Meeting the needs of our children: a history of Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers College 1911-1981

This history of the Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers College is addressed to all who have been intimately connected with the College from the time of its inception in 1911 to the day of its amalgamation, 1 January 1982, into the Brisbane College of Advanced Education, and to its many friends, supporters, and interested observers of the wider public throughout the seventy years of its existence.

The introductory section, 'One Peppercorn Per Year', serves to explain the origins of the founders of the College and the motivations for social reform which gave rise to the kindergarten movement in Queensland. The organization of the history into five chronological stages reflects the events which clearly delineate set periods in the development of the College. Stage one, 'Early Origins and the Formative Years' describes the earliest days of kindergarten education in Queensland when Froebelian theory and the advent of the Nursery Schools held great sway. Stage two begins with the disruption created by World War II and its aftermath and demonstrates the reconstructive capacity of the College. The process of consolidation in stage three is significant for the inauguration of a Council with an eduqttional brief for the College alone. Stage four, 'The Expansionary Era' presents a picture showing the best of both worlds, with the new College hailing a decade of unprecedented growth, accompanied by the infusion of Commonwealth funds, State grants, and non-means tested Commonwealth and State allowances. In stage five, 'The Age of Autonomy', attention is directed to the diversified expansion of the College and the consequent problematic, pressure-filled days when the College came under threat as an autonomous institution. The concluding section attempts to portray a brief synthesizing viewpoint of the stage at which the College made its exit and gives a glimpse of the futurefacing early childhood protagonists.

The reader is requested to note that the College was known as the Brisbane Kindergarten Training College until 1965 when its name was changed to the Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers College. It is most frequently referred to, in this history, as the College. The term Association refers to the Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland (Incorporated), unless otherwise specified, and in this context, Board indicates the Board of Management, which replaced the Executive Council of the Association.

The Brisbane College of Advanced Education has adopted a non-discriminatory policy in all aspects of its work, and the author subscribes to this policy. Brisbane Kindergarten Teachers College was, however, exclusively a women's college until 1973 and kindergarten teacher education was regarded as an occupation for women only, until this date. Consequently, forconsistency with historical sources, quotes etc. the feminine gender is used throughout the text.