MEETING OF MOTHERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 82, 4 October 1938, Page 16

MEETING OF MOTHERS

PHYSICAL CULTURE

A meeting of the Miramar branch of the League of Mothers was held recently in the Methodist Hall, Mrs. Vance presiding over a good attendance. Members from the Seatoun, Lyall Bay, and Ngaio branches were warmly welcomed. The choir, under the leadership of Miss Beere, rendered two items. "Spring Song" and "Rendezvous." Mrs. Fulton, on behalf of the members, presented Mrs. Wall with a pair of crystal vases and a bouquet, as tokens of the esteem in which she is held by the branch. . Mrs. Wall suitably replied and was accorded musical honours. Miss Margery Bell (Teachers' Diploma, London) gave an interesting display of physical culture exercises, demonstrating deep breathing, etc., all the exercises being performed to music. Mrs. Vance moved a hearty vote of thanks to Miss Bell and her pianist, and the serving of afternoon tea brought a pleasant meeting to a close. FBOEBEL AND KINDERGARTENS. Spring flowers and masses of flowering currant rivalled the bright sunshine in striking a note of welcome to members and friends at the September meeting of the Melrose-Hough-ton Valley branch of the League of Mothers. "Frederick Froebel and the Kindergartens" was the subject of an interesting address given by Mrs. R. R. Hayman. Born in Germany in 1783, this great man, the founder of the present kindergarten system, was the greatest educational reformer of his time. The fruits of his philosophy and lifelong work were of benefit, not only to his generation, but also our own, and would continue to make happy the children of the future. A lonely and unhappy childhood turned his thoughts as he grew older to the happiness of other children. His apprenticeship at sixteen to a forester awakened him to the essential unity in the laws of Nature and gave him his belief in the underlying unity in all things. This tenet he applied to himself and his work. He maintained that a child's early training and environment shaped the course of its life; he believed that education was a process of evolution in the child, that the duty of the teacher was to develop inborn faculties and not to cram more in. This was. the basis of his teaching and was reached through play, thereby giving to the child selfexpression and self-activity. Restlessness and a need to examine and alter things, striking characteristics of the young child, were directed into creative channels by modelling and crayon wonk. Unity and team work were taught in ball games, and a sense of rhythm was cultivated with music, poetry, and dancing. He realised that the most important factor for the success of his teaching lay in the teachers, who must have love and joy in their task and understanding of the psychology of the child. This man, j whose whole intellect was illumined by theology, who received from his pupils the highest respect and love, was, in 1848, wrongly accused of ir-j religion, and the greatest blow of all j was the edict in 1851 prohibiting kindergarten in Prussia. He died considering his life had been a failure, yet his work lived today.

Mrs. Hayman was accorded a hearty vote of thanks and presented with flowers.

Songs by Mrs. Harper (Kelburn) and the reading of a poem by Mrs. Crane were greatly enjoyed. Afternoon tea was served.