Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-23
THE FREE klNDERoARTENs.
Professor Adler Explains the Trocbclian
Nfethod-1ntcresting Work.

tho kindergarten is that / shall quote
Professor Felix Adler an acknowl
edged authority on the subject. whose
explanation should serve to convince
them of the desirabifity, even the ne
cessity, of this training for children
What is the system of the kinder
| garteni" l asked.
1T is means of developing chill
| tlren through three different channels.
First, knowledge second, duty; third,
, social life-and all in the form of play.
There is serious meaning underlying
| the games. knowledge is given in
the following manner: Through
blocks and squares and tablets the
| children are taught to recognize all
the different gcometrical forms. They
soon know the shape of rectangle
and sphere and so forth. They never
have any exercises in counting, but
arc incidentally taught to count, EX-
cellent training in the color sense is
given by matching colors in their
weaving lessons and by the use of the
color chart. In all their occupations
special attention is given to educating
their taste for the beautiful
'Of special importance to children
is the influence upon them of social
life. Froebel the founder of the kin
dergarten, recognized the fact that
association is a powerful instrument
toward shaping the character of chill
dren. The children arc taught at an
early age to observe politeness to each
other. The undergraduates themselves
are especially trained to avoid all
harshness. Even the most selfish are
conquered by gentle means. An at
mosphere of refinement pervadcs the
whole kindergarten. Special import
ance attaches to games. BY means of
games children are taught kindness TO
animals. They represent different
animals themselves. They are also
taught to respect the different trades.
The scissors grinder is one of the
heroes of kindergartens. The song of
the shoemaker never fails to awake
the joyfulest echoes. But especially
the love of the children toward their
parents is developed. Songs about
mothers love and fathers kindness
are great favorites, and their theme is
harped upon in endless variations.
AS to the free kindergartens, they
are especially helpful to the poor.
Children of the well to do are cared
for, if not by their mothers at least by
their nurses, but children of the tene-
ment house poor are too often left to
play in the Railways or on filthy
| streets, where they are exposed to the
worst examples. The Kindergarten
| system means really organized play.
| Tho good it does considered in the
negative form, is in keeping children
out of mischief and from being drag
upon their mothers.
To the question as to what first gave
him the idea OF establishing free
kindergartens, Professor Adler an
swered:
My interest in seeing the elevation
of the working people. 1t was plan
of new education as q means to that
end"
Have free kindergartens been es-
tablished in other cities9"
when | was in San FIR. l,-'1co, sew
eral years ago" replied the professor,
II delivered an address on the subject
of the free kindergarten. and the idea
was taken up very quickly. One was
established almost Immediately, and
since then others have been started.
L
talked on the same subject, ard five
free kindergartens have been opened
there"
DO you find any difficulty in OBJ
tanning the support you need to carry
on the schools."
NO" answered Professor Adler,
although it takes about S20,O a
year"
One might happen to meet Profess
sor Adler in that large, bright room |
in Cherry street, where the children
assemble every day, for it is through !
his cndeavors that the class has been
formed, and lie looks in there some |
times to see how the work is pro.
crossing. That the children came
there last year for the first time one
may learn from Miss Gordon, the
young lady who, with pleasant
smile, starts them in at their morn
ing work. But during a few minutes
stay in the room it will be discovered |
that those of the children who are 5
and years old have received more
than few mornings lessons in the
little work they are already engaged |
upon. Small boxes about three inches
square have been given them, and be-
fore being allowed to open them they
have been placed in symmetrical po-
sitions on the table One thing after
another is talked about-the shape 81
the boxes, how many corners they
have, and SO on, and then, following
the direction Of the teacher, they are
opened, the blocks which they con
tain are taken out and placed in differ,
ent positions Oh the table, till finally
thirty minutes, have passed and they
are gathered up and put away.
I'VE change the occupation every
half hour" said Miss Gordon, for that |
is as long as the children can be inter.
ested in one thing. We are in session
from till ~ In addition to these
hours some afternoon classes have Just |
been started for the same children II