NEW KINDERGARTEN

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 141, 11 December 1935, Page 13

NEW KINDERGARTEN

IN WELLINGTON SOUTH

FOUNDATION-STONE LAID

A large attendance of those interested in the movement witnessed the laying of the foundation-stone of the Wellington Free Kindergarten's new schoolhouse in Owen Street, Newtown, this morning. Lady Luke, C.8.E., performed the ceremony.

"This will be the fourth kindergarten which we really possess as our own," said Mrs. J. A. Doctor, who presided. The first kindergarten in the district, established in 1909, was in the Constable Street Congregational Church. It was later moved to St. Thomas' Hall. Soon after the movement had been established, a local committee of citizens and a mothers' club had been formed, the main purpose of which was to obtain funds to purchase a section of land and build a school thereon. In 1930 a subsidy of £300 had been obtained from the Government, and a section had been bought.

A new committee had then been formed, with the object of raising funds for the new school. The committee had received very welcome assistance from several organisations and from many private individuals.

Mrs. Doctor introduced Miss Stuart Hamilton, who is to be in charge of the new school. She concluded by giving thanks to Mr. Gray Young, the honorary architect of the association, and to Miss Nancy Jones, who had assisted him to design the new building.

A LIVE MOVEMENT.

"There is nothing which has impressed me more in my association with the kindergarten movement than the activity of the womenfolk," said Mr. R. McKeen, M.P. In the last few years they had had a very anxious time. He was convinced that the erection of a school in Brooklyn should be proceeded with. There was no doubt about it that there should be more schools in Wellington South.

Mrs. Doctor then introduced Lady Luke, who remarked tHat it was about the last little job of work she would be able to do. She was one of the twenty foundation members of the kindergarten, and each had had to get 20 more. She was pleased to see some of her contingent present at the gathering. Assisted by her son, Lady Luke then laid the foundation-stone.

The Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Education, said that he was sure that there would be many other such ceremonies in the future at which Lady Luke would officiate. In a difficult period she had been a centre of civil and national activity. Her example and that of the late Sir John Luke was one for others to follow.

The great value as an educational institution of the kindergarten was fully realised, said the Minister. It could not be carried on along stereotyped lines, but must alter slowly if it was to remain the vital force it was Its work was to study the methods and results of Madame Montessori and others, and to apply them to our own country. It would be a great mistake to be simply copyists of other lands.