Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-17
a TEST OF THE KINDERGARTEN

11-S@ SE LIZ MIN
Boston has for ten years had the benefit
of public kindergarten schools, maintained
mainly by Mrs. Quincy A Shaw. A re-
view of the system by the city approves
II. Mrs. Shaw had determined at her ex-
pense to give it ten years test, and that
being at an end it is found that the city
cannot abandon the system wisely. The
pupils now in the Boston High School re-
celved their first school instructions in the
kindergartens, and the good result is so
plainly manifest That to-day there is no
voice raised in Boston against the continu-
aree of the policy. The testimony of the
value of the kindergarten training is very
voluminous and it is conclusive. Recently
a committee of the Board of Education of
that city investigated the whole subject
matter, and It's report is full of interest.
Among other steps taken, the committee
submitted questions to all the teachers of
the city, their replies to embody their
views of the efficiency, value and practi-
cal usefulness of the kindergarten system.
The sum of the replies is thus condensed
and arranged by Superintendent Seaver:
l. On the intellectual side, the effects of
kludsrg 'ften training are shown in highly
oulckened powers OF observation in the posses
sion O. clear ideas, derived chiefly from sys-
temat cally guided observation in the ro,T-r
TO express these ideas well III conversation; IN
the great readiness with which the art of read
ing Is learned i'll the very considerable knowl-
edge of numbers and their relations effectively
acquired; in some knowledge of forms and
colorsi IN considerable deyelo; ment and dis
ciDline OF the active overs, as DISPLAYED in the
comparative ease with which the mr. uual arts
OF drawing, writing and slate-work are ac-
quired. All this is not only preparation for
the intellectual training usually regarded as
the peculiar functions of the schools but yery
substantial Advancement in that training.
On the moral side. the effects of good kim
dergarten training are uaceable in the fr,t
manifestations of a sense of Justice one child
learning to recognize the rights of other chill
dren as limitations on his own rights; in habit
usl acts of Kindness III generosity eyincing q
disposition to Yield to others what NAV CRAFTY
them but cannot be demanded of them as a
matter matter OF right IN polite manners; in truth
IulnesS, It's opposite never being fostered by
marsh discipline; in an eager desire 10 please
the teacher; and finally to refer to a Character
isilc when may certainly be rarked as virtue
IN personal cleanliness and neatness OF course
1t is not said or implied that moral training Is
absent from the primary schools but it appears
70 be true that the kindergarten training is Pc
ouliarly designed to accomplish the ends of
moral instruction.
). The kindergarten would certainly give TO
the nve-year-oid children now in our schools
ana 10 many even younger kind of train NO
much better suited % their wants than /, the
training now generally given in the beginners
class Better classification. and therefore
better instruction, would result from placing
the you gest children by themselves il, a kim
dergarten. A'-'
As to disc pline-the chief point on which
Opinions diher-the evidence proves that the
spirit of the discipline in sJ,Ine primary schools
Is not in harmony with tina. of the discIp inc in
some klnuerSarens. There are sometimes kin
dergartens IL which unguided activity mere
play-comes too near being the rule; on the
o-her hend, there are primary schools in which
depressed activity - unoccnpied Quietude-
YOU, nouia seem 70 De the principal aim. But there
Is no doubt that the best kindergarten discipline
ana the best imary discipline are al - in
spirit and effect. and that with imprrye,,cnf
on ooth sides, the difficulties arising from in
ferior scipline will pass away such improve
ment would b. rorgly promoted By the mo
intimate a ) eia ion OF primary school and kim
dergarten now propo ed.
D. Inc kluiergarten affords n mrrcb-neaded
protection from the injurious influences of the
street during that period of life III which the
child i old enough TO stay out of the house but
not old enough to take hold of the primary
scAool work as now set before him.
O. For those unfortunate children-and they
are many: who suher from parental careless
ness, indifference, ignorance, or poverty, the
kindergarten measurably supplies what the
home does not-kiudly nurture in the virtues
and graees of a moe refined and elevated do
nestle lite.
Unanimity in a verdict is uncommon
among teachers as among those of other
professions. When it is manifest, how
ever, from class peculiarly qualified to
pass Judgment it must command the re-
spect of the professional These
teachers are better able to Judge of the
value Of the kindergartens as preparatory
for the common school courses above the
primary grades. They appear to have
impressed the Boston Board of Education
profoundly with their verdict, for it not
only made acknowledgement of Mrs
Shaw's generosity in having so long main
tanned the schools rs sst, but voted 800
600 for their support for the school year
1889. The report of the committee
referred to, and which the School Board
unanimously adopted, contained one clause
which we produce in full, as in a brief
way it conveys important information
that will serve to remove possible mis-
conceptions:
kindergarten is SOM times regarded as
u, eh he thing with Il cay nursery. to
which yer young children. especially of the
potr. msy be sent for saie-ke,p ping Nhile their
p Tents are busy with other earss But as = dav
Drrser! Is no an a kiadeTgart N IS, place Of
,Telnlng. they are evidently not the me
feliner Is "a kindergarten a primary school, for
u instruments aud methods are very different :
il Goes not maze use Of books or of common
eChoal app ianceS, nor doe, II claim or desire
thAt oiscsl'iihs or repression TO which our pri-
mary puiiS are geueraily subjected. he
Sind Tgarten Is properly school To tFain little
ctior Ii IS II they real y were little children I:
10 III them certainly, but ret to sl,bdue them
20 glye them moral and physlca! ttaintur ol,ifr
~ mite, tut llectual and % 10 give II ss tn
OF it, A''
The kindergarten preparatory system of
education Is, therefore, now engrafted upon
the school system Of Poston, city that
has spared no pains or outlay in br ne Dg
its c, mmpn schools to the neare app roach
TO the ideal system. Philadelphia was,
however. in advance Of Boston in attach-
ing the kindergartens 10 the public sys-
TEN, as it has thirty-;wo such schools,
x,,;!e s.. Louis was but little later in