Faculty of Education - Theses

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Author: Benjamin, Ruth M × End date: 1996 × Start date: 1996 × Subject: Victoria ×

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    Three women: their work and influence in the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria 1908-1911
    Benjamin, Ruth M ( 1996)
    The participation of women has been vital at every stage in the growth of the free kindergarten movement but at no time was it more important than in its formative years. This thesis explores the influence of significant women through the events that shaped the Free Kindergarten Union of Victoria (FKUV) during the years 1908 to 1911. These women, drawn from middle-class backgrounds, played a major role in developing a system of kindergarten education and care for the disadvantaged children of poor families in inner-urban Melbourne. In contrast with other philanthropic organisations the membership of the FKUV was predominantly women. The minority of men on the original committees did little to impose their views and had minimal influence. As a consequence, the women of the FKUV experienced a level of autonomy unknown in public organisations. In my examination of women's influence, I look at the contribution and influence of three women whose backgrounds and reasons for involvement varied and who brought to the fledgling FKUV differing degrees of interest, experience and expertise. I will examine aspects of the women's contribution to social reform; the affects of women's pre-eminence on the FKUV and the personal and professional development of these women; the styles and approaches which the three women brought to their work; the social values and beliefs which may have contributed to the decisions made and the directions taken; and the differences of opinion which culminated in the controversy of 1911. In the FKUV, the years from 1908 to 1911 were fraught with challenges and difficulties. Issues of kindergarten teacher training were widely debated as the new FKUV endeavoured to develop a system which balanced its equal priority for education and philanthropy. By 1911, following several contentious incidents between some members of the FKUV committees of management and the supervisor, tension had escalated and a major controversy culminated in the resignations of the supervisor, the president, the secretary and the entire Educational Committee. I shall refer to social and political contexts in order to tease out the roles of the principal players