Kindergarten turns clock back 100 years

Reliving days gone by, are Rachel Reynolds Kindergarten children (from left) Ella Matheson (4),...
Reliving days gone by, are Rachel Reynolds Kindergarten children (from left) Ella Matheson (4), Teisi-Lose Tu'i (3), Jesse Acklin (4), Veronica Richardson (4), Caylis Hardie-Radcliffe (4), Brody Trainor (4) and staff (from left) Julie Walsh, Clare...

While most kindergartens are encouraging children to use technology, one in Dunedin is hiding its computers and other technological equipment from the kids.

Staff at Rachel Reynolds Kindergarten have made the move for this week only as part of centenary celebrations, to show the children what life was like 100 years ago.

Head teacher Jan Taita said the children and staff were dressing up in period costume this week and playing old-fashioned games, such as marbles, hopscotch, drop the hanky and ring a ring o' roses.

''We've also brought in things from the past, like a girdle, a candleholder, bottles and an old doctor's bag.

''We've covered up computers, televisions and other technology, and brought out chalkboards.

''It's to teach them what life was like 100 years ago.''

This week the kindergarten is celebrating the centenary of its establishment in Dunedin.

It was named after Rachel Selina Reynolds (1838-1928), a South Australian-born woman who moved to Dunedin and devoted much of her life to the free kindergarten movement.

The impetus came from her concern about the waifs of the notorious Walker St (now Carroll St) area, and the belief that early training with tenderness, sympathy and pity could develop the all-round possibilities in every child.

As president of the Dunedin Free Kindergarten Association, she helped establish several kindergartens in the city.

As a tribute to her work and dedication, the kindergarten established on the corner of Dick St and Macandrew Rd in 1914 was named after her.

Mrs Taita said the kindergarten would have an afternoon tea on Saturday with past and present staff and committee members.

john.lewis@odt.co.nz

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