The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-01-11
The FREE KiNDERaARfsNs.
Professor Adler Explains tho Eroebelian
notwithstanding Work.

] LhoIo dTo % ulaIly HlOCucrS VINO &c
not really know what the method of
the kindergarten is that / shall quot,
Professor Felix Adler, an acknowl.
edged authority on the subject, whoso
explapation should serve to convince
them OF the desirability, even the ne
cessIty, OF this training for children.
What is the system of the kinder
garten2" 1 asked.
dren through three different channels.
First knowledge; second, duty third,
social !fe-and all in the form of play.
There is serious meaning underlying
the games. Knowledge is given in
Slocks and squares fnd tablets Tie
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
Weaving lessons and by the use Sc of f 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 kim
dergarten, recognized the fact that
association is powerful instrument
toward shaping the character of chill.
dren. The children are taught at an
early age to observe politeneSs to each
other The undergraduates themselves
arc especially trained to avoid ell
harshness. Even the most selfish are
conquered by gentle means. An at
mosphere of refinement pervades 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 arc also
taught to respect the different trades.
The scissors grinder is ono 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 tho 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 tho
form, is in keeping childp~1S
out of mischief and from beinl:
him the idea Of csus,,....-4.-. .-..- &oq ess
kindergartens, Professor Adler arIS
swered.
envy interest in seeing The elevation
of the working people. 1t was a plan
of new education as means to that
end"
"Have free kindergartens been es-
tablished in other cities2"
"When I was in San Francisco, sew
eral years ago." replied the professor,
"I 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 short time ago l also
talked Oh the same subject, and five
free kindergartens have been opened
there"
"Do you find any difficulty in OBJ
tanning the support you need to carry
on the schools2"
"No," answered Professor Adler,
although it takes about $4,000 a
year"
One might happen to meet Profes-
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 tho first time one
may learn from Miss Gordon, the
young lady who, with q pleasant
smile, starts them in at their morn
ing work. But during few minutes
stay in tho room it will be discovered
that those of the children who arc s
and years old have received moro
than O 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 tho table. One thing after
another is talked about-tho shape of
the boxes, how many corners they
have, and SO on, and then, following
tho direction of the teacher, they arc
opened, tho 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.
"Wo 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 12. In addition to thes'
hours some afternoon classes have jus
been started for the same children. 1
} was found that the morning classes re
} licvcd the mothers very much, but no
enough, so two hours in the afternoon
} are to be occupied in what il called ;
play school, The kindergarten game
will take up the time"
Turning to tho children, Nf:s Gov
! don said: Several nationalif
represented here. There arc
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