Early childhood programs: a study of provision for kindergarten and pre-school programs in Newfoundland

• Main Author: Sharp, Dorothy Candlish
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Memorial University of Newfoundland 1976
• Subjects: Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://research.library.mun.ca/11409/; https://research.library.mun.ca/11409/1/Sharp_DorothyCandlish.pdf

This study was designed to trace the historical development and current status of kindergarten and pre-school programs in the Province of Newfoundland. It included a survey questionnaire which was sent to teachers employed to teach pupils enrolled for their first year of public schooling. The purpose of the survey was to determine the teachers' perceptions of current kindergarten provision. -- The information gathered pertaining to the historical review was obtained from briefs, reports, historical documents and legislative statutes. The data required to establish the current status of kindergarten programs were obtained from the responses of 410 teachers employed by the various school systems in the Province. The finite population of kindergarten teachers (546), employed in 470 schools, were administered the questionnaire and a 75 per cent response was obtained. -- The statistical procedures used to analyse the survey data included percentages, cumulative frequencies and cross tabulations. Sixty factors were identified from related research and were used in the questionnaire. These were classified under five headings as follows: (i) kindergarten administration, (ii) teacher characteristics, (iii) pupil characteristics, (iv) environmental features and (v) teachers’ opinions. Personal data such as sex, age, teaching experience and professional qualifications of respondents assisted in establishing a composite profile of the “typical” kindergarten teacher. -- Results of the historical review indicate that kindergarten and pre-school development appear to be concomitants of economic and industrial growth. Various interest groups have recently championed the rights of young children in society and the members of these groups have articulated the needs of young children and their rights to the provision of early childhood programs. -- The findings of the survey data indicate that there is considerable variation in kindergarten provision. The disparity is evident in curriculum content, availability of equipment and ...