Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-27
Kindergarten Mission.

To the Elltor OF The EVENING STIR:
Missionary Sunday comes round in all we'll
regulated churches with as much certainty as
Sunday Itself. Good christians pay their dues
for the support Of missionaries who are to chris
tarilzc the heather, while within half dozen
squares of most of our churches there may be
dozens OF children who have never seen the in
side of a church. much less have they ever heard
the gospel preached, and still no missionary is
sent 10 them Their scaHty clothing tattered
until 1T Is the mereSt apology for covering
their ha,f-starved bodies is an effcctual barrier
TO the elegancies of the gospel. Perhaps | am
ignorant concerning the few churches and mis-
soEary work for the poor of this city: but
know there Is a large class OF Gods poor who
heed bread and clothing before they can be-
Ieye there is a God
The echo OF church bells had scarcely died
away, when. on Monday last, sought out the
free kiDdcTgaIten-a church where unfortunate
waits IND home. This school is located on tn e
Corner on Ohio avenue and 18th street in the
Sunday-school room OF bethany chapel. The
little church looked desOiate outside; but
raped at the door, and bright-faced child
opened it and was soon seated in the midst of
this mission where the unfortunate are made TO
believe there is God.
How bright everything lOoketlOn that sunny
spring morning. Miss Emma Graves and her
assistant, Miss simpson, are doing a noble work
among these children. First of ALL the chill
dren are provided with comfortable clothes and
given a lunch every day for sweet charity's
sake. There are the names of % little ones on
the roll, from to years Of age. They are the
chiidren of laborers and mechanics i'm poor cir
eumstanceS They are sought out and provided
With comfortable Clothes educated and made
happy in this pleasant home. Several enter
tainments. excursions and other pleasures have
been provided them, where their parents come
and find kindly welcome and ample lunch.
was delighted watching the children as they
rang or reclted, and gave practical demonstra-
tons OF their instruction. The Youngest child
there was aged three. II the citizens Of
this District and our legislators could esti-
mate the value of free kindergartens to give
preparatory course for our free schools
before another six months there would be
iree kindergartens in every section of this citv
ms system would give employment to many
young women; 1t would gather in the waits who
are educated in the street until they are six
years old, and give them three years of instruc-
tion, practically adapted to the molli1able intel
iectS of the young.
Our public schools are right as far as they 90
but the great Froebel believed in beginning with
the little ones, inciining their faculties to the
right by his simple, yet perfect system Who
can calculate the result of taking children from
three to six years OF age and nstructing them in
THIS beautiful Froebei system from half to two
thirds OF day for three or four wears? Poor
Overworked mothers are thus relieved: and sin
Is Cheated of many victim. Vicious habits be-
GIN with early life under the baneful influence of
street associates
men and women who sigh for mission
would visit the free kindergarten have named
they would lind something To do. This school
could be doubled and treDled in size if the
society bad the means to provide teachers
Those employed there are doing their work
almost gratuitously.
Wecould gather in the little waits; but It needs
money TO pay teachers. Could We have the free
klndersarteu for the little ones before they are
admitted to our public schools, and in connec-
ton with our schools. industrial departments
Tor the practical part of education; trades for
those WHO cannot have more than the rudi-
ments OF education; trades for all those desiring
such advantages, our school system would ap-
proximate towards reform. and the least iron
mechanical drill of running every child in the
same mould would be modified, il not olivia
ted