KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

Evening Star, Issue 21093, 4 May 1932, Page 2

KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING Despite the difficult year through whicli the movement was passing, gratifying reports of the results achieved during the past twelve months were presented at the annual meeting of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association in tho Council Chamber yesterday afternoon. The Deputy Mayor (Mr I'. W. Mitchell) presided over a large attendance. , , , . The kindergarten work had become one of great social and civic importance, said the chairman. Education might be said to be of two kinds—the art of imparting and the art of developing. Strangely enough, the developing side of education was entirely neglected some 200 years ago. It was not till the end of the eighteenth century that one of the great minds of education —Petsalozzi, a Swiss—suggested daylight asylums for young people, proposing to help not only the children, but the mothers. From that was evolved different ideas. Petsalozzi proposed that something should be done for tho child that could not bo done by tho mother. His idea was that the children’s employment was play, as it was to-day. The kindergarten system first started by the Prussian Government was now general throughout the educated world. It was interesting to note that this was the forty-third anniversary of the foundation of the movement in Dunedin, -which was only a small part of the gigantic movement throughout the world. He drew attention to the annual report and balancesheet, which showed that the association was experiencing troubles similar to tho problems of everybody else. He could only hope that at the next annual meeting they would be in more cheerful times. The motion for the adoption of tho annual report and balance-sheet was proposed by the vice-president (Mrs R. A. Ewing) who expressed regret at the absence of the president (Mrs Phillips), who was at present on holiday in Australia. Mrs Phillips, in her position as president, had given very able guidance to her executive, never sparing herself in the work which she found to do; and during the past six months she had engineered the affairs of the association through difficult and unusual conditions. The year just completed had proved a difficult one, without precedent perhaps in tho history of the kindergarten movement. As members were aware, tho Government withdrew all grants to kindergartens, notification of such_ withdrawal coming to the executive just as tho schools closed for tho summer holidays. In tho readjustment they opened three kindergartens in their own buildings with reduced staffs and considerably reduced salaries. The local committee of the Kaikorai Kindergarten nobly came to their aid and offered to finance its kindergarten. Then, with the generous assistance of Archerficld School girls, thev were able to open St. Kilda, but North-east Valley unfortunately still remained closed. With the funds in hand and the hope of being able to raise other sums, they could carry on till tho end of tho year. In regard to what would happen next year they could not say. Surely the spirit that moved the founders of their kindergartens in Dunedin forty-three years ago, relying on their own efforts and without thought of Government aid, still lived in this city that had always stood for the highest and the best m education, and would not let lapse the work of all these years. Let them, then, with hopeful hearts look forward to the carrying on of the work amongst the poorer children of tho city. Mrs Ewing went on to refer to the association’s loss in tho passing of one of its founders, Dr Waddell. Although for many years Dr Waddell was not actively connected with the kindergarten movement, he always sought for news of the work, and she for one would miss his cheery: “ Well, how goes kindergarten?” Might they hold his ideals ever before them in the work they did for kindergarten children. She referred to the admirable work done by Miss Dutton and her staff. Their high sense of duty under _ severe difficulties had made the carrying on of the schools possible. The continued support and interest of all local committees, fathers' and mothers’ clubs had assisted tho association considerably. Tho competent work of the secretary, especially during the last few months of financial distress, had earned the deep gratitude of the council. Mrs Ewing commended the work of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association to them all and to all friends interested, and trusted that such an essential educational and philanthropic work might be carried out m the city. Dr R. Lawson seconded the motion, which was carried. (His remarks appear in another column.) In moving the re-election of the retiring officers, Mr E. Giikison said that over £1,300 of subsidy had disappeared by one sweep, yet tho officers had to their credit the great achievement of keeping tho schools opened. In the future they would have to look to supporters and parents to assist in a larger measure to maintain the movement. The motion was seconded by Mr J. Renfrew White, who quoted an authority to the effect that the greater the economic distress in any country the greater was the need lor kindergarten work. He hoped that tho midmorning meal of milk and apple would bo extended to all the schools, and that it would bo supplemented by tho supply of cod liver oil. Tho office-bearers are as follow: — President, Mrs D. Phillips; vice-pre-sidents —Mesdames R. A. Ewing, W. Evans, 11. W. Bundle, J. R. Glendiuing; secretary and treasurer, Miss E. AI. Caldcr; hon. auditor, Mr H, Brasch; council —Lady Allen, Lady Sidcy, Alesdaracs Batham, R. S. Black, Brewer, Brickell, J. B. Callao, Cameron, Samlford Cox, Gerald Fitzgerald, Walden Fitzgerald, Dykes, Garth Galloway, Giikison. Hutchison, A. N. Haggilt, E. Halstod, J. A. Ilanaii, R. Hudson, J. A. Jenkins, Aliss Kelsey, Alcsdames Lough, G. AlaeLean, Alelville, J. Alollisou, Lady Ross, Mesdames Jack Sliand, Solomon, Taverner, E. Theomiu,

Aliss Ulrich, Afcsdames Wright, E. J. Smith, and Aliss AI. Scott. Advisory Board —lion. G. AI. Thomson. Professor 1). R. White, Sir Thomas K. Sidey, Alcssrs J. J. Clark, Giikison, W. I layward, J. Rennie, W. B. Taverner; hon. physicians—Drs Evans, Williams, APKellar, Air Renfrew White, Dr Irwin; lion, solicitors—Sir Thomas K. Sldev. Messrs Giikison, Ramsav, and 1 lug'gitt. On the motion of Airs William Evans votes of thanks were passed to the chairman, the office-bearers. Dr Lawson, amt the Press.