M. Suggate, Miss N. Tyndall, Messrs A. I. Hancock, D. M. Lawry, W. Morris, S. C. V. "Muirson. N. R. Seajell. T. R. Studhqjjne.