FREE KINDERGARTEN.

Evening Star, Issue 12866, 16 July 1906, Page 5

FREE KINDERGARTEN.

The Dunedin. Free Kindergarten Association opened a branch in St. Peter’s yphowroom, C&vensham, thin afternoon. lnor ® precise, the school so Long raarotained in Walker street has been “hxfted to the southern ward, this change being called for owing to the greater demand now existing in Cavcrsham. Miss Gepeland, recently of Gore, and prior to Mat in one of the Dunedin kindergartens, has been appointed head-teacher, and there are two assistants. The meeting to-day was for the purpose of announcing the opening >o the neighborhood. It is expected that, a large number of pupils will be enrolled. The assemblage this afternoon included many staunch friends of the kindergarten movement. The Executive of the Association were represented by Mns Ulrich (president), Mrs J5. G. Edwards, Mrs I. De Beer, and Mrs G. L. Dermiston (vicepresidents), Mrs J. Waddell Smith (secretary). and Mien Hutchison (treasurer), and many members of the Acuociation were present, also the Rev. Canon King, the Rev. D. Dutton, the Rev. E. L. Wocdhouse, Mr J. Allen, M.H.R., Mr T. K. Sidev, M.H.R., Mr M. Cohen, and Mr D. R. White. The Rev. Canon King, who took the chair, heartily welcomed the advent of a branch of the Free Kindergarten Association in his district, and conveyed also the good wishes of the Rev. T. Trestraii, who was unable to be present. Mr James Allen, M.H.R., said- that it must be encouraging to tho Association to l>ear the welcome given on moving into the Caversham district. The Association wanted to help th© weak—the little ones who had nobody to look after thorn properly. Reformation was "easy with the young. The Association invited the Caversham people, now that they bad this boon —for the coming of tho Association was a boon—to give something in return and join the Association, thereby strengthening die funds and enabling tho Association to do more work- The Association were thankful to the Anglicans for the cordial aid so far given. But this was net an Anglican movement. The doors were wide open to children of everv kind, and it was hoped that all who could be benefited would be brought, and if the Association conid do in Caversham the good work it had done in Walker street and in Union street, ho was sure the Caversham people would lien-after thank the Association for moving into the district. Mr T, K. Sidey, M.HR., said that for his part he thought there was very little “ cleaning up ” needed in Caversham, but lie was none tho loss delighted that the Asociation had extended their work to this district. It was a matter for gratification that so much interest was being shown in the question of education in tho colony. Ho believed that there was a large amount of room for improvement in our educational methods, and if the kindergarten system was one in which the children learned by playing, then ho thought it was on right Mr D. R. White., M.A., said it was recognised that Caversham was now a part id the City, and the district had such a large imputation that there must be many shudren abont who would be all the better ior kindergarten training. He was looking forward to tho time when the kindergarten would be regarded as part of the regular school course. It was not wise to begin education at from five to seven vears of age. The most fruitful' time of life was from three to six years. Many children had the benefit of being trained in their homes during those years. The kindergarten movement was to extend that privilege to a much wider number. Tho kindergarten was truly a home rather than a school. Mothers who had not time to properly look after their little ones would no doubt be very glad to know that they could send them to the careful and trained supervision of Miss Copeland, and the benefit to the children themselves would be incalculable, physically as well as intellectually, for the period from three to seven years was physiologically one of the most important periods of life. Mr M. Cohen reviewed the history of tho Free Kindergarten Association. Anyone who was familiar with the state of Walker street before the kindergarten was planted there and with its state to-day would, he was sure, agree with him that the Association had justified its existence. Whether this new Caversham branch was in the best locality ha could not say, but he was _ delighted with tho roominess ind sunniness of the present room. He trusted tho Association would set their faces against any sort of show in connection with, the annual breaks-up of the schools. This sort of thing was, he was sure, opposed to the ideals of Proebel and Postalozzi. Instead, they should, at the end of their session, invito all the children iff the district to a day’s outing in tho country, and in this connection he might say that bo knew of a warm friend of the Association who was going to ask all the kindergarten children to take part in such an outing at the end of the present kindergarten year. His fellow-workers might always rest assured of his hearty sympathy and co-operation, and when be was travelling, as ho would be in the course of the next few months, he would be glad to do anything he could in tho interests of tho Association. The Rev. D. Dutton said that he wished the movement every success, and believed that if the friends in the district bestirred themselves success would be assured. Mrs Ulrich declared the school open, and said that the Association would be glad to see mothers! visiting the school to see the methods.