VERY SATISFACTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 5

VERY SATISFACTORY

WELLINGTON KINDERGARTEN PROGRESS OF SOCIETY, The annual meeting of the Welling ton Free Kindergarten Association wai held last evening. Mrs. J. A. Doctoi (president) presided. In moving the adoption of the re ports submitted by the president th< principal (Miss E. Wilson), the report; tof the activities of the suburbar branches, and the Mothers' Clubs, Mr M. Burnett complimented those wh< had taken a part in furthering the valu able work of the association. The reports were adopted. Commenting on the statement of accounts Mr. Burnett said he considered that in these difficult times the financial position of the association might be considered very satisfactory. The position at the end of this year was slightly better than it was at the end of last year. There were gleams of sunshine in the future; they were hoping to have more revenue in various ways; and he thought they could look forward, ,at any rate, to a less difficult period for the council in carrying on the work of the organisation. The statement of accounts was adopted. Miss England moved: "That a minute of deep appreciation be recorded to J Mrs. Gill, who has, given so generously to this association ever since its commencement. As one of the pioneer movers in the establishment of the free kindergarten in Wellington, Mrs. Gill has made a contribution to the work that will always remain with us. This' meeting is glad to record that the council has elected Mrs. Gill a' *i.fe member of the association." Mrs. Gill was president of the association during the arduous years of the war, said Miss England. She was a wonderful worker, and it was largely due to her personal influence and popularity that the organisation had existed at all. The minute was adopted. THE COUNCIL.' It was announced that the following nominations had been received for the j council for 1935-1936:—Mesdames J. j Doctor, G. P. H. Davidson, S. Eichelbaum, Vickery, Briton-Smith, V. Lloyd, Robert Gibbons, Hamilton Cate, J. Murray, David Smith, Thodey, G. W. Gilbert, J. Batchelor, W. Simpson, Gillingham, Didsbury, H. Jowett, H. Newton Matthews, S. Kelly, Misses M. England; M. Seaton, E. Wallace, B. Yon Dadelszen, Little, and the following delegates from local,committees: Mrs. Mac Lean, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Lodder, Mrs. Morrell, Miss Davis; Mrs. Henry Smith, advisory member to council. An interesting address on the value of the Kindergarten system was given by Dr. Beeby, executive officer of the New Zealand Council for Medical Research. "The importance of your association is in your association with the home," he said." The process of mental growth consisted in the child becoming more and more independent of its parents, and the first means by which it became independent was the Kindergarten. The Kindergarten really represented the organisation which began the psychological weaning of the child. He did not look upon the Kindergarten as a mere luxury. It was an example of false economy for the Government to cut oil a few thousand pounds from an organisation of that kind. .He did not think that society could afford to let children develop in the rather haphazard methods in which they were likely to develop in a large city, particularly in the poorer quarters. The Kindergarten must be looked upon as a serious bit of the educational system. The test of education was when it adapted itself to the emotional and physical development of the child. In his opinion the Kindergarten represented from one point of view the best education given in the country. It was not, of course, perfect, but it was really worth supporting, and. it was worth supporting on the part of the Government."

A hearty vote of thanks was passed to Dr. Beeby.