Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-03-22
ALL FOR THE TOTS
What the kindergartens Are
Doing For Them
WORK OF A YEAR is REVIEWED D
And the Suecesse, and Prospects Clearly
Set Forth in Paper Followed by
Able Addresses.

uergafteu necoclstluu nclu us Hlet
annual meeting. There was large
attendance and deep interest was
observed IN the reports and addresses.
Miss Emma Field. the president.
opened the meeting with words of well
come and history of the years work
in Grand Rapids by the kindergarten
association. Ii is gwen IN full.
Miss Field said: I'VE are glad to
welcome so many friends tonight. We
believe you are present because you are
interested IN our kindergarten assocla-
ton and the great cause which II
represents. Our first public meeting
was held about eleven months ago.
Shall | tell you something of the his
tory of these busy. happy months, 50
full of real work done lnat the work
ers have had no time or strength 10
call you together to hear of what was
being accomplished, When our asso-
citation was but month old, with no
definite plans ter the future,
only determination to become
more intelligent in kindergarten prin-
ciples? Later we held a meeting at the
Ba plist church to celebrate the compile
ton of one terms kindergarten train
ing by Mrs. c. ID. Rourke, taken by
thirteen young ladies. We were then
certain enough that the work would
cantinue to promise training teacher
for the coming year. But still the way
looked dark IN those DAYS, and Difficult
ties arose like mountains. Ain, we
have not forgotten the Elk weeks of
street car troubles. and the long walks
hn hot R1SsSln
on the faithful few who kept up hope
and courage amid it all. Following
close on thus gathering came meeting
of the executive board.
Would Have the Best.
And then and there We beard some
of the hravest, best words yet spoken
for the kindergarten cause from Mrs.
j. Morgan Smith, Miss Rebecca Rich
mond, Miss Frances Pierce, Mrs. G.
Hourke, Miss Clara Wheeler and
others. We all felt, ike the Israelites
OF old, there could be no retreat, Sut
that We must go right onward. But, as
We had no money in our treasury.
except a few scanty dollars gathered
from the munificent association men,
bership fee of twenty-five cents a year,
all kept sacredly for advertising, We
heard with n gasp that n competent
training teacher could not he found for
even $1,000 year. But we said: ave
must have the best. Grand Rapids shall
be the center for kindergarten training
in our state" And we obtained the
best AS you all know, else we should
not have these happy reports to give
YOU. Our training class numbers
twenty-six. A pupil is received for one
year and the study may commence at
any part of the year. We have under
our control three kindergsrtens, which
our training teacher. Mrs. Lucretia
Willard Treat, supervises. "The Park
kindergarten" at the corner of North
Park and Bostwick streets: director,
Mrs. Treat, assisted by Miss Hester
Stowe. former pupil who has also
taken training with a niece OF FroebePs
in Germany. Another at the Western
Michigan college; director, Miss Matte
StandIsn. And last, but not least, our
own pet child, free kindergarten, in
the pariors of the Emerson home on
Waterloo street; director, Miss Raynor.
The rooms have been donated for our
use by the directors of the home, and
about two-thlrds OF the sum for the
maintenapce thereof has been donated
by our friends through the almost un-
aided efforts of one OF our most efii-
Gent workers.
Helped the Good Work
Havo We not commenced at the root
of reform by striving to make noble
men and pure women ont of poor,
neglected children? We shall need
less money for police courts, lails,
prisons, homes for incurables and re-
treats for the fallen when we furnish
beautiful kindergarten rooms for the
children, and thus seek TO help those
whose minds are yet plastic-whose
souls are as vet undefiled. The young
ladies of our training classes teach one
half day in these schools; also IN the
free kindergarten on Ottawa street,
which is maintained by circle of the
Kings Daughters, and have done, and
are still doing. much good. They also
give one hall day free service IN our
two public school kindergsrtens and IN
the private kindergartens of the Misses
Baker and Ewing, all three kinder
gartens being indirectly under the
supervision of Mrs. Treat. the di-
rectors beng members of the training
classes. Thus the good work IS united,
and by helping others the young
ladies IN training gain the wisdom aud
experience of practical work. Mrs.
Treat also conducts a mothers class
each week on Tuesday afternoon at
O'Clock. The good fone at these meet
ings cannot be half known. The
mothers OF our city are becoming in
terested IN TINS practical work for their
children. They see and feel the need
Of II ss none elsc can. The room for
this work is kindly donated by the \.
NJ. G. A.. winch with its broad interes,
~ all causes that bufd up true man.
hood, discovers 40 much AKIN To- its
awn work IN ours that it took us IN,
though crowded tor room and with no
small inconvenience.
kinasrssrtsa rsogrs.
A large teachers class taught by
Mrs. Treat meets every Monday night
al the central. Here cur public school
teachers come after the hard labofA ot
the day to learn bow 70 apply ffoehs :
pTneiples 60 their teaching. After
each meeting We go 30 oar work With
new zeal and inspiration, and
deeper insight into the child :
nature We do not expect %
become kinaefeartners "a this par
tai study. but Ws DO obtss
glimpsss u great truths and oar idesls
are higher thsa ever before. We have
only gwen you partial ieaghi into
our work. Realize Il you can. tbe edn-
cation we are All receiving ,n toe kin
feFgastep principles. Aot ell II as
kB0faughly yet. fof great truths are
cot lfsfned 10 day. it - the superb
al f4a4z fhsf ar& A. eaz4fE ara sfsstf