Kindergarten Teaching Exacting Occupation

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31983, 9 May 1969, Page 2

Kindergarten Teaching Exacting Occupation

Kindergarten teaching has become an exacting occupation, requiring training in depth and a greater maturity in students, in the seven years Mrs Peggy Dalmer has been principal of the Christchurch Kindergarten Teachers’ College. Since sbe was appointed principal in 1962 a new curriculum giving more time to cognitive development, learning theories, and teaching at other age levels has been introduced. Students have been encouraged to develop individual interests, initiative, and a deeper understanding of both children and parents. No longer the poor relation

to Training College, the kindergarten college has fostered close liaison with primary schools. Some students who would be acceptable for both primary and secondary teaching prefer kindergarten training. The climate of co-operation embraces the play centre movement The two associations . combine effectively in a number of fields. “I was lucky that I came to the college at a time very favourable for growth and development in pre-school education,” said Mrs Dalmer yesterday. Contact Enjoyed A woman of sound common sense and enthusiasm for her work, Mrs Dalmer has enjoyed contact with her

young students and jrindergarten pupils. These she calls space-age children. “Their interest in the jet age and the universe is fantastic. They play with rockets and build rockets, and can even describe how the first stage falls away. “In the past we have underestimated children. To some extent we still keep them in a baby stage when they are ready for more in-

teresting conversation,” she said.

Mrs Dalmer has been interested to observe children’s reaction to television. “Bright children have their vocabulary and range of information widened, but I think interpretation of programmes by parents is necessary. If television viewing is a family affair with lots of talk and enjoyment, then it’s a good thing.” In the last few years the college has worked hard to provide students with the background to enable them to communicate with parents. Very Serious "Parents take their job very seriously these days,” said Mrs Dalmer. “They are interested in what their children are doing and it does help relationships if the student has given attention during training to the importance of the help parents can give her in her work, and had some experience in home contacts with older staff.”

Youth was one of the student’s problems. "Although a bright 17-year-old student can absorb training. when she is

19 she hap to assume a great deal of responsibility. "The changing public attitude to pre-school education and the demands of the job mean that we are getting applications from well qualified girls, who have spent longer at school, and we can be selective,” said Mrs Dalmer. Eight Units Of this year’s 40 entrants there was one with eight university units. Fifteen had university entrance, 17 endorsed school certificate, and only eight had school certificate, which is the minimum qualification.

Opportunities for a girl to develop her individual interests through optional studies and club work is an added incentive for prospective students.

“Opportunities to undertake university work are leading to girls continuing and furthering their studies as teachers. There is a great need for in-service training and advanced courses to equip kindergarten teachers for higher posts in the service,” said Mrs Dalmer.

Mrs Dalmer will retire at the end of this term. Her successor will be Mrs Audrey Haggitt, who is supervisor of junior classes at Highfield School in Timaru.