KINDERGARTEN UNION

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 45, 21 August 1930, Page 18

KINDERGARTEN UNION

CHILDREN AT PICTURES

Delegates from all centres were present yesterday morning when tho conference of the New Zealand Free Kindergarten Union met at the Y.W.C.A. rooms in Bouleott street, A welcome was extended to delegates from the Invercargill and Hastings councils, and to Mrs. Findlay, a visitor from Blenheim. Remits arising out of minutes of the conference were discussed, and Lady Sidey was asked to make inquiries while abroad with regard to international affiliation. The executive report and balancesheet, which was read by the honorary secretary of the union, Mrs. J. Hanan, showed that during the past year marked progress in kindergarten activities throughout New Zealand had been made. Hastings had established a kindergarten and affiliated with the union. Blenheim had formed a kindergarten association, and Timaru was preparing to do likewise. The report expressed deep regret at the passing of Sir Robert Stout, who had done so much for education, and who had been a member of the first committee set up in Dunedin to consider the opening of a free kindergarten there—the first of its kind in New Zealand. Miss England, in seconding the adoption of the report/requested that the conference minute their appreciation of Lady Sidey and Mrs. Hanan for their efforts in connection with the founding 'of an association in Blenheim. This was seconded :by Mrs. Milsom, of Auckland, and carried. Lady Sidey read an interesting paper on the "Mental Development of the Child by Sense-training." It was decided that the Minister of Health bo asked to place the free v kindergartens on the same • basis as the public schools by providing the services of a dental clinic. A discussion on a remit which : was brought forward by the Hastings delegates resulted in the following pronouncement: "That in view of the unsuitability of programmes supplied at picture theatres for" children of all ages, and in consideration of the impression made on children of immature minds by these and the picture posters shown, this conference protests against the present attendance of children at unsuitable picture programmes, and urges that all bodies concerned with the welfare of children endeavour to educate "the parents on this subject." ■■'.■■■

At tho conclusion of the business Miss Maedonald, director of the KelseyYaralla Kindergarten, Dunedin, who has been for the past year at the Merrill Palmer Institute, Detroit, gave an interesting account of her experiences at that institution.