Early Responsibility Of Kindergarten Teachers

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29377, 2 December 1960, Page 2

Early Responsibility Of Kindergarten Teachers

Teachers in the kindergarten movement accepted earlier more responsibility than teachers in any other branch of the education service, said Mrs H. Downer (Rotorua) president of the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Union, in Christchurch last evening.

Mrs Downer was speaking at a ceremony held at the Winter Garden by the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association to present diplomas to graduates of its teachers’ training college.

"Kindergarten teachers are not cnly dealing with children at their most eager and adventurous stage but they are also dealing more intimately with parents than other teachers,” she said. It was only by active co-opera-tion between teachers, parents and committees that the ideals for which kindergartens stood were achieved, she said. All these things represented much more responsibility than teachers in other branches of the service were called upon to do at such an early age. It said much for their training that they were able to meet these responsibilities. Mrs Downer asked the graduates to join and actively support the Kindergarten Teachers’ Association. Obligation

The graduates were only at the beginning of their careers, she said. "I would like them to take every opportunity to increase their qualifications and make themselves better kindergarten teachers. I would like them all to honour to the full the promise they made to teach for at least three years, and T would like parents to remind their daughters that they have a distinct moral orbligation in the face of the training they have received." Within the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Union were 73 associations. Four training establishments were operated by the Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin associations to carry the full burden of providing staff for 199 kindergartens. Soon there would be 216 kindergartens throughout the Dominion, Mrs Downer said. Move Forward The whole kindergarten movement was poised for advance and would move forward, said Mrs A. F. Johnston, president of the Christchurch association. But it needed an adequate supply of qualified teachers to direct the voluntary effort put into kindergarten work throughout New Zealand. The Christchurch association, the largest in the union, had contributed to the supply through its kindergarten training college, she said. Prists And Diplomas Before presenting prizes, the principal of- the Christehurch Kindergarten Training College

(Miss R. Wilkie) congratulated graduates and expressed the hope that they wolud enjoy teaching Miss Wilkie presented prizes to the following:— Senior.—Excellence in daily record, Noeleen Brixton; handwork and art. Barbara Bailey 1, Barbara Fulford 2; music, Barbara Loader and Dorothy Tregurtha equal 1. Juniors. —Excellence in daily record, Lauris Best 1, Pamela Gerard 2; practice teaching, Linda Yoon; college prize. Mary Heath. Mrs Downer presented diplomas of the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Union to the following:-* Linnia Anderson, Barbara Bailey. Judith Bailey, Judy Bailey, Ruth Blake, Noeleen Brixton, Miriam Eagle, Rose Erikson, Barbara Fulford, Joyce Holmes, Glenys Houghton. Sian Hughes, Barbara Loader, Merle Lochead, Elaine Marsden, June Prosser, Jennifer Roseveare, Ondrea Spinner, Anne Threadgill, Dorothy Tregurtha. Leonie Watson, and Mary Wells. A programme of entertainment was presented by the following:— Senior students (bracket of songs); Miss Dorothy Tregurtha (vocal solos), accompanied by Miss Barbara Loader; Miss Barbara Loader (vocal solos), acompanied by Miss N. Billcliff; junior students (choral speaking), all students (Christmas carols).