KINDERGARTEN WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 35, 10 August 1934, Page 11

KINDERGARTEN WORK

ANNUAL CONFERENCE

A PERIOD OF PROGRESS \

The annual conference ot "the 3?ree Kindergarten Unions continued its sittings in Wellington yesterday-and td-; aftf- ■-"' ■' ■ ■ '"' ■.'.,.:■/ ..■■■ ['■ ».. \Ladv Sidey, who was: in',~tlie;...chair,, ":" outlined; the activities of," the 'Union dih-;. 1; :iag the past few years.iO She-showed ~". that ;it; had been a period" 6£"progress ;. and" groat development generally. She suggested that the conference, which has hitherto always been <heldj in Wellington, might in future take place alternately in Christchurch and Wellington, for" the convenience.X?>f South Island delegates. Speaking of the subnormal child, she quoted • from Dr. Patty Hill to the effect that >in kindergarten teaching thero was an oppor- . tunity to seek for and: find-at least one "''talent,, the cultivation of; ; .which gave -rl the pupil Some' self -assurance, with ■ J resultant confidence in. other directions. , Ti ■■'■■■''■ BIENNIAL BEPOET. - The biennial report showed that all -' kindergarten centres were carrying, on '-'■' successfully, sonio of them having;:in-creased-their'activities. The Government, realising-the importance of .-kin-. •' dergarten training, had granted part of the procoeds of two art unions, and this had amounted to almost the same as the subsidy of former years. The holder of the Carnegie Fellowship for '->' 1933, Miss Wilkie, had gained the de- •: gree of B.Sc. at Columbia University. The finances of the union were in a very satisfactory position. In conclusion, the' report referred with regret to the death of Sir T. K. Sidey, honorary solicitor of the union, and Mrs. Grady, of Wellington, both Of whom had been pioneers in the kindergarten, movement '.;; of their respective towns. *'..-. TRIBUTE TO LADY BLEDISLOE. ,'.' In concluding the report, the honorary secretary-treasurer, Mrs. J. A. Hanan, said: "I should like to sincerely thank "■her Excellency, Lady Bledisloe, our patroness, for her kindly and gracious interest in the work of the free kindergarttns throughout New Zealand during her sojourn with us. No one has shown i a. keener interest in all those activities, -m educational and charitable, which the i women of this Dominion have inaugu■i rated and carried on. Wo sincerely roi» gret her leaving this Dominion, and we shall ever retain a grateful recdllection of the valuable services she has rendered and the high ideals she has set the womanhood of the country." _ : Some time was spent in considering and discussing .rules and regulations whieii had been drafted for the union -''■ with the object of its becoming an in- '■' corporated body, and with tho discussion, of remit. During nn interval in the afternoon Miss Scott gave the conference a report oi' her activities in connection, with the Carnegie Fellowship. I