The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-26
THE FREE KINDEIGARTENS.
Review Of the Work Thus Far Accomplished
by This Sterling Charity in Indianapolis.

1 COclety MIS- AfdDelia " Ieeilci preSluont, reau
the following interesting report of the work of
the society from the time of its foundation to
| date. This charity is one that commends itself
in strongest terms to the benevolent people of
| Indianapolis, to whom the reading Of the report
will be of much interest:
MRS PEBBLES REPORT.
It is we'll sometimes to look back; not that
looking back which proved so disastrous TO one
of our sex in olden time, nor yet that of which
our Saviour spoke when he said, mo man,
having put his hand to the plow, and looking
back is fit for the kingdom of God' for I am
confident that never for a moment, even at those
times when anxiety for the future has pressed
most heavily upon Us, has there been one of
our number who would, If she could, have un-
done the past and walked free from the response
bility Of this great charity but let now at the
close OF this our first year. pause to look back
over the field, reviewing briefly its work, and
then, strengthened by the lessons of faith,
patience, courage and hope it has taught US,
turn resolutely and confidently to the work be-
fore us. On the third Wednesday in
April. 1884, we adopted constitution and
a, name committing ourselves fully to
the free kindergarten work, and elected
officers for the year. Our treasury was empty
but at the solicitation of our ladies, Rev. Dr.
Alabaster kindly consented to deliver a course
of three lectures for our benefit. These art lect-
ures, from which the handsome sum of $4OO was
realized, will be long remembered as means by
which all were enabled to assist a deserving
charity. and at the same time secure to them
selves three most instructive and enjoyable
evenings On the Goth of June articles of incor
poratlon were filed in the Office of the recorder
OF Marion county, and bylaws adopted, and
few days later the contract with Mrs. E. A.
Baker, as superintendent OF kindergartens and
teacher of training school was sealed The train
ing school for pupil teachers opened Aug Is, and
In just two weeks from that date our first kinder
garten was opened, at the corner of West Market
and Blackford streets. We had furniture for
this school belonging to us as the Childrens' Aid
Society, but for the second kindergarten, opened
Sept. 10, on Yandes street, there something
to buy
The Young Peoples Christian Temperance
Union had previously supported small school
at this point which they considering it best
that all the free kindergartens in the city should
DE under one management turned over to u.s.
we purchasing their furniture and supplies and
adding thereto new furniture and material from
time to time, as the increased numbers in
attendance required
Our superintendent had space assigned her in
the woman's department of the State fair, with
view to introducing the system of kindergarten
instruction more generally throughout the State,
and had class of children there from the West
Market-street school during portion of three
days. This interruption. and the labor it en-
tailed delayed the opening of the colored school,
on West Vermont street. until the 18th of October,
but from that date to the present time
the three schools have been in con-
tinuous session, with the exception of
two weeks during the holidays, and even then
our superintendent teachers and mattresses
were on duty one or more days at each school,
preparing for and attending to the Christmas
festivities.
We experienced some difficulty in securing
suitable rooms for our schools, as the houses
and rooms all small at the points most favor
able for our work, and the churches were reluc-
tant to admit us. We succeeded however, in
overcoming all difficulties and securing tie
rooms sought in church and chapel although
our teachers labor under the disadvantage Of
having to take down and put away all pictures,
materials and Illustrate daily and the work of
the mattresses is more than doubled in having to
move and remove, arrange and rearrange seats
and furniture for all regular and special services
have an endowment sufficient to erect
or purchase small frame buildings
of but one story, at the points where the great
est number of needy and neglected children
could be reached, it would not only tighten the
labors of teachers and mattresses and relieve us
from the monthly rent BILL but add greatly to
the effectiveness of our work by giving to it an
air OF permanence and security not to be at
tanned under present conditlons but the work
is perhaps not far enough advanced in Indian
apols to expect this yet
Our superintendents salary is $50 per month.
For this she contracted to grant us ten scholar
ships in her training school tine sessions of
which are held afternoons and devoted her
mornings entirely to the care, supervision and
teaching of free kndergartens established by our
society Mrs. Bakers part of the contract
has been more than met, as she has
fourteen teachers in training for our
work. but, owing to the financial de-
preston, our executive board thought it
unwise to undertake the number of schools at
first contemplated five, and have endeavored
instead to increase the number of pupils in and
extend the influence of the three established
Three teachers are constantly engaged in each
kindergarten, receiving, for compensation, free
scholarships in the training school. The only
additional expense we should incur in opening
two more schools (after once supplied with
furniture and materially would be rent janitress
ISIS per month each), lunch for the children
(which, owing to liberal donations of provisions
would not exceed So. so per month eachl and
comparatively small, we buy material at
wholesale and the sewing is all done by our
ladies at the weekly meetings; besides which we
have many halfworn and outgrown
garments donated. Fuel L have not
counted, as the coal dealers of our city have
dealt so generously with US that we have expended
less than four dollars for coal during the entire
winter. The expense for furniture and material
for the three schools has not exceeded $107 but
the furniture being largely secondhand, was
purchased at reduced rates, and we had nearly
enough furniture for school from the
Chi.dren's Aid Society. The expense of newly
furnishing kindergarten for fifty pupils would
be about $50 The College avenue Rink company
kindly consented to accept the services of our So
ciety at their opening, the first week in Novem-
Der, and divided the profits with u.s. From this
source we realized about $40. Wesent circular let
tiers addressed to pastors and superintendent of
| twenty two Sunday schools in the city, asking
that a collection be taken in their respective
schools the Sunday before Thanksgiving, as a
Thanksgiving offering from the moro favored
children of these Sabbath schools to the desti-
| tnte little ones gathered iii our kindergartens
To this four schools responded with generous
contributions-the Central-avenue M. E. Second
Presbyterian, Plymouth Congregational and
| the Tabernacle Presbyterian. Through the
| kindness of the school board penny collection
was allowed to be taken in the public schools,
| from which we received $l20 All the little ones
| in kindergartens were provided with
bountiful Thanksgiving dinner, without expense
to the society, save the one small item of butter
| for their rolls. Turkeys and fruit were donated
by commission merchants. nuts aud cannad