A PUBLIC GOOD.

Auckland Star, Volume XIX, Issue 157, 4 July 1888, Page 2

A PUBLIC GOOD.

THE JUBILEE KINDERGARTEN.

Anything that betters the condition of the children is of great importance to the public. Our future citizens and their wives aro to be found amongst the little ones, and no effort should be spared to keep their morals and their health good. Our public schools are not open to them until they are fivo years old, and being too young for school, the little ones of a large section of the community are left to amuso themselves throughout bhe day as best, they can. The parents cannot afford to give their time and attention to looking afcer them : they are too busily eagaged in earning their own and their children's bread.

To these people the establishing, of the Jubileo Kindergarten by Mrs Dudley Ward a twelvemonth back was a benefit the extent of which wo cannot as yet estimate. The first anniversary of the institution was celebrated last Friday, and it is to be hoper' that it will see many more of them. With a view of laying before the general public, on whose subscriptions the success of the institution largely depends, some information regarding the working of the school, a Star reporter paid the Kindergarten a visit the other morning. The school is situated in the old Free Public Library, High-street, and is divided into two portions, the Kindergarten School and the Creche.

The school is under the charge of Miss Gordon, who has to assist her, Misses Holman, Blades and Turpin. Those] who know what young children are like will appreciate the work these ladies have to do, when they know they have to keep in order and amuse some 80 or 90 little ones, ranging from 2 to 6 yoars. There were about that number in attendance when our reporter paid his visit. The majority of them were enjoying themselves with an action song. They bad joined hands in a large circle, and, led by two of the teachers, were singing heartily, keeping time and going through actions appropriate to the words of the song. Other children were employed in different parts of the largs room where the school is held, at building castles with wooden blocks, and generally amusing themselves. In reply to questions put by our representative, Miss Gordon, the head teacher, said that when this school first started they had had some trouble with the children, but now they were very good. They all liked coming to school, where they enjoyed themselves. The Kindergarten had started with 40 children, and during tho twelvemonth over 250 had attended the school. At present there were 130 names on the roll, and the daily average attendance was 85. The lowest attendance during the last nine months had been 61. School is held every week day from nine till four, and a free dinner is provided for the scholars. This is always served up hot, being prepared on the premises, and is duly appreciated by the children.

The instruction principally given is such as is the most likely to make an impression on young minds, consisting mostly of singing. Of course, the simplest elements of arithmetic, reading, and writing are also taught. The girls are taught sewing, but not in such a manner as to make it tedious or irksome. Special Kindergarten lessons are given, aB clay-moulding, plaiting, and paper-folding, while a great portion of the youngsters' time is taken with building with wooden blocks, stick laying, besides a variety of othor games. The result of this system is very gratifying to all connected with the institution, and the lessons taught are a splendid foundation on which to build up a higher education when they go to the public schools. Connected with the Kindergarten is the Cr_ohe, under the charge of Mrs Chase. Hero mothers who have to go out to work are allowed to leave their little ones during the day, where thoy are nursed, fed, and generally taken car© of. ■ The Creche is only open to the children of those mothers who havo to go out to work, and the mothers are required to pay a small fee bt 3d a day. The children admitted are be-, tween the ages of six weeks and two years. When our reporter was shown into the Crfiche, which is a cosy room with a well{.rotected fire, he was struck with what ooked like a gigantic bed on the floor. It was about 10 feet square, and had a railing two feet high all round it, and was supplied with a soft mattress.- This, Mrs Chase explained, was the babies' playground. Half-a-dozen cradles occupied one side of the room, and in one of them a baby about nine months old was comfortably sleeping; Mrs Chase was nursing another. In reply to questions put, the matron said that they had an attendance in the Creche of from three to eight regularly —some days more and some less, according as how the mothers went out to work. A snug little bath-room was shown where the Crfiche babies were bathed each morning when they came in. The bathing is done with warm water, and every care taken, so that there is no fear of their taking cold. We mentioned that the dinner provided for the children was cooked in the building. It is dished up hot each day, and every day there is a variety. The appliances for cooking were shown to our representative, and everything was very clean and nice. All the work is done by steaming, as there is no convenience for baking. Thp Committee, consisting of ladies, of which Mrs Lilly is the Honorary Secretary, meetsonce a month, when it is arranged that two ladies will attend each day to superintend the children's dinner.

When the Kindergarten and Crfiche was first started visiting days were set aside, but it was found that this did not work well, so now anyone who wishes to view the working of the institution can do so at any time between nine and four. The teachere and matron are all anxious that friends of the institution should see how it is working, and will gladly Bhow anyone round who cares to visit it.

Great credit is due to Dr. Bond for his wprk in connection with the Kindergarten. Since its start he has regularly visited the institution two or three times a week gratuitously, for the purpose of looking after the health of the children. When ono of them is unwell he prescribes for it, and provides the medicine free of charge, and also visits it at its own home. Needless to say that Dr. Bond's philanthropic spirit has been warmly appreciated by the Committee of the Kindergarten and by the mothers of the children. Though wo cannot as yet see all the benefits of the work that the Kindergarten is doing, careful consideration of the education question will convince us that it is exactly the thing required to prepare the children for the public schools. It gives their parents an extra amount'of time, and preserves the children from the contamination of the streets. Taking this into consideration, w_e can appreciate its work and give it our hearty Bupport. Additional facts and figures as to the working of the Jubilee Kindergarten will be given at the annual meeting of the subscribers, which Is to be held at the Kindergarten building on Friday week, the 13th inst., when it is hoped there will be a large attendance.