INTERVIEW WITH MR HAM

Evening Star, Issue 16079, 3 April 1916, Page 4

INTERVIEW WITH MR HAM

Dunng the recent visit of tho Minister of Education to Dunedin Mr Wm. Davidson, on behalf of the committee of tho Free kindergarten Association, brought under, his notice certain suggestions having for their object tho drawing closer of the bond of connection .•between tho schools under tho control of the association and tho primary schools. The first suggestion was that the Free Kindergarten schools should, bo recognised as associated schools, to which students from tho Training College who show special aptitude for iniant teaching might be sent for observation work or practice in teaching. This, Mr Davidson urged, woidd lead, if not to the introduction of complete Kindergarten methods in the primary department of our public schools, at least to the introduction of tho Kindergarten spirit in dealing with young children. Mr Hanan stated that the appealed strongly to him, that he realised the advantages that would follow the introduction of such a change, and that he would bo delighted to give effect to the proposal.

•* lr Davidson then pointed out the difficulties the association were experiencing in securing a. supply of suitable students to take up work in the schools. Under present arrangements there was no future before, the students on the completion of their course of study and training. They found themselves'in a blind alley. He suggested that provision should be made for the appointment of three or four probationers, carefully selected from the most promising girls in the Girls' High School, the senior department of the Normal School, or any other secondary girls' school. These probationers should, so far as salary is concerned, come under the regulations governing the appointment of probationers in primary schools of the Dominion. At the end' of their two years' courso they should, if qualified, G i lte L tho Traini »g Collece, whero they should continue to pay special attention «o Kindergarten work. These speciallytrained teachers would go out into our primary schools carrying with them the Kindergarten spirit and the Kindergarten methods of teaching, and the influence on the infant room work in our priinarv schools would in a, few years be fel't throughout* the Dominion. With this suggestion also Mr Hanan said ho was in hearty agreement, and ho would take immediate steps to have effect given to it. It is distinctly encouraging to find that we have a Minister of Education so ready to listen to nractical suggestions and so willing to put them into operation with ~s ;wilo ci-hiv as possible.