KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19509, 13 December 1926, Page 7

KINDERGARTEN SCHOOLS.

YEAR'S SUCCESSFUL WORK,

PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS.

Tho annual diploma-giving ceremony in connection with the Auckland Free Kindergarten Association was held at _ihf> Myers Kindergarten on" Friday evening. The vice-president of thoassociation, Mr. G. Brownlee. was in the chair, and in a short address ho stated that the association had opened its first kindergarten in Auckland 19 years ago, and there were now six schools in Auckland with an attendance of 270 children. Each kindergarten was subsidised by tho Government and managed by a Committee of ladies. It was hoped that in the near future other kindergartens would be opened. The speaker referred to thp generosity of the late Sir Arthur Mvcrs, who had been deeply interested jn the work of the association and had given the. Myers Kindergarten and Park to tho city. " Diplomas were presented by Mr. Brownlee to the following second year students: Miss Flora Rudaale {distinction),,! Miw Dorothy Gibson (distinction), Miss Gwen Close, Miss Roma Gresham, Miss AurMiii Hobson, Miss Maude Morrin, Miss Margaret Turning. In reading the .-report of the year the director of tho Auckland Association, Miss Colegrove, stated that 21 student's had been jn training and the results of the senior examination had been most satisfactory. The course of study was a many-sided one, which, besides developing the mother instinct in tho earo and management of children, also*developed talent/ and particular gifts. Drawing, watercolouring and handicrafts received particular attention, and in the specimens on view in tho adjoining rooms there was shown a model kindergarten made by last year's junior students for the Dunediiv Exhibition. Miss Colegrove stated that owing to the fact that'many students went on to private kindergartens where children remained for a longer period, she had included in the course methods of teaching reading and writing. During tho year schools had been opened at Oriehunga and Ponsonby with most successful results. Referring to tho conference o't the Kindercarton Association recently KeTcl m Wellington, Miss Colegrove said that the meeting had proved beneficial in many respects and much knowledge had been gained in tho interchange of ideas. It was interesting to note that Wellington and Christchureh each had five froo kindergartens and Dunedin and Auckland six. An interesting address, was given by Mrs. A. G. - Talbot, who likened the kindergartens of a city to oases in the desert where, in the cool, clear atmosphere of the institution, one forgot tho weariness of dusty streets. In tho kindergartens the little ones were given an opportunity of developing in sound, healthy surroundings under tho supervision of those traiifed in mothercraft and child psychology. The spiritual as well as the mental side received consideration and the children were tended with sympathy and care in these city nurseries. In tho teachers the spirit of J. M. Barrio's Wendy found full scope for development and it might he well if the mothers took tho opportunity of learning from tho students their methods of dealing with tho little ones. It might even bo possible to form, with this end in view, a league that would link with 'the.. League of Mothers, .recently instituted in tho Dominion by Lady Alice Fergusson. Speaking to the students themselves, Mrs. Talbot urged them to grasp in its fullest meaning the new-found freedom of girlhood, to think clearly, to feel nobly and to act rightly. Tho wave of unrest that followed the hideous years of war changed woman's outlook considerably. Iri the reaction, both good and evil were to be found and " she exhorted the girls to hold fast to what they had gained. . She felt optimistic concerning the future in a surety that the phase was phasing when vulgar amusements, with tho craze for jazz and stimulants, were tho fashion. Pleasure was an. essential in the .life of all young people, but pleasure with restraint in the knowledge of how to draw the lino between what was wholesome and what was unwholesome.

A display of work by the students aroused much interest. It included work of various handicrafts. Model gardens, houses and playgrounds, with even, a Maori pa, were constructed with attention to minute detail ana toyii tvero cleverly contrived with much ingenuity. Fine needlework and . daintily-made garments were also exhibited with plaster casts and specimens of pen and brush work. ' .. ' "