MORE TEACHERS TO BE TRAINED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 21, 20 October 1943, Page 3

MORE TEACHERS TO BE TRAINED

Increasing Demands On

Kindergartens

ICxpaiision of free kindergarten Huming in New Zealand was advocated yesterday afternoon by the Minister,ot Education, Mr. Mason, when opening the biennial conference of the New Zeahind Free Kindergarten Union in the I loneer Club rooms, Wellington. Addressing kindergarten council members, more than 20 Dominion delegates, and groups o£ representatives from affiliations and aiiproximatelv JOO suburban mothers clubs, Mr. Mason emphasized the importance ot the association's work in determining the child's future. It was invidious to make comparisons between nspeels of education, but none could exceed the kindergarten in importance lie said. Its influence was profound in the life of a child, for it was there that the first social contacts were made and certain habitual reactions were established. Happy reactions would follow in future life from the kindergarten, but with unhappy social reactions, caused by accident or lack of parental understanding, cramping, shrivelling and warping of the child's nature led to disastrous ctfeels which could be carried to many degrees, including criminality. The self-sacrificing work and devotion of the establishes of the association had resulted in splendid success, stated the minister, outlining the development of the movement in Dunedin as long ago as JBS9, when the need was realized by Mr. Murk Cohen after observing kindergarten ; trends in Edinburgh and San Franctseo. Ten years litter Christchurch followed and in 1906 the Itiehnmnd Free Kindergarten was opened in Wellington. Auckland bad 30 years work to its credit. I.he New Zealand Union had been formed m. 1928, and today there were kindergartens throughout both islands, including J-l jn Auckland, six in Wellington, seven in Dunedin, four in Invercargill and one in Hokitika. , . Referring to the i’etone and Jaranalu Street kindergarten extensions, aud the increases in Government grants, the minister explained that since the last biennial conference a special grant bad been made, providing payment to allow more teachers to be trained. Lately there bad been a growing realization, of the kindergarten’s value and it was vital tliat there should be a sufficient number ol teachers to further the work. There were now 39 students in training, with tin additional eight attached to the Wellington centre. , , Mr. Mason stressed the firm determination of the authorities uot to extend the work without first having trained teachers. Great credit was due to those carrying on, but there was still much, to bo done. He hoped that with the training of more teachers the movement would cover the whole of the Dominion, incliiding more remote localities. “I shall not ■ be. happy till every child has the benefit of Hie free kindergarten,” he concluded. Mrs. 3. A. Doctor, president of the N. Z. Free Kindergarten Union, who we - coined Mr. Mason, spoke of the tusk involved in answering the avid questions and interests of the child. Would the re-makiug of the world be through btate instruction, or would the home be the place where such foresight and sufficiency existed that the kindergarten could take second place, she asked. An extract from <i lei ter written by Miss Mary Richmond, founder of the movement in Wellington, who is now more than 90 years of age, was read to the conference by Mrs. Doctor, in which, the writer referred to the nurture ot children as being one of the greatest, tasks in the world. . Notable among the increased number of centres, including two new associations in the' union at Lower Hutt and. Hokitika, was tbe education centre for preschool children in Dunedin, which linked the work of the Plunket Society and tlie Free Kindergarten and formed , a valuable adjunct to Karitane training, said Mrs. Doctor. The Taranaki Street centre’s opening as a war-time measure, aided by Government support, showed positive advantages. This was proving the worth of care for the pre-school child, and none could do anything more useful than train those who might become the home-makers so desired now. Thanks were expressed by the Auckland delegate, Mrs. H. T. Merritt, Mrs Thacker (Christchurch), and Mrs. Norman llaggitt (Dunedin). Afternoon tea was served by the Wellington association. Other delegates attending the Conference, which will be continued ioflay/uid will’conclude on Friday, are Mrs. Keith Hadfield, Christchurch, Lady Sidey, Dunedin, Miss Slingsby-Newman, Auckland, Airs. Wilson and Miss Ford, Hastings, Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs. Burns, Lower Hutt, and Mrs. It. Gibbons, Wellington. .