OUR FREE KINDERGARTENS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1230, 12 September 1911, Page 6

OUR FREE KINDERGARTENS.

AN AITEAL FOR SUPPORT. Tho mission of tho Richmond Free Kindergarten Union is to provide kindergartens throughout the city for those children of working people who are under the ago of five years—the age at which they aro admitted to the State primary schools. Tho union was formed in IMS by Miss Jr. E. Richmond and a small number of ladies and gentlemen interested in education, and the first school was opened in April, ISOG, with thirteen pupils. There aro now four schools—the Tnranaki Street, Constable Street, Brooklyn, and Kilbirnio Free Kindergartens—attended by tome 200 children, all under five years of age. Tho teaching staff is under the general supervision of tho head teacher, who holds the higher certificate of the National Froebel Union (England), with some years' professional experienco under the Education Committeo of the London County Council. Her staff includes two assistant teachers, who hold the same certificates, and ten students; tho latter tako a two years' course, working in tho schools in tho morning and receiving instruction themselves in the afternoon in tho principles and practice of tho kindergarten, nature study, and handwork. The Government inspects tho kindergartens and grants capitation of .£2 for each child between tho ages of three. and five. This amounted ' last year to JC22O 10s. The work has the hearty approval of the' Education Department, but it prefers to subsidise the kindergartens rather than to incorporate them with the State education system, as by so doing tho freedom of action so nccessary to true kindergarten work is more easily secured. In order to work these four schools an assured income of at least .£OOO is required. Up to tho present tho money has been raised with infinite trouble by a small committee of ladies, partly by small subscription and partly by entertainments. It has been felt, however, that the success of tho work justifies a. more definite appeal for regular support (o all thoso citizens of Wellington who can ostimato rightly the importance of such training as the kindergarten gi\cs in developing the individuality of each child, and in cultivating those habits of thrift, order, obediencc, and thoroughness which aro so epential to tho creation of a great nation. That tho schools aro valued by the parentl! is shown by the fact that they subscribe voluntarily on an avcrago '255. a week tow-ird tho general funds of tho union. Thoughtful citizens of Duuedin, being satisfied that the training and educating of the neglected child and the making of him into a useful member of society is as real a service to the Stato as tho bearing of arm.;, founded their first frco kindergarten 21 years ago, and have now four schools with a roll of some 200 children, and a subscription list which ' covers all expenses, and which contains tho names of practically all leading citizens. Auckland, whoso one kindergarten was only opened last year, has already been given a suitable building through tho munificence of one of its loading men, while its subscription list boars testimony to tho liberality of many others..

The work of the kindorcarten—tho responsibilities—is twofold. First, tho work among the children; second, tho training of teachers. Kindergartens aro not schools; the children do not learn even the rudiments of arithmetic, or tho letters of the alphabet. They aro taught as they would bo by a wise mother in a nursery, to play, to observe, to obey, to acquire habits of order and cleanliness, to (each obedience, not through fear, but from a recognition of the general well-lrang of tho community. Thus tho child is led to recognise himself as ixtrt of a small society, so laying tho foundation for an appreciation of tho privileges and duties of citizenship.