The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-25
Educate The Girls-it PaYs.


me report Of the committee on wom-
ans work was presented by Mrs. Caroline
L. Merrick, its chairman, which she
kindly forwarded by her husband, Judge
Merriek. 1t is as follows:
To the Louisiana Educational Society !:
Dir. President-the duties assigned to
your committee on woman's work are
by no means clearly defined, therefore
We ask the liberty Of stating some OF our
own views in regard to their importance,
together with other information which
We have been able to collect in the short
time given US to prepare this report.
It is said that the American public
school system originated in the theory
that the State owes every child the rudi-
ments of a common education, or an ele-
mentary knowledge Of reading, writing
and arithmetic. Armed with these pri-
mary equipments, children are supposed
to have the means of access TO all other
knowledge, even that included in the
refinement Of polite literature.
1t is only in our own day that the in.
termediate period before school life be-
gins has received any recognition at all
commensurate to its real significance
and true importance. 1t was left to
Froebel, the great German apostle of
children, to reveal to the world, after
lifetime devoted to teaching, that there
was a radical deficiency in the manner
Of deveoping the minds Of little children.
The basis Of his kindergarten system is
shat we learn through doing" He said
we do not begin at the beginning, but
work TO undo in later years mistakes
made in the very outset. We have been
content to teach words, which were
accompanied by ideas. The old notion
that school is a place where all know
ledge must come from books has no place
in his system.
In this new departure the little one is
first made comfortable and happy; then
cleanliness, politeness and industry are
instilled and cultivated, and unconscious
u and unawares a moral influence is
brought to bear, which often mOulds the
character TO the extent of counteracting
even hereditary tendencies.
If by this process children can be
rescued from depravity and wretched-
ness and led to walk in the ways of
honesty, industry self-control and virtue,
let US lose no time in setting out in the
work Of reformation.
1t does seem to your committee that
the wisest and most promising invest
ment, even of school money, would be
10 expend it upon the youngest children,
making kindergartens regular prelimi-
nary part and parcel of all public
schools.
The State cannot afford to let her girls
grow up IN ignorance and vice. Your
committee are in full accord with your
generous recognition and desire to aid
this neglected class-one which has
heretofore never had the care and train
ing due to their great natural preroga-
tive becoming the future mothers of the
people who are to rule and govern this
commonwealth.
We refer you to the well-known his
tory of the Jukes family in the State of
New York, where, in a single county,
over 100 paupers, vagabohds and crimi-
mails, have been traced as lineal descend
ants of one poor, unprotected girl, for
whom nobody cared. She is credited with
costing her State over$l 600, 900 through
the agency of the six generations of the
eVilprogeny who have succeeded her.
In view of an awful case like this we
cannot Overestimate the value of one
little girl.
Kindergartens may be and doubtless
are expensive institutions, but they are
not so costly as poorhouses, insane asy-
lums and penitentiaries.
Your committee acknowledge the
difficulties which are likely to arise in
procuring teachers suitably trained to
take these schools in charge. We be-
ieve they should have natural and
special aptitude for the business-thatl
they should feel sort of divine call to
this self-sacriticing vocation. Indeed, if
it were possible, they should be spiritual
engines with forty-mother power to en-
gage successfully in this great educa-
tionA work of ministering to these little
ones.
Corporal punishment is never used,
and it is said that children trained in
kindergsrtens seldom require il after
promotion to the regular public schools
We may begin any time with the lit
tie plants provided we take them early
enough-just when nature begins to stir
into growth and yigor the Individual
character, for that is the time to ward off
tCStS tuTtdIcA
the quality OF the expected fruit, if We
expect to have successful crop.
In seeking a location your committee
would recommend that if possible
ground for out door exercise should be
secured.
With a morning and afternoon session
a double number of children could be
taught, one-half coming to school in the
morning and the other in the afternoon.
The furnishing of a suitable room will
depend upon the taste and means of
those who have it in hand. No expen-
slve building Is necessary, and with the
hrst requisites of teacher and pupils, and
some small furniture and suitable gifts,
We may begin at once.
The following details of well-ordered
useful: Children from two and i half
to six years of age. The room is forty BY
ntty hive feet, having seven. large win
dows. The pupils sit in families of |
fifteen or twenty, IN rows facing each |
other, IN four cornerss of the room, the |
centre being left free for games, march
ing. gymnastics, ecf., and painted in
circles, crossed by straight lines, as a
guide to the feet of the little ones. There |
is piano, and pictures are on the wall. |
The mouldings are painted red, a color |
pleasing to children; the walls are also |
tinted with a cheerful shade.
1t isnot necessary togive the programme |
for each day in the week. Conversation
aud singing occupy the first half.hour,
but nothing is arbitrary and teachers |
may suit their own wishes in arrange
ments.
The following copied from the treas /
urer's report viii be useful:
Teachers salary.......................$666 90
Rent-....... ...........-....s............ 225 90
Sanitress. IS 90
Materials, furniture. "a so
We are inclined to beliye that $1,000
per annum would take from the streets
forty children and surround them With
all the kindly influence and benefits
OF that child paradise the Kindergarten
school.
We think, as all education is a growth.
that the time has arrived when we
should wake up, like the rest Of the
world, and do something for girls. One
OF your favorite authors, Mr.. President.
has said that nothing human will ever .
go right except in so far as woman
goes right, and to accomplish this end
she must have early instruction. In
view OF the wonderful undeyeloped pos
slblllties hidden in a tender child. there
IS q grave responsibility resting some
where.
Miss Susan f. Blow, Of st. Louis. 4 !
lady Of wealth and influence, devoted
thousands Of dollars aud her own disin-
terested gratuitous services to this work !
until her labors resulted in securing a / !
system CONNECTED with the public B
schools that now furnishes its own d.
reetogs, assistants and supervisors. The 4
taxpayers of st. Louis demand : kinder