, 1888-12-06
The FREE kINpEReAR1ENs.
Professor Adler Explains the F~roebelIan
NNo.l

~ NA"Ag hActA4NAo w
not really know what the method of
the kindergarten is that l shall quote
Professor Felix Adler, an acknowl-
edged authority on the subject, whose
explanation should serve to convince
them of the desirability, even the ne
cessity, of this training for children.
What is the system of the kinder
garten7" 1 asked.
ut Is a lean of developing chill
dren through three different channels.
First, knowledge; second, duty; third,
social life-and all in the form of play.
There is a serious meaning underlying
the games. knowledge is given in
the following Through
blocks and squares and tablets the
children are taught to recognize all
the different geometrical forms. They
soon know the shape of a rectangie
and sphere and so forth. They never
have any exercises in counting, but
are 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 he influence upon them of social
life. Froebel, the founder of the kim
dergarten, recognized the fact that
association is a powerful instrument
toward shaping the character of chill
dren. The children are taught ut an
early age to observe politeness to each
other. The kindergarteners themselves
are especially trained to avoid all
harshness. Even the most selfish are
conquered by gentle means. An at
mosphere of refinement pervades tho
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 kndergartens. The SOM 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, thew
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.
The good it does, considered in the
negative form, is in keeping children
out of mischief and from being q DRAG
upon their mothers.
To the question as TO what first gave
him the idea of establishing free
hndergartens, Professor Adler an
swered:
my interest in seeing the elevation
of the working people. 1t was a plan
OF new education as n means to that
end.n
Have free kindergartens been es-
tablished in other cities1'
when l was in San Francisco, sew
eral years ago." replied the professor,
Il 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.
In Rochester a short time ago l also
talked ON the same subject, and five
free k~indergartens have been opened
there"
do you find any difficulty in OBJ
tanning the support you need to carry
on the schoolsl"
NO" answered Professor Adler.
although it takes about $40, 900 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 endeavors that the class has been
formed, and he 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 a 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 8
and 9 years old have received more
than a 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 of
the boxes, how many corners they
"HNA ~ VII ~ NAANllt lOl1OMllR
the direction of the teacher, they are
opened, the blocks which they con-
tain are taken out and placed in differ
ent positions on 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 8 till 10 In addition to these
hours some afternoon classes have Just
been started for the same children. 1t
was found that the morning classes re-
lieved the mothers very much, but not
enough, SO two hours in the afternoon
are to be occupied in what is called a
play school The kindergarten games
will take up the time"
Turning to the children, Miss Cor
don said: Several nationalities are
represented here. There are Polish
Jews, Germans and Irish. We expect
the classes will increase. We IAN &C.
commodate sixty or seventy children.
l have two assistants besides the help
of two other young ladies, who win
come for the purpose of gaining ex-