Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-02-26
A Wonderful History.
The kindergarten In Alma College

1
institute in Michigan for the train
ing of kindergarten teachers, after
which she expected to make her home
in st. Paul, Mimi, and devote the
remainder of her life to CORES
pondence school and to authorship
Upon invitation Miss Ross adver
tised fourteen weeks term to open
at Alma College, Sept, sth, 1888.
Later she accepted an invitation to
remain at Alma College and con
tinue her teachers classes instead of
going to st. Paul.
The first term was attend ed by
Miss Mary +. Lockwood, who was
in the spring of the following year
called to the Michigan State Normal
as model kindergarten; by Miss
Maud Cannell who is to-day the
model kindergarten at the State
Normal and by Miss Cuddebeck
who has for three years been at the
head of the Normal and Training
department of Alma College. There
were in all twenty-four in attendance
during the first session nearly all OF
whom to-day hold good positions.
The second term-A winter term
Of twelve weeks was attended by ten
teachers, and the spring term of ten
weeks by class of fifteen.
During this first year of the ex.
istence of the kindergarten at Alma
College, each term brought new
class and each term the work of the
preceding term was repeated. The
kindergarten had not then been made
department Of the college.
After the first four or five weeks
the pupils met Miss Ross in the col.
lege chapel three times week for a
two hours lesson. And whenever
this lesson was lecture on some
kindergarten theme by Miss Ross,
each pupil went away enriched in
mind and soul, enthused with greater
zeal and resolved to be more devoted
to the profession of teaching. Miss
Ross was a woman whom but to
know was to admire and love.
But there were days when thes e
pupils went home with far different
feelings. These were the days when
some member the class was debating
the woodwork which said member
had learned about only few days
previous. The salient thought then
was "If / do no better in giving this
to my pupils than did Miss A. or
Miss Dor Miss C. or some other Miss
will they (my pupils ever know any
thing about what l am trying to
teach? In spite of these questions
nearly all are teaching and somehow
the pupils do know what the teacher
is doing.
During this first year Miss Ross
called Miss Cuddeback to her assist
ance for reviewing and other Office
work. Miss Cuddeback being in
Greenville the later part of the year
the work was expressed to Miss Cud-
deback for RENEWAL and returned in
the same way after the red pencil
had done its work.
The tuition for the first year was
$3.50 per week. Considering the
fact that there were six hours class
work a week each paid at the rate
of 40 cents an hour for recitation
work in class of twenty.four.
During the spring term of 1880
Miss Ross was taken to her bed never
to rise and take up the work to
which she had given her life.
Miss Cuddeback on receipt of a
letter from Miss Ross at this time,
obtained few days leave of absence
from the School Supt. at Greenville
and came to Alma, gave the remain
ing lectures on the "gifts," conducted
examinations, etc., and closed the
work of the class. This was about
three weeks before commencement.
A few days later on recommends
ton of Miss Ross the Executive Com
mittee Of Alma College called Miss
Cuddeback to take charge of the
work. 1t was now made the Train