Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-28
KINDERGARTEN WORK
Explained by Miss WheeIock, Who
Came Here for the Purpose.
VIRTUE, POWER AND FREEDOM
Instilled Into the Plastic Minds of Little
Children.
ITS EFFECTS UPON THE PUPILS HOMES

was hailed with delight, and its prosperity
assured by the patronage of the two cities
best people.
The Free Kindergarten Association OF
Pittsburg and Allegheny is doing a good
work. 1t is established for the moral, men
tai and physical training of poor, neglected
children under the age of z. The OBJ
Ject OF the association is broad, non-sectar-
ian and includes all nationalities. 1t aims
to take little children from destitution and
unhealthful homes, waits from the streets
and slums. and by devoted care first attract
them by system OF object lessons, thus de-
veIoping the latent faculties OF the child's
nature.
The kindergarten teaches the child its
relation to nature and to life, and it is
recognized by the great educators and
scholars of the world that it lays the right
foundation for future education and useful
ness of the child. The kindergarten child
carries the influence of the good work into
its home. 1t is known ami demonstrated
fact that the impressions received under the
age Of z, are the most lasting. The kinder
garten associates children with children in
pure atmosphere, amid pleasant surround
ings and under special guidance Statistics
show that of 5000, who have been trained
in the kindergarten in San Francisco DUR
ing the past IL years, only one of that num-
Der has been under arrest. and he was
feeble-minded boy.
Interest Taken in the Work.
The women who are back of this good
work are well known in Pittsburg and
Allegheny charitable and social cir
cIes. Among them are Mrs w.
A. Heron, Mrs B. Shaw, Mrs. D.
w. Bell, Mrs. w. NJ. McKelvey,
Miss L. H Killikelly, Mrs. ]. NJ. Patter-
son, Miss Isabella Wallace, Mrs. James
Dickinson and Mrs T. A. Cutten. A num-
Der of men have interested themselves
in this uplifting of humanity. Men, such
as Benjamin Thaw, w. r. Thompson, W.
w. Gard, Samuel Hamilton, James Stuart
and W. p. Scott, are associated with the
women as advisors. One of the notices of
tn is organization is: 'The more you pay
now for the prevention of crime, the less
the next generation will have to pay for
the suppression of it
The association has been working along
in quiet way, but achieving good results.
Its objects had to be gotten before the peo-
pie, and this was what was attempted at
the Third Presbyterian Church on Sixth
avenue last night. The ladies had brought |
Miss Lucy Wheelock all the way from Bos- |
ton to tell the people of these two cities |
about kindergartens The speaker was |
worthy of far larger audience, but it is |
safe to say every one of her hearers will IN |
the future have higher appreciation of |
this plan of education. This afternoon at 8 |
o'clock she will talk to 'mothers" at the |
Alinda Preparatory School, Fifth avenue |
and Craig street. She and the association
hope the women will turn out enmasse.
Miss wheelock's Pleasant Talk.
DR.. Holmes introduced Miss Wheelock
last night in q neat, interesting way. He
praised her for the good work she had done,
and his words were not idle hattery, as the
young woman demonstrated. She under
stands her subject thoroughly, and tells
what she has to say in way which is inter.
esting. Her voice has musical ring, and
every word she uttered last night was drank
in BY her hearers She spoke in a
general way for a few moments and
then told story of Cali
fornia philanthropist. "He was going to
give SIS, ,000," said she, ''to a home Tor the
ncurables. A Kindergartener called on
him and asked that he give $12, 500 to the
project and abe other S12, 500 for home for
he curables. The children are certainly
,urable.
"What is said to children of to-day is of
he most infinite Importance. The kinder
yarten is the only way this can be rightly
lone. Many people are with the kinder
,arten like the four blind men were with the
Elephant, who each grasped the animals
all, and each said it was something else
some say this system of education is but a
chool for fancy work. This is not so;
While it is in part, it aims for something
igher. Others call it trade school, and
is also spoken of rs kitchen and sewing
chools These people are right in way,
ut it shows that they do not understand
ur system.
In Moral Atmosphere. :
''The atmosphere of kindergarten school g
SO pure. How can it help but be so? The
hildren are most happy aud vie with each
ther In being good. Virtue, power and
ue freedom are the essential qualities of
rom the start it is the aim in kindergarten
ork to give children due freedom.
n many schools teachers think 9
is their duty to break the will of a child. .
n our work that is considered the most
angerous step. We strengthen the will of
child. Let the little one decide for him
If This leads him to govern himself 5
he golden rule is to the chill
rem of the kindergarten a very
veet thing We sing it every day s.
nd kindergarten child would think it q
lime to break this law of gold in the
ightest manner. A little boy in my school
4 being told of the landing of the Pilgrims VI
I'd why they came to America, said: The
ing of England could not have been
miliar with the golden rule or the Pill
inns would not have come here We try to
AXE this old maxim gold in its beauty o.
i'd iron in its hold upon the children Ours B
play school in a way, but law and order 81
ways exists
Developing a Child's Powers.
'"The man of power is the one who lives
nong men. The kindergarten attempts to ts
old such men and women by using all s.
e faculties We have no text books. We W
ant to develop the physical powers. This "
done by having the children impersonate &c
rds and butterflies as they soar through
e air, or fish as they swim. This the
tile folks do by movements of their hands :.
e teach them to use their eyes. The s1 s1
lid of the kindergarten is always re
atching for beauty, and it finds Sc
where older persons cannot They
tice the movements Of the butterflies and
ldy their habits The child gains con- r.
ant information on measurements and di- a
ensions A kindergarten child often goes =
to building, and when it comes away
n tell you the size of different apartments. y
ley listen to the birds singing, and get
1sic even from the rushing waters Of the
ook
''The kindergarten skills the child and if
is generally adopted it will do much to
the lah0F nr0hiem The trou HE With |