News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1891-10-29
ADVERTISING RATES.
KIndarpartan Worl.

kindergarten Work.
Gov. Page has received the follow.
ing letter from lady deeply interest
ed in kindergarten work. While il Il
hardly practicable for the Governor
to effect any immediate results nc
hands us the communication for pub
lication, believing that it will promote
discussion in the cause of education
OF thelittle ones and thus bring about
a better understanding as TO kinder
garten schools which are becoming so
popular in some sections of our coun-
try.
Editor Of News AND CITIZEN
Dear Sir The following letter was
written about the time OF the extra
session of our legislature, but too
late to be of service at that time.
Ii is now with the permission of
his excellency, the Governor. forward
ed TO you with the request that IL be
published, and it is respectfully asked
that your exchanges consider the
propriety of giving il even wider cir
culation. More of the same NAV fol-
low which the voters of Vermont will
have ample time TO consider before
another session.
The letter is from "A fully trained
kindergarten who has done over a
dozen years of very acceptable service
seven of which were i'm our own state.
Graduate" from this kindergarten
have gone out into the public schools
OF the same village at about seven
years ofageand have taken(and MAIN
tained) high rank, both in scholar
ship and department.
IL is no small service to take the
little ones three years old. teach
them gently land without books) 20
think Independently, to be gentle.
generous, exact, patient and faithful.
where the severest discipline allow
able is the turning of the little chair
with its back to the little table for "A
few moments, discipline which
proves wonderfully effective well as
a training which gives them many
advantages. Yours for the cause of
the KtNpERgARTrN
PLEA FOR THE LITTLE ONES.
To His Excellency. CARROLL s PACE, Govern.
or of the State Of Vermont
Dear Sir: - Our forefathers i'm
their wise provision for the education
of the young set aside certain proper
ty for a perpetual aid and incentive
to such education.
Thus in the statues under date Of
March 3, 1887 these funds were 20 be
divided ''in proportion TO the num-
Der of scholars in each school,
Under date of Oct. ~, 1905 we find
an age limit for theapportionment-
viz: Gin proportion TO the number
of children living in such districts
the number from the aye of
four to twenty"
Oct. 81, 1897 the age limit was
from four to eighteen.
Nov. %, 1858 the age limit was
from four TO twenty and was based
upon average daily attendance Of
such children"
Nov. "a, 1874 The age limit was
placed from five TO twenty and so IL
still stands.
You win see by those statistics that
educaUIon On Gfie youngest AIS wen az
the oldest who could avail themselves
of the privileges of the public schools.
Later, children under four years Of
age were excluded from the schools,
or. at least, their share of these funds
was taken away from them and APP
piled to older children; making no
provision whatever for these little
ones. In 1874 all under five years
were so excluded. All this was wisely
done; for our public schools as they
are now conducted, are not suited 20
the tender age of these little ones,
but the kindergarten system Of edu-
cation has been thoroughly proved
to be well suited TO the needs of such
young children, and n wonderful aid
both to the later school course and
to the building of good character.
l pray you, therefore, on behalf of
these children who cannot plead for
themselves, on behalf of the parents
who do not as yet understand what
the new education can do for them,
and on behalf of our country, which
should claim the best possible foun-
dation for good citizenship, TO use
your influence with our legislators
that fair share of the funds placed
by the general government at their
disposal be applied for the education
of these little ones in pure kindergar-
ten. This might be done by support
ing one model kindergarten with
normal training for primary teachers
connected therewith) or by appor-
tioning the funds among thecounties
or towns, as the money for common
schools is now apportioned-viz: Up
on attendance, and that the kinder
garten shall be supported a certain
number of months each year.
This support might be by taxation
as for common schools, or by tuition,
or by both as il seems wisest.
1t seems unnecessary TO undertake
an elaborate and wearisome recon-
mendation of kindergarten work be-
cause you, honored sir, and many Of
the citizens of Vermont, must know
of the many times when it has been
gingerly undertaken by school boards
and has nevertheless never failed 20
convince them latter a fair trial. that
it is a true child-garden, where chill
dren grow and develop in the health
lest, most natural and happiest way.
Twill therefore simply inclose a leaf
let showing the rapid advance kinder
gartens have made in st. Louis. No
doubt you know the strides they are
making in New York and Boston.
Since almost all good things are
apt TO be counterfeited we find the
kindergarten is no exception. Only
those who understand the true ring
of the metal can detect the counter
felt. l pray you, therefore. 60 fore
fend against n spurious use of any
funds so appropriated, by recon-
mending that only those who hold
diplomas from authorized training
kindergartens be employed as princi-
pal teachers and supervisors in kin
dergartens and their normal schools.
A.
Montpeicr. July 10. 1891.