The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-01-11
THE FREE KlNDERoARrENs.If q
Professor Adler Explains the Eroebelian
Method-Interestinr WORKS

not really know what the method Of
the kindergarten is that I shall quoto
Professor Felix Adler, an acknowl.
edged authority on the subject, whose
/ explanation should serve to convince
them Of the desirability, even the me-
cessity, Of this training for children.
What is the system of the kinder
garten2" asked. .'s
| 1t is means of developing chill
dren through three different channels.
First, knowledge; second, duty; third.
social life-and all in the form of play.
| There is serious meaning underfyirg
the games. knowledge is given in
| the following manner: THROUGH
! olockS cnd squares hnd tablets tic
children are taught to recognize all
the different geometrical forms. They
soon know the shape of q reotanple
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 tlS,
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 q 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
are especially t-sed to. avoid all
harshness. Even the most sStfsh are,
f.(Irr5Ifov>fsf7s 1,xy
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 ore Also
taught to respect the different trades.
The scissors grinder is one of the
heroes OF kindergartens. The sonr 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 chiIdrcm 3
o1t OF mischief and from being a, draat
him the idea Of -usuav.aa.:ss. ~ q "a
kindergartens, Professor Adler aiiss
swered:
'rMy ;nteres. e seeing the elevation
of the working people. It was q plan
OF new education as means to that
"Have free kindergartens been es-
tablished in other cities2"
"When I was in San Francisco, 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.
In Rochester q short time ago / also
talked ON 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 schools7"
'No," answered Professor Adler,
although it takes. about $2o,00o q
year"
One mlght happen to meet Profes-
sor Adler in that large, bright room
in Cherry street, where the children
assemble every day, for it is thl0uEhy
his endeavors that the class has been
formed, and he looks in therc some
times to see how the work Is pro-
crossing. That tho children came
there last year for the first time one
may learn from Miss Gordon, the
young lady who. with o pleasant
smile, starts them in at their morn
ing work. But during few minutes
stay in the room it will be discovered
that those of the children who arc s
and 6 years old have received moro
than O few mornings lessons in the
little work they are already engaged
square have been given them, and be-
fore being allowed to open them they
have been placed in symmetrical po-
another is talked about--the shape of
| ChO bOACc, hoW oifcJ
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
ept positions on the table, till finally
thirty minutes have passed and they
are gathered up and put away.
'We change the occupation every
half hour" said Miss Gordon, ''for that
is as long as the children CON be inter
ested in one thing. We are in session
from 8 till 12. In addition to these
hours some afternoon classes have just
been started for the same children. II
was found that the mcsning classes re
lieved the mothers very much, but mo-
enough, so two hours in the afternoon
are to be occupied in what i called I
play school. The kindergarten game:
will take up the time.p
Turning to the children mn (foS
| don cota, NSax,arol ,,of,rf,olif 80 u {