HAMILTON KINDERGARTEN

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14601, 26 February 1921, Page 2

HAMILTON KINDERGARTEN

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION

■The second annual meeting of tlie Hamilton Kindergarten Association wis held in Toorak (Chambers last night. Mr E. Wilson presided, ami also on the platform were Mrs Aston Mrs II :Valder, Miss Rapson (the director), .Messrs dc la Mure and McKenzie. Annual Report. The secretary (Mrs Aston) presente I the annual report, which showed tint the school at Frankton opened on September 2711 i with 18 children, and a successful term resulted under the direction of Miss RapSOn. After the Christinas vacation the school re-opened on February 3rd with a roll of 23. The work was handicapped by the unsultability of the building in which it was oarried on, and it is hoped that the Association will soon be in a position to erect a modern kindergarten, properly equipped, and that the work will be extended to other parts of the town. Representations had been made to the Railway Department urging thai i k nderga*rten building be provided for the Frankton railway settlement. Donations or toys or money would be gladly welcomed.

The clininnan spoke of the splendid work being done by the kindergarten.

and made a strong plea for its exte t

sion. Fie also referred in ciiblgistlc terms to the services of Miss Hapson. The treasurer (.Mr F. A. de la Mare) said that the balance-sheet showed 3 debit biilar.ee or £l6 16s ltd on the year's operations, but when the Government subsidy was received he expected .thai the Assodaflori would liav* about El 6to carry into next year. He mentioned tha( the Government report was satisfactory. The report of the director (Miss Rap■on) showed that the school was well attended, and excellent results were being obtained. Election of Council. The following council was elected: — President, Mr H. Valdcr; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames H. Grcenslade and 11. Douglas, Messrs E. Wilson and Lusk; Beuretary, Mrs re-elected amidst loud applause) : treasurer, Mr F. A. do l-i Mare: committee, Mesdames (Dr.) Rogers. Tudhopc, Herbert, Bell, Farrer, Misses Smith and Pumphreys. The rules of the Association were adopted. Value of the Work. Mrs Valder spoke of the importance of kindergarten work, especially in the. direction of turning thelenquiries of tti-j little ones into the right channels and in helping harassed mothers. The Asso - ciation should put forth a big effort and erdeavour to obtain 'ls own building. Mr McKenzie said he had recently Itspected the school, and found that Miss Rapson was working on right lines. There was always a danger in kindergarten schools of forcing formal instruction on the babies, but he was glad to say that he had found nothing o'" tins at Frankton. The business of the child at three years was to be a healthy animal, and therefore the kindergarten should aim at physical development. Inquiries had shown that there was a direel relation between th-; beight and the wetghl and the intcllecl of the child, and thai the well-grown boy was in most cases the intelligent bry. The kindergarten was not a school, but a playground. The principle underlying it was development from within—physically and mentally. The child learned obedience, cleanliness, muscular control, and an aesthetic teste. Such things as reading and arithnu tic should be absolutely banned; the children who had these forced on them were hindered, not helped. The children at the Frankton kindergarten were happy, healthy and dean, and it ha 1 been a pleasure to spend a mornin- r among them. The school tilled a felt want in relieving overburdened mothers, and the work had his fullest sympathy. In reply to Mr Wilson, Mr McKenzie said he did not think the Government bed considered the matter of taking ovethe kindergartens as part of the State iystem of education.

Mr de la Mare spoke nf the urgent reed of getting the co-operation of Hie parents if the'best results were to ho obtained. It had been found, especially in the crowded cities, that kindergarten work had had a widening and broadening effect, not only upon the children, but upon the whole district touched. He agreed with Mr McKenzie that they must, avoid attemptin*> to "tram" the children. They wanted t i get the little ones into a happy environr Bient, and influence them in the right, direction. He hoped Hie Association would receive additional support in it< Important work.