M.P. Opens Burwood Free Kindergarten

Press, Volume C, Issue 29681, 27 November 1961, Page 21

M.P. Opens Burwood Free Kindergarten

More than 100 persons saw Mr J. Mathison, member of Parliament for Avon, open the Burwood Free Kindergar. ten in Bassett street, on Sat- ] urday. Mr Mathison, who attended ’ the kindergarten project’s first meeting nine years ago, I said a need was felt then for . a kindergarten in the "fast t developing” area. s Children, as the future citi- > zens, received tremendous , advantages from a kindergar- . ten. Mr Mathison said. Mrs A. F. Johnson, presi--1 dent of the Christchurch Free Kindergarten Association, j presided at the opening. The kindergarten’s committee had a harder task than most, she said. Unlike many, ’ it had to buy the section. ' This cost £6OO. The building ! cost £5190. At a time when loss of in- • dependence and self-reliance > in people was feared, kinder- . gartens could help by establishing these qualities in . the early years, Mrs Johnson said. The president of the Burwood Kindergarten Committee (Mr H. W. Clifford) also spoke. Among guests was Mrs R. D. Richards, president of the Temuka Free Kindergarten Association. The building, designed to accommodate 40 children, . has a floor area of about 2000 i square feet. It is built mainly ■ of unlined concrete block. , with big windows along one . wall. i Off the main classroom is ! a toilet room for the child- , ren, a dolls’ corner, a kitchen, , and a staff toilet. The director <Miss L. Honeyman) has

■ a room with a window givf ing a view of the classroom. The many shelves in the 1 classroom are mounted on ■ rubber castors. This novel ■ feature allows the staff to partition the room by mov- , ing the shelves. , In the grounds are grown ’ trees. These, Mrs Johnson ; said, were a valuable asset and a “read joy to the child- • ren.” The children have a sand- ’ pit, paddling pool, jungle ’ gym, slide and wheeled toys ' in the grounds. There is also an old car without engine or wheels, mounted on con- : Crete.