SERVICE IN SEWING KARITANE'S WARDROBE SCHOOL PUPILS ASSIST

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 102, 26 October 1929, Page 11

SERVICE IN SEWING KARITANE'S WARDROBE SCHOOL PUPILS ASSIST

The spirit of service which educationists impress on school children- as being necessary to their development has made a pleasing manifestation in some of th« city and suburban schools of Wellington. a baby goes to the Karitane Homo at Melrose it is at once put into the regulation hospital outfit of wisely-chosen and neatly-sewn garments, and wears these for tho length of its stay. The aim of the Karitano Sewing Committee is to have four sets available for each baby, and as there are generally between 20 to 25 infants in the home at a time, it will be readily seen that a large stock of baby clothes is required. For some time past pupils at the Island Bay, Hataitai, Roseneata, Kelburn Normal, Berhampore, Miramar South, Soatoun, Karori, Terrace, Kilbirnie, and Northland Schools, as well as the Training Collego students, havo beon helping to keep up the supply. Mrs. Downes (chairwoman of tho Sewing Committee for tho hospital) prepares the garments and- distributes them to the schools, together with tho necessary tape and embroidery silks. The sewing is* dono by the children in school time, under tho instruction of tho mistress, and as part of tho scholars' sowing for tho year. Seven mouths is allowed for the making of the tiny garments, and then they are collected and handed over to the matron. By this means about 400 garments are added each year to tho Karitano wardrobe, and whether or not it is that the small dressmakers take a special pride in their work because it is some day to be worn by a "real live" baby, or whether it ia that thoy ■are naturally clevor sowers, or particularly well instructed—perhaps it is a combination of all three factors—it is certain that the work handed in is extremely neat, and also soundly sewn. Some of the teachers take a special interest in this work for Karitane, and wash and press the garments before handing them over at tho end of tho year. At some of the schools knitting is done by a few enthusiasts, who tako it home to purl and plain at their leisure. THE REWARD. As a small reward for their unselfish work, the pupils of the schools mentioned, or rather those in the fifth and sixth standards, and sometimes those in the fourth, aro taken up to the Karitane Hospital for an hour or so some afternoon, shown over the building, and given a demonstration of how to bath a baby correctly. Yesterday the, "Karitane sowers" from Roseneath School visited the hospital and thoroughly enjoyed all they saw. The visit also has its educative value, for as the baby's toilet progressed, each step was explained in simple language, pointing out what ought and ought not to be done, and showed how the food should be prepared and bow baby should have her bed made and be put comfortably to rest. Girl Guides also have an opportunity ,of seeing this demonstration when studying for their child nurse's badge They visit the hospital after taking lectures from the Plunket nurses and before then- examination. The opportunity which these girls, both Guides and school pupils, have of learning something of the correct methods of caring tor a baby is considered by the hospital authorities to be a valuable one, which helps to fulfil the educational aim of all Plunket work. Tho sewing done at the sehools is also considered of practical value in that it not only gives the children the material with which to learn their buttonholing, plain sewing, and embroidery, but develops in them a willingness to help others in preference to themselves, whilo the results of both purposes arc gratefully welcomed at the hospital. -. . ,