THE. FREE KINDERGARTEN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 235, 27 June 1908, Page 11

THE. FREE KINDERGARTEN.

; MRS. HISLOP'S "AT HOME." > .Yesterday afternoon, Mrs. Hislop gave an "At Homo" for' the Freo Kindergarten , TJniom at the Town Hall. Afternoon tea was served in tho Mayor's room, which was brightly ; decorated with spring, flowers for the occasion, and from there the guests adjourned to the Council Chamber, where tho ambitious achievements and financial needs of the Union were put before them by several 'speakers. The Kindergarten urgently needs £100, and the members of tjie Council feel sure that if tho women of Wellington thoroughly understood the position they would come to the aid of tho children as fast as s ever they could fly. - Mrs. Hislop mado a graceful little speech urging the claims of the kindergarten, telling of the'influence for gMd exerted in its neighbourhood, and pointing out that tho ' women ,of the district could bo best approached and offered help through their little ones. Thero was no other bond of union 60 strong as .that which united tho women who worked together in the interests of tho same children, and in considering the. value of the kindergarten one had also to consider its effectiveness: as a creator of sympathy, good feeling, and neighbourliness. ,Mr.:Hogben, who, as representative of his sex in that assemblage, was supported only by a Pressman and an infant of 18 months, spoke at length of. what he had-seen of kindergartens; in • England, : America, and several' European towns. He is a warm advocate of free kindergartens. He said that Wellington should take tho matter up properly i and build a large properly equipped school,, with: furniture,: for children, , and blackboards built sufficiently low down on the. walls for the children to be able to writo on them, and a proper lunch-room wliero tho children could prepare their lunch them-selves^.-In London he had tasted apples cooked by. children under five. Ho advocated a child being taught as a child. There was a tendency to teach a child with playthings instead of real ones, and in that case a child did not- realiso what it was supposed to learn. In tho London school the children were taught to set tables with toy cups and saucers, and ho had suggested that if real ones were given to them they would understand ■much better what it- was about. Children begin at an-extremely early age to try to mako . things, and this tendency should bo traded on, and they should be taught as far as possible to make real things instead of play things. Sir. Hogben concluded with an appoal for help for the AVcllington Union. Miss Cybele Kirk, headmistress of the Freo Kindergarten, and Miss Richmond told of the work done by tho kindergarten during the year, and of'the need for funds. Miss Richmond is.anxious to secure promises from women willing to collect each £1 a year for the Union, andin the room promises were re- - ceivcd from several, and subscriptions from others, the afternoon's result totalling £23.