How Women May Earn a Living

by Mercy Grogan

KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS.

The demand for trained Kindergarten teachers is at present considerably in excess of the supply; the average salary is £80 a year. These are the rules of examination published by the Froebel Society for the Promotion of the Kindergarten System:—

Examinations of students of the Kindergarten system are held in London, conducted by examiners appointed by the committee of the Froebel Society. Those students who satisfy the examiners will receive first or second class certificates of their qualification to become Kindergarten teachers. No candidate will be admitted to examination under the age of eighteen.

The whole examination need not be passed in one year. A candidate may present herself for any number of the groups, or for all; and when all have been passed the candidate will receive a first or second class certificate. All candidates will be expected to produce a certificate of having passed some recognised public examination in English subjects, as—Oxford or Cambridge Senior Local, Higher Local; Society of Arts; First and Second Class, College of Preceptors; Government Elementary Teachers; &c. In special cases the production of a certificate may be excused, provided the committee are satisfied that a candidate has received a good general education. This will not apply to the younger candidates. The fee for the whole examination will be £1; for each group, if taken separately, 3s. The fees will be returned if through unavoidable circumstances the candidate cannot present herself for examination. Candidates will be expected to produce evidence that they have not had less than six months' practice in class teaching of young children, and to satisfy the examiners of their ability to organise a Kindergarten. Names of candidates must be sent to Mrs. E. Berry, hon. secretary to the Froebel Society, 27, Upper Bedford Place.

Kindergarten Training College, 31, Tavistock Place.—The college is founded to provide a central place of training for Kindergarten teachers who intend to qualify for the Froebel Society's certificates. The college is open to all students above seventeen years of age, who are otherwise qualified to enter for the Froebel Society's examination. The course of instruction for regular students includes all the subjects laid down from time to time in the syllabus of the Froebel Society's examination, and is divided into a first and second year's course.

Students must at the end of their first year take such portions of the Froebel Society's examinations as shall hereafter be indicated by the Council. At the close of the second year students will be expected to pass the examination for the full certificate.

All regular students are required to attend the lectures and practical work of the college throughout their first year of study.

During the second year, attendance at the college in the morning is not obligatory for students who have qualified as assistant teachers, provided that the principal be satisfied that they have practice in teaching under the direction of some persons approved by the council of the college.

Therefore, all lectures and lessons connected with the second year's course, other than lessons in the Kindergarten, are given in the afternoon or evening.

Afternoon or evening lessons and lectures are open to students not being regular students of the college, on certain conditions hereafter to be specified, and at a special charge per course. A Kindergarten is attached to the college.

The college year is divided into three terms, each of about thirteen weeks. The hours of attendance are from 9.30 A.M. to 4.30 P.M.; and on Saturdays from 9.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M.

Fees £20 per year, or £7 per term, payable in advance. No residence is provided for students, but the Council are prepared to recommend homes in the neighbourhood of the college.

There is also a Kindergarten College and Practising School at 21, Stockwell Road, London, belonging to the British and Foreign School Society. The course of instruction extends over two years, and the fees are £10 10s. a year, with some trifling extras. Secretary, Mr. Alfred Bourne, B.A. The Home and Colonial School Society, Gray's Inn Road, London, also has a Kindergarten Class for private governesses, school-mistresses, and pupil teachers. They hold examinations and grant certificates to those who prove their efficiency.

Education by Correspondence.—For the special benefit of ladies living in the country who may wish to prepare for the public examinations, arrangements have been made by several of the lecturers at Cambridge for giving instruction by correspondence in some of the subjects of study selected by the University of Cambridge for the examination of women. Information on this point will be given by Mrs. Peile, Trumpington, Cambridge. Correspondence classes have also been organised by Miss Shaw, Poyle Orchard, Burnham, Maidenhead, to whom application for admission must be made. The classes are conducted by ladies, who are authorised to receive as pupils those whom the Cambridge lecturers are unable to accept. Should they find that the number of these fall short of the number they are able to instruct, they will receive others, whether in direct preparation for the examination or not.

The instruction is given by means of:—

I. Papers of questions set from time to time, and the answers looked over and returned with comments.

II. Solutions of difficulties and general directions as to books.

III. Short essays or résumés written by the pupils, and sent for correction to the teachers; or, in the language-classes, passages set for translation.

The papers will, if possible, be returned to the students not later than a week from their reception, and another set of questions sent at the same time. The fee is £3 3s. the course for each subject, paid in advance. The course extends over the three Cambridge terms—i.e., from October 14th to the end of May.

For an account of other educational advantages open to women I refer my readers to the "List of Colleges, Schools, Lectures, &c.," published by the Women's Education Union; and the "Educational Year Book," published by Cassell & Company, Limited.

A great boon to ladies anxious to qualify themselves for governesses, and who have not the necessary means, is the Teachers' Education Loan Society, which advances school fees upon certain conditions to persons over sixteen desirous of improving their education for purposes of self-maintenance as teachers. Apply for regulations by letter to the Hon. Secretary, Miss Ewart, 3, Morpeth Terrace, Victoria Street, London, S.W., before February, May, and November in each year, for the three terms of Easter, Michaelmas, and Lent following.