FREE KINDERGARTEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 62, 6 December 1917, Page 3

FREE KINDERGARTEN

PRESENTATION OF CERTIFICATES A largo number of peoplo interested in educational matters assembled last night, at the invitation of Mrs. Grady, to see the certificates presented to the l'ree Kindergarten studeuis. Amongst Chose present were: Mrs. Gill, the president; Mrs. J. A. lianan, wife of tho Minister of Education; Mrs. Henry Smith, head mistress of the Chilton House .School; Miss Mary M'Lean, head mistress of the Girls' College; Miss Phoebe Myers, and many others. The girl students, all in white, with tiny red and white bows (the kindergarten colours), made a picturesque group in front of the organ at the upper end of the room. Mr. Catighley, the Assistant-Director of -Qucation, in his opening sjieech, said that the principles of kindergarten work were really of the highest importance, because they laid the foundation of all good educational work. Owing to the extreme youth of the children who are being trained, many peoplo jump to the conclusion that the principles involved are too elementary to be of any importance. But this is most emphatically not the case, said the speaker. Greater devotion in this branch of educational work is always shown by the.teachers ongaged in it, as the children are at such a lovable and attractive age. A real interest in the welfare of the child must be taken, and is taken by all the toSchers. If we would build well and truly, said the speaker, we must begin at the bottom. Children, when under, seven yoars old, are at their most impressionable age, and habits formed early in life are never forgotten. The young kindergarten teachers were, like missionaries in many respects in their zeal and devotion to duty. Like missionaries also they were very poorly paid for their labours. But lately the Government had been to'ing to improvo tho status of the teachers, and somo new regulations had been gazetted. A two-years' course at a fciudergprten will now rank the same as a two-years', course at the Training College. Kindergarten teachers may enter the Training College if they wish, and qualify themselves to teach in tho State schools.

A great number of kindergarten teachers preferred to start private kindergartens of their own, instead of adopting the latter course, The new sito in Taranaki Street is, said Mr. Caughley, quito a. suitable one, and the Education Department is ready to provide halt the cost of the new building, and it is imperative that the money should bo'raisea as soon as possible to ereot a proper building. The Kindergarten Association was doing a great and noble work in Now Zealand. The lives,of little children in our congested areas were being purified and brightened, and the teachers as well as the children were profiting by their mutual association.

Mrs. T. H. Gill, the president, read her report on the practise work done. The work was contributed by five senior and four junior students. Most striking of all, said Mrs. Gill, was the gentleness and patience shown by all the students to the children. This, cf course, reflected the highest credit on Miss Riley's system of training. Miss Riley, the principal, regretted that there had beon rather many interruptions in this year's routine owing to patriotic work and other matters connected with the soldiers and tho war. The test for a junior was to take a talk and a table, and seniors must be able tio take oharge of a kindergarten for a whole morning. The latter was by no means an easy task, as any parent may be present all the time. . Miss Riley then read Miss England's report 011 the theory work. The examiner considered that this year's papers were quito the best that had been sent in, and all of them showed what great interest had bean taken in the children by tho students. Mrs, Hannah's report showed that sho considered a very high standard of dexterity and ingenuity liad been maintained by the. students. Miss Newton, who had been

in charge at Borhampore, was leaving, but Miss d'Oyley was to resume work again next year. In conclusion, Miss Riley made a little speech of encouragement and farewell to the students.

Miss Mart-land, in rising to present the certificates, congratulated the students in living in sttch an age, and reaping the benefits of so much work done by the pioneers of educational reform.

The following were presented with certificates: —Misses Atkinson, Kitson, Vickors. Ballinger, and Scott.

Mrs. Smith spoke of the importance of training on character.' Many a gin who left school often drifted into a kind of blind alley. She had probably never been trained to speoialise, and so was incapable of taking up any usefiu work. Her advice to all girls was to take up some special duty and avoia idleness. The Kindergarten Association was training girls to do difficult work, and to do it well.

During the evening the students sang some charming little songs for young folks, and Mrs. Garrett (nee Miss Dcra Read) and Miss Fuller also sang.

Mrs. Gill proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mrs. Grady for her kindness and hospitality, and to the speakers, singers, and all those helpers who hau made the evening such a pleasant one.

An adjournment was made to the supper room, where the table was decorated with red and white sweet j eas, set in crystal vases. The adjoining room was filled with many quaint anu ingenious specimens of the students hand work.

The scholars . f St. Mark's Church School will give their first entertainment this afternoon and evening in St. Mark's Schoolroom, -Dulferin Street. i uildren have worked for a Christmas tree and fairy dell and for several stalls, and there will be mauy articles, useful and fancy, for sale.

Next Friday promises to bo a successful Red Gross day at. the shop on Lambton Quay. The Mercor Street ladies will have an excellent supply of produce, all liorae-inaile, and of tlio best. Mincemeat, clmtney, lemon cheese puddings, etc., are only a iew of the many delicacios there will be on 6ale. The needlework is dainty and suitable for all, and reasonable in price. The Misses Veitch will sell their well-known sweets, and the flowers will be, as usual, fresh and beauteous. There will be afternoon and morning tea provided by the Miramar ladies, and this should help very greatly towards, the success of the day. Those who so regularly support the efforts of the women at the shop are asked to come 011 Friday, to come early, and so buy in comfort. Home-made cakes will bo all guaranteed, and a largo number have been promised.