St. Paul daily globe., 1890-07-12
A NATIONS KINDERGARTEN.
The Little Ones Department
Pleasantly Winds Up.

:, Despite the threatening weather yes
terday afternoon a fair sized audience
gathered at the second and last meeting
of the kindergarten department in the
First M. E. church, although the at
tendance was not as large as that of the
first, session on Wednesday. The prin-
cipal business transacted by the depart
meIlt. aside from the addresses ON the
programme, was the election Of officers
for the coming year and the reports OF
various committees.
The Letter Kflleth.
The devotional exercises being con-
cluded, Mrs. Haifman, the president,
gave little historical sketch of the
louisville Kindergarten, which is repre-
sented by Anna E. Bryan, who was an
n0unced as the firstspeaker of the after
noon. Miss Bryan's paper was an in
teresting discussion OF the propriety of
system in the kindergarten schools.
She said: sit is characteristic of a
great teacher to indicate, never to pre-
scribe; he seeks disciples who love
truth more than himself, to whom the
ministry of truth is infinitely preferable
to the establishment of personal cult
ure. When we realize the immense in
jury that may be done to any cause by
an injudicious advocate, we may we'll
pray to be delivered from our
friends. The dread of being misunder-
stood and inadequately represented
was the DamocleS sword daily threat
ening the cherished plans of Frederic
iFreebel. 1t requires not an inspired
vision to see that creative Spontaneity
iof Froebel's idea has yet to be devel-
'Oped to its finest results. The work at
best is but that of beginners, and it can
;onIy be hoped that it is vital enough to
carry some life to the future.
In his subtle intellect and in the
abundance of his means is to be found
the stumbling block to his followers.
The kindergarten is destined to suffer
through such influences, and probably
most at the hands of its ardent sup
porters. Great clearness, balance.
wholesomenesS and vitality of mind
and character are required to avoid fol-
lowing slavishly the letter of Froebel's
material. to avoid Stagnating literal
ness of Interpretation. We can sum up
the situation by saying: "The child is
not to study Froebel. but to unfold the
divinity within himself"
SchOOlishness.
SchoOliShneSS in the work Of-theSe in
stitutlons was the subject discussed in
the paper by Prof. w. N. Hailman. of
La Porte, Ind. The address directed
attention to various shortcomings: In
the kindergartenS of America, based
upon schoolishness, or the laying of
undue stress on the mere giving of in
formation, the pride in wordy phrases
and formulas, the neglect of SenSibili-
ties and will, and isolating the child
from his work. Illustrations of these
facts were cited from personal expert
ence and an elaborate review of a paper
read by Dr.. w. t. Harris at Nashville,
III which different ground was taken.
Z lConcluding his address, Prof. Hail
man said: THE mission of the kinder
garten is to emanclpate the school
itself from the sins of SchoOlishneSS, to
secure regeneration of the school on
the basis of new education, that would
add to culture efficiency, to knowledge
skill. to sight foresight, and lift self 4
activity to creativeness."
Professional Training for Teachers
The last address of the afternoon was
made by Hon. w. E. Sheldon. of Bos-
ton, Mass, on the question and meth
odS of training teachers for work in the
Kindergarten or in primary grades.
Prof. Sheldon was known to be humor-
Gus in his speeches, so the audience
naturally expected some sallies Of caus-
tic wit, and they were not disappointed.
Before entering on the discussion of his
subject the speaker said he had not ex-
pected to make an address at this meet
ing until a few weeks ago, and naturally
had prepared no manuscript. so he
would speak out of the fullness of his
empty boots. This brought down the
audience In bursts of applause. Prof.
Sheldon said in substance: There
are two things to be considered in
this subject of educating children; the
first is the institution itself, the second
the training of teachers to do the work.
This training is one of the most difficult
problems the world has veto solve, and
the qualification for the position of a
trained teacher is what we know as
mental science in its most advanced
state. We must recognize the condition
and capacities of children, and suit
their tasks to this measure. By such
standard of Judgment parents are under
obligations to select teachers with such
characteristics AND such attributes; and