CRECHE IS POPULAR

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 2

CRECHE IS POPULAR

Women today are en-. couraged to further their education, and the University of Canterbury Students’ Association is enabling many young mothers to complete their degrees. The .former caretaker’s Satin thif Student Union building at the city site resounds to the sounds of children—the 46 sons and daughter* of student mothers at the university creche. The place is constantly bustling with activity. Toddlers crawl contentedly in one room, under the watchful eye of the supervigor*, Mrs A. Burke and Mrs A. M. Early; older children play happily in the nursery, watched over by Mrs M. Grace. Sleeping infants—the youngest was enrolled this year at four weeks old—occupy a third room. Voting mothers (and the occasional father), in characteristic student attire, call in to collect their children. All around are the sights and sounds of campus life, but no-one considers it an unusual setting for domestic routine. Even the very small babies are just part of the scene. Students who crowd the corridors break off conversations to inquire after the children. Often both parents t.e studying at the university, sometimes one is .lecturing Some of the mothers are attending training college; others married before finishing their degree, end are now completing it. Third Year Few would be able to attend lectures if they could not rely on the creche. Begun two years ago by students who wanted to go on studying and felt their need was shared by many young mothers, the scheme is subsidised by the association. Last year it ran at a loss of $5OO, but this year it is estimated this will be cut to $lOO. Parents pay a registration fee of $lO a term for one child, or $l5 for two, plus hourly rates from sc. If they do not wish to use the creche on a permanent basis they can pay $25, and the hourly rate of 25c. Most could not afford private nursery fees, and do not like to over-burden even willing parents. At the creche they leave ’ their children under the care of four paid supervisors, who work morning and afternoon Shafts. “Nice Lot” Typical of these women is Mrs Early, who has five children (one at university) and worked at the creche last year. She enjoys the lively atmosphere and contact with the students. “We have a very nice lot of girls this year. Some arc

just in their early twenties, others are older. I like to meet them, and we have a few fathers who come in and out with the children,” she said yesterday.

“Last year we bad some of the children at Aldersgate, but it's much better to be under one roof. Now we have kitchen and toilet facilities here as well.”

Late morning and early afternoon are particularly busy times, and it is hoped to arrange for mothers to come in and help out during those periods. Some of the children stay only an hour or two a day, others all morning or afternoon, and several for the entire diay. Some have a brother or sister also at the creche.

All bring their favourite toys. The wardrobe in the creche bulges with miniature bikes, teddy bears, little cars, and dolls of all sizes. There is scaled down furniture in the nursery, and boxes of toys.

The photograph show* a gathering in the nursery yesterday morning, from left: Mrs Burke with Robert Duobea, five months; Mrs P. Prescott with her three-month-old son, Simeon; Mrs Grace holding Paul Johnson, 10 months. The children are, from left: Christopher Perry, three, Robert Clarke, two, Marcus Beveridge (a foundation member who began attending the creche when he was a baby), three, and Sarah Kissling, two.