New-York tribune., 1874-06-13
BOSTON KINDERGARTENS.
Ep,uATrNe THE LITTLE FOLK.

FOUR IN TOWN WHICH ARE THE GENUINE THING
BESIDES TwO NEW MISSION sCHoOLs-A MORN
ING AT MISS GARLAND's ON CHESTNUT STREET
A PUBLIC KrNDERGARTEN-TnE CHIEF OBJEC-
TION TO THE SYSTEM
lFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE.I
BOsToN June A." kindergarten. or no kln-
dergarten is question likely to be much discussed
during the coming Summer, not only by mammas ank
ious TO know how best to rear and tend their human
flowers but by School Commissioners, and those In a-
thority generally As Boston is the headquarters OF the
Kndergarten movement in America, perhaps some ac-
count of tie theory and practice here will not be unin-
terestng In my researches this subject went rst
to that dear old patron saint OF the
wise blessed grown-up chd-Mss Elizabeth Peabody.
"There fare Just four true kndergartens in Boston,
she said all the rest are spurious" have learned
since that she ought to have included two more re-
Gently established under the auspices OF the NorthEnd
Mission with trained teachers. and conforming TO the
ideas of Foebe possible Miss Peabody seemed
TO regard Miss Garlands in Chestnuts rather the
model establishment; spent there one entire FORE
this week in order to thoroughly as mgnt
be- what 1t is to be human flower In cmid'garden'
Miss Garands hours are from $3.50 a. IN. to 1880 Her
schOolyear SO weeks In duration, and her terms are
$50 per To have longer school year, she said
was of no use such families sent their chill
dren to her returned to town before October and
some of them had even already gone into the country
Three hours day she found quite long enough to keep
her little people systematically busy; for busy they are
every moment Of the time.
She takes children Of from three to seven She would
like to have them the entire four years. 1t Is funda
mental theory Of the kindergarten that no child should
even begin to learn read until 1t Is years old; ana
the progress of some children taught this system
when they began study has been truly marvellous
Miss Garland has assistant, and second schooroom
where a few Of those who have been under her care
until they were are now devotng small portion OF
every morning to learning to read, and they are 30
trained In habits Of minute observation and close atten
ton that they seem to learn almost OF sight Her maxi
mum number 22 but she admits so many only because
among such little there is seldom day when all
would be present One has cold, another the meases'
or another an anxious grandmother. who thinks the
weather is too ncement so not than l6 or 1s
are likely school at once and that Is as large
number as the true kindergarten ought to contain.
wish could make picture for you OF this room ana
the little people In 1t. There are pictures on the walls
such as Cheney's crayOn Of the sstine Madonna; on
brackets graceful busts bouquets arc In pretty
vases but, above ALL there is wealth OF green things
growing plants, in large variety and In very
thrifty condition. This idea Of growing plants, you
must Understand Is one Of Froebels essentials 1t Is
good for the body thinks to tend them 1t good for
the soul to love and watch them Each child has one or
MORE His plant is much his own as his cap or his
mittens He waters 1.-THE picks or the dead
leaves-he turns toward the sun-he is proud Of 1t be-
yond measure The children who are present each day
are allowed favor to tend the plants OF the absent
and they do this faithfully and with great delight.
Imagine in this picture adorned, blossomng room, a
dozen little tots, moro or less-girs and boys being
about equally represented Fancy them seated in little
chairs SO as not to tire their tiny legs before long, low
tables Just about high the seat OF grown-up per-
sons chair, made OF light, polished WOOD, dVueu ny
black into square inches. by which the eyes Oh tue
children presently become accustomed to measure OBJ
jeets Here they sit Tor half an hour busy perhaps at
building with blocks perhaps at modelling IN clay' per-
haps at folding paper, drawing, or emoroiderng on
cards for no John or Richard who has been trained IN
a Kindergarten will be necessarily dependent on his
wfes caprces as regards his buttons. This work goes
ON for half an hour and then there is half an hour OF
play But first must tell you about the "occupation,
as they call it.
Building with blocks sounds like fun, doesn't 1t
but really 1t exercises these little minds very actively
They were given, when was there, cube wheh In
Froebes list of Gifts is numbered the fourth IL Is
of eight wooden Obongs two inches in length
an inch wide, and half an inch thick These little oo-
longs are shaped like bricks you perceive,
and with them the children are instructed to build.
Each one must haveihis dea and plenty of room Is
thus given for invention One built BRIDGE with steps
leading up to IT, suggested by the in the Public Gar
notion OF its construction. Another made what he called
an engine with the gate shut when the bell rings and
the signboard over it, He had a spare obong and he
set up on end and said the man to tend the gate
Another little fellow full Of fun and brightness, made
school house solitary oblong In front OF the
door, "who is thatr' asked Miss Garland. THAT Is
Elise coming all alone, she did this morning" he said,
laughing Elise a small maiden, with bright eyes
and many ruies who was usually escorted by nurse
but who had surprised them that morning by coming,
with the utmost dignity quite alone.
After this hafhour's occupation" was over, there
came half hour OF play The plays are set to music,
and are the most admirable system Of imag-
pable, Let aspire to teach kindergarten who
cannot sing at toeraby for the amusement is all
accompanied by singing. They play mostly ring plays,
so contrved thoroughly to exercise the muscles to
teach grace of notion and to prepare the little folks for
future dancing After half hours play comes
another " occupation" Perhaps it is drawing. For
this purpose they have peculiar slaes gro0yed into 1T
tie squares quarter OF inch each way. This aids
them to be accurate in their lines AS they 20 on she
states are changed the grooves becoming less aud less
Deep until last they draw as accurately on plain
states as they could at first on the grooved Ones Or
perhaps they weave paper choosing their own combina
tons of color Or they model and one little boy had
shaped out of clay q surprisingly good turtle Their
leaf impressions in clay were extremely delicate and
pretty Ali the time their attention s alert their hab-
its OF close and accurate observation are iorng anu
they areso interested what going to know no
weariness They wait on themselves. and put away all
their implements as soon as they have finished using
them with careful orderness which is In itself an
excellent training for the future or woman. They
learn to be independent and sefhelpfu.
There is only public kindergarten at 'present In
Boston, but therel desire that there
should be others-enough to accommodate the whole
ctyfu of little folks. The one objection Is the price,
ka...
one teacher can and does ordinarily attend to the in
- 81 a. ,oho,,r, or marc tha ptposf numher