KINDERGARTEN WORK

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 47, 23 August 1918, Page 9

KINDERGARTEN WORK

ANOTHER DISPLAY.

Another interesting demonstration of Kindergarten work was given yesterday afternoon at the Masonic Hall, when there was a good attendance of onlookers. Miss D'Oyley, w;th the Brooklyn' Kindergarteners, had an interesting subject in "Farm Life and its Products," and it was easy to see that the practical work of making butter by shaking cream in glass jars, and then forming the butter into gats, was the favourite task. Each child had a shake, and it was thoroughly well done with joyful energy. Games a.nd songs about milking, action songs' illustrating; cutting grass and digging and putting in. posts, and the picture work representing milking time, followed by the building of the train that was to bring the milk to the city, were all welL carried out by the happy little ones, who quite ignore their audience, being thoroughly intent on the work.

Mrs. Corliss opened the afternoon with a short sketch of the rise of Kindergarten work in Now Zealand. It originated in Dunedin, she remarked, and the first council there, of which she was a member, had much prejudice to overcome, many people thinking that such small children should not be away from their homes. However, in time the discouragements had been overcome, and the system, when understood, had been appreciated and admired, and now Kindergarten had become part of civic life in the Dominion.

Mr. Caughley, Assistant Director of Education," also made a short speech, pointing out that Kindergarten work had a social as well as an educational value. It meant more than just playing games, etc.; there was a purpose underlying all that was done, as anyone would see if they looked at the week's work, and this purpose had an educational value. It had been said that the children learnt more in the Kindergarten years, three to six, than in any other three years of their lives. In the towns with their congested areas the Kindergarten had a distinct social value, the children getting companionship, and it was bo often impossible for the children to get any such training at home in those years. It sounded strange, but was a fact, that the most progressive parts in the university training to-day were really an extension of Kindergarteu methods, which were to learn by doing. Mr. Caughlqy mentioned the teaching of science and modern languages as illustrating this. He spoke of the better conditions prevailing in other cities. Wellington was at a. great disadvantage in the work. He hoped it -would not bo long before this city also had a well-equipped Kindergarten for the little ones. •

To-day the subject will bo "Soldiers in !Camp," when the Wellington South branch will be in charge of. Miss Hind and Miss Atkinson.