KINDERGARTENS CROWDED

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29221, 3 June 1960, Page 14

KINDERGARTENS CROWDED

“Special” Cases Are A Problem

(New Zealand Press Association) INVERCARGILL, June 2. Invercargill's six kindergartens are full to capacity, there are hundreds on the waiting list, and “special” children are creating a problem. To qualify for entrance this term, the children have to have a doctor’s certificate stating that psychologically, they would be better to attend a kindergarten. At one stage, the kindergartens could cope with these “specie!" applications as one such child is usually allowed in each class. But in recent months their ranks have been swelling. It is alleged that some parents who can not get their children into kindergarten in the normal way, present strong cases to their family doctors, and in good faith are given certificates. One doctor said today that in many cases, it was a matter of “mum trying to get the children off her hands." During the tine that he had been practicing in Invercargill, he had allowed only one certificate for a genuine psychological case. He could hot remember the number he had rt* fused. The president of the Inverear* gill Free Kindergarten Association (Mrs E. RUlstone) said today that there was no way of knowing who was a “genulna” case. The provisions set aside fir ‘‘special’* children were being abused by some persons. Something was being “worked" to get children into the kindergartens, and it was not fair to the genuine cases, she said. The six kindergartens accommodate 480 pre-school age children. There are 506 children on the waiting list