THE KINDERGARTEN APPEAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22609, 28 June 1935, Page 8

THE KINDERGARTEN APPEAL

In a recent issue we gave the story in brief of the growth, progress and general position of the free kindergarten .movement in Dunedin. To recapitulate its features should be unnecessary. But the general conclusion must be that few institutions can advance stronger claims than the Free Kindergarten Association to the generous support of the public in this community. The Association is carrying on, as all must recognise, a splendid work among the very young people. That work could be expanded with advantage, and nothing would give the Association greater satisfaction than to extend it. Unfortunately expansion is not practicable at the moment. The immediate question is that of the ability of the Association to carry on its present valuable, and indeed it is hardly too much to say essential, activities in the conduct of the five schools which it is maintaining. The fact that it is at present entirely dependent on voluntary contributions for the resources which enable it to exist at all has become an all-important factor in the situation. By selfreliance and by voluntary aid it built up the movement which it represents, until such time as the Government, recognising the value of its operations, perceived the desirability of rendering assistance which finally took the form of capitation grants. The entire withdrawal of State assistance over two years ago, as the outcome of the economy measures instituted by the Government, was a heavy blow to the Association. It speaks volumes, for the organisation that it faced the situation undismayed, and by rigid economy and general adaptability proved itself equal to the task of continuing its work. But it has its schools to maintain and equip and its salaries to pay, while the raising of the primary school age has increased the number of children coming within the scope of the tutelage which it provides. Not surprisingly the strain upon the Association'sresources, now again of purely voluntary source, has become such that it finds itself constrained to appeal directly to the public for further support. The opportunity will be afforded the citizens to-day of responding to that appeal in a manner which will signify their recognition both of the fine work which the Free Kindergarten Association is doing and of the value of kindergarten training—a training for which the State might well take responsibility in more favourable circumstances—in inaugurating the education of the child under the wisest and happiest auspices.