The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-23
THE FREE KlNc5soARTeNs.
Professor Adler Explains the Iroebelian
Method Interesting: Work.

explanation should servo 10 convince
them of tic desirability, even the nc
ces.sity. of this training for children.
w That is the system Of the kinder
gartclif" | asked.
1t is = means Of developing chill
drcn through three different channols.
First, know ledge second. duty third.
social lifc-and all IN the form Of play.
There is a serious meaning underlying
the games knowledge is given III
the following manner: Through
blocks and squares aud tablets the
children are taught 10 recognize all
the different gcomotrical forms. They
coon know tic shape Of q rectangle
and sphere and 50 forth. They never
have any exercises in counting. bat
are incidentally taught TO count Ex-
ccllent training IN the color sense Is
given by matching cOlors In their
weaving lessons and by the use OF the
color chart. I'm all their occupations
special attention is given 70 educating
their taste for the beautiful.
"Of special importance TO children
is the influence upon them Of social
life. Frocbcl. the founder Of the kin
dorgaitcn, recognized the fact that
association IS = powerful instrument
toward shaping the character of chill
drcn. The children a." taught At en-
carly age 70 o. servo poiitcncss 10 each
other. The kindcremtcncr thcmsciye.
are especially trained 10 avoid all
harshncss. Even tie most selfish are
conquered by gentle means. An al
mosphcrc If refinement pcrvadcs tie
whole kindergarten. SPECIAL import
ancc attaChcs 60 games by means 81
games children are taught kindness tc
animals. Tlcy represent different
animals thcmsclyca. They are also
taught 10 respect the different trades
The scissors grinder Is orc Of the
heroes q kndcrgartens. The song 81
the shoemaker never fails to awake
the ioyfulcst echoes But especially
the love of the children toward then
parents il developed. Song about
mothers love and fathers kindness
are great fayoritcs. and their theme Is
harpcd upon IN endless variations.
As 10 the free kinderCartens, thy
are especially helpful to the poor
Children Of the well to Go are cared
for if not by their mothers at least 10y
their nurses but children Of the tene-
mcnt house poor are too often left Il
play in tho Railways or on filthy
streets. where they are exposed TO the
worst examples. The kindergarten
system means really organized play.
The good it docs. considered IN the
negative form. j. in keeping children
out Of mischief and from beng drag
upon thcir mothers.
To the question g. 70 what first gave
him the idea Of establishing free
kindcrgartcns, Professor Adler al
swcrcd:
My interest ia seeing tic elevation
Of the working people. Ii Was plan
Of new education Is means to that
end.
Have free l:indcreartens been cs-
tablishod in ether citicsf
when | was in San Francisco, scv-
cral years ago" replied the professor
u delivered an address on the subject
of the free l.indcrgarte-.. ind the idea
was t-lm up very quickly. One was
established almost immedic.-ly, and
since thCn Others E.yc been started
I'm Rochester short time ago / also
talked on the same subject. and five
free kindcrgartoIs have been opened
there.
"Do Won find any difficulty in Oh
tanning the support you need to carry
on the schooisi'
No answered Professor Adler
although it takes about $4,000 q
year"
Ono hight happen to meet Proics-
sor Adler in that large, bright Iooin
IN Cherry street. where tao children
assemble every day. ior it IS through
his ondc.vois that t.4o class has been
formed, and le looks III there some
times 70 see how the woll, is pro
crossing. That Tie children came
there last year for the first tnuc oAc
nev lcan from Miss Gordon, dc
young lady who. with pleasant
smile. starts them IN at their morn
ing work. But during fcw minutes
stay in the room it VIII be discovered
that those q the children who are 3
and 6 years old LlvC received more
than q few mornings lessons IN tic
little work they ere already eneagc d
upOn Small boxes about three inches
square have been given them, and be-
fore being allowed 10 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 III differ
ont positions On the table, till finally
thirty minutes have passed and they
arc gathered up and putaEay.
we Change the occupation every
half hour, said Mis-, Gordon, for that
is as long as the children can be inter
csted III one thing. We arc IN session
from Q till -. In addition 10 these
hours some afternoon classes have gust
been started for the same children. Ii
was found that the morning classes 70
licvcd thc mothers very much. but not
enough, 80 two hours in the afternoon
are TO be occupied IL what is called q
l .