The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-26
THE FREE KINDERGARTENS.
An Interesting Review Of the Work OF
the Schools
By Mrs. Arabeiia C. Peelle, President OF
the Free kindergarten Society.

At the last meeting of the Free Kinder
garten Society Mrs. Arsbella C. Peelle, Presi-
dent, read the following interesting report of
the work of the society from the time OF Its
foundation to date. The charity lie one that
commends itself in strongest terms to the
benevolent people OF Indianapolis, to whom
the reading of the report will be OF much in
terest.
MRS. PEELLEs REPORT.
II is well sometimes to look back; not that look
ing back which proved so disastrous TO one OF our
sex In olden time. nor yet that OF which our saw
Jour spoke when he said, NO man, having put
Kingdom of God;' for / 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, II
she could, have undOne the past and walked free
let US now at the close OF this first year pause
to look back over the field reviewing briefly It's
work. and then, strengthened by the lessons of
faith, patience courage and hope 1t has taught US,
turn resolutely and confidently to the work be.
fore, Us. On the third Wednesday in
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. DIR. AlaOaster
kindly consented 10 deliver course OF three lee
lures for our benefit. These art lectures, from
which the handsome OF $500 was realized, will be
long remembered as a means by which all were
enab cd 10 assist deserving chart Z, and at the
same tine secure 10 themselves Tree most in
stIuetive and enjoyable evenings. in the Doth of
June articles of Incorporation were filed in the
ofice OF the Recorder OF Marion County, and by
laws adopted, and few days later the contract
/ with Mrs. f. A. Blazer, as Superintendent of
KlndergarteDs and Teacher OF Training School,
was sealed. The training school for pupil teach
ers opened August 10, and in just two weeks from
that date our first kindergarten was opened at the
| corner OF West Market and Blackford streets. We
had furniture for this school belonging 10
| the ChIdrens' Aid Society, but for .he second
! kindergarten, opened september Is, on Yandes
/ strt Ell, there was something to buy.
! The Yonng Peoples Christian Temperance Union
I had previously supported a small school at tnis
point which they considering ii best that ali the
free kindergsrtens In the city should be under one
management turned over to us, we purchasing
| their furniture and supplies and adding thereto
! new furniture and material from time TO time.
/ the increased numbers in attendance required.
! our superintendent had space assigned her in
the womsn's DEPARTMENT OF the state Fair, with
/ view 10 introducing the system of kindergarten
instruction more generally throughout the State
anu had class OF children there from the West
Market Street school during portion of the days
This iDterruDtion, and the labor it entailed. de-
/ layed the openidg of the colored school, on West
Vermont street, until the 18th OF october. but
I from that date 10 the present tirse the three
schools have been in constant session, with the
exception of two weeks during the holidays, aud
even then our Superintendent, teachers and ani-
tresses were on duty one more days at each
school, preparing for and attending to the Christ
We experienced some difficulty in securing suit
able rooms for our schools, ss the houses and
looms are all small at the points most favorable
Tor our work, and the churches were reluctant to
admit US. We succeeded, however, in over CON-
ing all difficulties and securing the 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 illustra
tons daily and the work of the mattresses is
more than doubled in having to move and re-
| move. arrange and Iearrange sests and furniture
| fer ell regular ana special services held in the
/ churches. If We could only have an endow ment
| sufficient TO erect or purchase small frame build
/ ings OF but one story, at the points where the
! greatest number of needy and neglected children
could be reached, 1t would not only tighten the
labors OF teachers ana lsnitresSes and relieve US
from the monthly rent bill. but add greatly to the
effectiveness of our WORK by giqing to it air of
| permanence and security not TO be attained under
| present conditions but the work is perhaps moi
| far enough advanced In Indianapolis 10 expect
! this yet.
Our superintendent salary is $50 per month.
/ For this she contracted to grant us ten sShOlaT-
ships in her training school the sessions of which
are held afternoontl, and devoted her mornings
entirely to the care, supervision and teaching of
( free sindergartens established by society.
| Mrs. Bakers part OF the contract has been more
than met as she has fourteen teachers IN training
for our work, but, owing II the financial de-
PRESTON, our executive board thought it unwis sc
TO undertake the number of schools ut first con-
templsted thve). and have enceavored instead TO
I increase the number of pupils in and extend the
IL fuenee of the three established Three teach
ers are constantly eng eed 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
for he children, which, owing 10 liberal donations
of provisions. would not exceed $3.50 per month
esch and clothes for the destitute of which
SIS comparatively small, as we buy material at
wholesale and the sewing is all done by our ladies
sny bsw9rn and en,gron e,a6
Fuel have not counted as the coal dealers OF our
city have dealt so generously with us that have
winter. The expense for furniture and material
for the three schools has not exceeded sI07 hit the
ceste at reduced rates, and we had nearly enough
furniture Tor one school from the Cnildren's Aid
society. The Expense OF newly furnishing kin
deTgaTteD for fifty pupils would be about $50 The
Z lltge Avenue Rink company kindly consented
to accept the services OF society at their open.
ing the frst week in November. aud divided tue
profits with From this source we realized
about So We sent circular letters addressed to
pastors and superintendent OF twenty-five sun
yschoOis IN the city. asking that collection be
taken In their respective schools. the sunday be
fore Thanksgiving. as Thanksgiving Offering
from the more favored children of toese sabbath
schools TO the destitute little gathered in our
kindergartens. To this four schools responded with
generous contributions-the Central Avenue VI. E
Second Presbyterian, Plymouth Conyreg ational aud
the Tabernacle Presbyterian. Through the kind
ness of the School Board penny collection was
allowed TO be taken in the public schools from
which we received $40. All the little ones in our
kIAdereartens were provided with q oOuntiful
Thanksgiving dinner, without expense to the So
ciety, save u Ole small item of butter for their
rells. Turkeys and fruit were donated or com.
mission merchants. nuts aud canned goods by
mex sent a generous contribution OF potstoes, ap
pies, oranges, bread, chickens, bansnss and toys
1 DtelOee anu llttle money. Oar Christ
mas festivities were provided for entirely by KIDD
friends Six little girls of the classical sclool
who formed the society OF "B. F. W." under the
care OF Mrs. Myla Ritzinger. furnished heauu
full tree loaded with gifts for the seventy-ga chill
dren at the landes street school, snd took cnerys
OF the entertainment These little giss also sen
our society a large donation of new clothing. con
ssting OF cashmere, delsine and flannel dresses
flannel skirts and an apron made by themselves
| The West Market street tchool. then numbering
To-, was taken charge Of by Mt. NOhD's class o
girls in the Meridian NJ. f. school. which provided
Handsomely decelst,d tree win candy and TOYS
for every child. The cOlored people reouesteC
hat their kindersarten might have its entertain
lnent In the evening and have supper. Tai.
they provided ard also the tree while books snc
toys were furnished from contributions OF IN,
same sent by tie infsnt class Ot the Ne
rid.sn T. sunday scnool aud from TT
South side High-schcoi. the later also send
ing pots toes AMI canned goods which wer
served bot fer lunches during the winter. We
also received valuable collection of c4Otaing
hooks Rno toys from the Glfls' Classical Scnool
Our total membership viii be shown by the Sec
reiary's report TO be eigbty-one. The ondifion
OF men bership are as follows: Any woman o'
TIE payment Of an annual lee OF 81 or more sn,
, any gentleman. by the aymeEt OF an annual fe
Oh ) more, and the signing of The constitution
may become q member OF this association en-,
have The right 10 vote st the annual meeting
Ia - 80 ~rr go ~ No. .