Los Angeles herald., 1892-07-03
MRS. FREMONT.
Her Views Regarding the Training
HchOOls.

Her Views Regarding the Training
At the commencement exercises OF
Mrs Mayhem training class on Tues
day, the following interesting commune
cation from Mrs. Jessie Benton Fremont
to Mrs. Severance, a patron of the
school, was read:
My DEAR MRS. SEVERANCE: / am
truly sorry cannot be with you today
at the kindergarten meeting. AS you
know, I cannot; and, as you know
equally well, wish literally from my
heart to be of use in that most wise,
most patriotic and benevolent care of
young children. The care of future
citizens and law makers-or, law break
ers-is in our hands, more while they
are very young than is possible to catch
up with if they are left to the "educa-
tion of the street."
In our day of intelligence, prevention
has displaced cure, whenever the best
thought prevails. 1t is our national
fault if reform schools have to be pro-
vided, to meet the omission of care for
the very young. The kindergarten is
the prevention, while the cure becomes
doubtful problem after neglected
childhood. This brings the kinder
garten to the front as wise ECONOMY"
While to the average working mother
it is rest for mind and body to know
that her little ones are in safe keeping,
and their busy young instincts assimi-
lating good and not evil, it also doubles
her working energy. 1t is twice blessed
also in making the children instructors
in turn; for we all need to learn the in
stinctive, the curious outreachings and
unforeseen grasps of those cropping young
creatures.
It is fortunate thing for Los Angeles
that it has the experience, the large
knowledge and rare training of Mrs.
Mayhem, who is in such apostolic sue
cession" of educating by kindness, with
the dear DR.. Elliott of St. Louis and
with Susie Blow, who had his great help
in devoting her youth, her fortune, her
uncommon talents and personal advan-
tages of family and beauty all to this
rare womanly work.
I am proud of St. Louis when | re-
member its noble advance work in edu-
cation; progressive education, not
building on neglect, but on wise and
gentle care. Over the first of the pub
lie schools is cut in great stone letters,
Benton School," in memory of my
fathers earnest work for education.
The kindergarten was not known in his
day, but its need and its future bearing
were felt by him, for he fully believed.
with the laws of ancient Rome, that
even the unborn child was the care Of
the state as its coming citizen.
Rising above human law is the undy
ing command: "Suffer little children
to come unto me-" To prevent the best
care for them-either through neglect
or apathy or ignorance lis SHINING
against that Divine order; for those who
have given thought to the subject, there
is no possibility OF neglect. Each of us
is our "brother's keeper"-most of all
when he is in the helpless state of child
hood.
Chances may retard the universal ac-
kuowledgement of the paramount value
of the kindergarten, but it is truth, as
we'll as wisdom and kindness, and must
prevail over all our country where
American feeling governs-as it does in
the west, and has not yet in New York
city.
But the subject leads too fart is the
sowing what the country is to reap. Shall
it be wheat or tares?
Sincerely yours, and all childrens'
friend, JESSIE BENTON FREMONT.
June %. 1892.