FREE KINDERGARTEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 1, 1 July 1938, Page 14

FREE KINDERGARTEN

ACTIVITIES REVIEWED

ELECTION OF COUNCIL

The annual meeting of the Wellington Free Kindergarten Association was held last night in the kindergarten building. There was a full attendance of members and supporters, the president, Mrs. J. A. Doctor, being in the chair.

Mrs. Doctor, in her annual report, stated that the payment of the Education Department's capitation grant according to roll numbers had resulted in an increased payment of £150 to the Wellington Association. A retrospective payment had also been made for 1937, which had enabled the council to grant several bonuses and to make a contribution to the expenses of each member of the staff visiting Dunedin for the refresher course. The increased grant also enabled the council to raise the salaries of the lower paid teachers on the staff. The total Government grant was now approximately one-third of the association's running costs.

The kindergarten, which had been operating at Brooklyn for some years, had been closed owing to lack of local support. The question of opening a free kindergarten at Lyall Bay had been discussed, but as a private kindergarten was being conducted in the district it was felt best to let the matter drop in the meantime. An influential committee was formed at Johnsonville and much enthusiasm was shown, but the scheme had fallen through at present owing to the lack of suitable accommodation.

Meetings of all bodies connected with the association's activities had been very well , attended and much enthusiasm for the work was evident.

Mrs. Doctor concluded by expressing warm appreciation of the assistance given to the movement by voluntary helpers, honorary officers, business firms, and the public generally.

During the absence in England of the principal, Miss E. Wilson, Miss E. Scott had been acting as principal. To her, and to all other members of the staff, the thanks of the association were due for their loyal service. ACTING-PRINCIPAL'S REPORT. The acting principal, Miss Scott, reported that the roll number for the year had averaged 301.9, with an average daily attendance of 262.3. During the year the centenary of the kindergarten movement had been celebrated, when honour had been paid | to the memory of the founder, Fredrich Froebel. A delightful centenary party had been held, when the pioneers of the movement in Wellington and those closely associated with it during the years had gathered to celebrate the anniversary. i

The children had been taken on many interesting excursions which had added greatly to their experience and knowledge. Thanks were due to many voluntary supporters for the use of cars, in connection with these outings. Fifteen students had been in training during the year, and the graduation ceremony had been a most successful function. There had been a number of transfers among .members of the staff, and this had had a most useful effect, as it had given the staff teaching experience in various districts. The members of. the mothers' clubs had been again most helpful in all kindergarten activities and had succeeded in raising the very N satisfactory sum of £332 as a result of their efforts. Weekly voluntary contributions by parents'had totalled £149. '

- Progress on the part of all branches was reported in the work of the local committees and in the work of the mothers* clubs.

The balance-sheet showed assets amounting to £9629 Is 3d and an excess over liabilities of £-7267 Is Bd.

In reviewing the balance-sheet, Mr. F. W. Mac Lean congratulated the members of the association upon the splendid results of their efforts in raising money to support the association's activities.

Warm appreciation was expressed of

the work of the officers of the association, particularly the president, Mrs. Doctor, and the secretary, Mrs. R. M. Dowsett. The officers, on their part, paid tribute to the work done by the staff and to the assistance given by the men's advisory committee under the chairmanship of Mr. Mac Lean. • ELECTION OF COUNCIL. , The following were elected members of the council for the ensuing year:— Mesdames J. A. Doctor, G. P. H. Davidson, Gilbert, G. Didsbury, V. Lloyd, S. Eichelbaum, Thodey, H. Newton, R. Matthews, C. Levin, D. C. Peacock, Morton Paterson, Martin Luckie, J. M. McLean, Batchelor, Rogers, Keith Kirkcaldie, G. M. Findlay, Edward Gibbs, M. Kronfeld, Misses M. England, E. Wallace, J. Paterson; advisory member to the council, Mrs. Henry Smith; local committee delegates, Mesdames Monro (Newtown), Absolum (Ngaio), J. Martin (Wellington South), Deighton (Berhampore), Burns (Petone), Smith (Miramar); representative of . women's auxiliary, Miss Smith.